We at FIU play an important role in educating this community’s teachers and educational leaders, laying the foundation for the preparation of the young people in our community for higher education and later the world of work.

We’re proud to share with you that Manuel Sanchez from Miami Lakes Middle School, ’94, MS ’95, was named Principal of the Year for Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Gabriel Quintero from Kenwood K-8 Center, ‘90, was named Assistant Principal of the Year. Manuel also is an alumnus of the FIU Center for Leadership’s Principals Leadership Development Program.

According to published reports, Manuel and Gabriel have made efforts to better their schools, reducing the number of students who repeat grades and creating a more inclusive environment for students who have special needs.

As Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ top administrators, they join an exclusive circle of FIU alumni who have earned such high recognition from the district.

While our alumni make up 37 percent of M-DCPS’ administrators, two-thirds of the M-DCPS principals of the year and half of all assistant principals of the year since 2010 have been FIU alumni.

This speaks highly of the quality education our students receive right here at our FIU. In fact, the Florida Department of Education named our Reading Education Master’s program the best teacher preparation program in the state.

Please join us in congratulating Manuel and Gabriel. They are shining examples of how FIU alumni are Worlds Ahead!