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In December 2021 after working more than one year on renaming the street in front of Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center after the Assistant Principal of Gateway, Kathy Diaz who passed away on September 24, 2020 from Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, the street was approved. Her niece, Demoree Perez, worked persistently with the City of Homestead, and Miami Dade.
Kathiria Deleon Diaz, also known as Kathy Diaz graduated with a Masters in Teaching from FIU University, and started her teaching career at very young age in RR Moton. She taught 2nd, 3rd and 5th grade. She taught children with disabilities, and was a volunteer for the Foster program for DCF. Kathy Diaz was one of the founding teachers of Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center. She was there when the school first opened in 2009, and until she passed. Kathy dedicated years of her life to Gateway. It was her second home. Kathy was the teacher of the year; she ran the intervention program, and Saturday school. Kathy was the grade level chair, Educational Excellence School Advisory Council Chair, became a reading coach, and then an Assistant Principal.
Kathy would do story time for the kindergarten class once or twice a month. She ran faculty meetings during her Chemotherapy sessions at the hospital virtually, she was extremely dedicated, and passionate about Gateway, that she even ran a faculty meeting while she was in hospice 2 days before she passed. Ms. Diaz would participate in the Autism walk once a year in honor of one of her autistic students. During the book fair she dressed up as Clifford the big red dog and visited all the classrooms to emphasize the importance of reading books. Being in a management position didn’t matter to her, she was an educator, who went above, and beyond. Countless of times Ms. Diaz would take neglected students’ home after waiting pass 7pm for their parents to pick them up, instead of calling the police, she would drive the student home, because the child was so scared, and only trusted Kathy.
Ms. Diaz spent countless of hours making sure school was a safe space, children who were often bullied, or had behavioral issues knew to go to her office to express themselves and ask her for advice. Kathy’s office became a second home for her students. Kathy cared deeply about the systematic issues within the public school system, she spoke up about it, and brought awareness always at every county meeting.
The importance of bringing more resources to the public school system, and inspiring children in need to feel empowered, and have the same opportunities as others was essential to her. Kathy was always the first, and last one in the building, she would open the school, and leave after midnight because she was passionate about her work.
She even had an air mattress for her son Jeremy to nap on during summers they spent at her office past midnight. Even after being diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, Kathy would have chemotherapy every Friday, and return to school on a Monday ready to do her part. Kathy’s house was across the street from the school in Keys Landing, and if the alarm would go off, Kathy was always there to attend to police, and check the building even while battling with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and undergoing chemo/radiation weekly.
Ms. Diaz gave out lunches, and laptops during a global pandemic being a high-risk cancer
patient. She knew that participating in this during a pandemic, was putting her life at risk, but Kathy only saw, the importance of ensuring that all students had fair access to resources to be able to complete the school year.
Kathy worried about kids that had parents with drug and alcohol problems and involved herself with social services on a regular basis to make sure her students were cared for the way they needed to be. She was an advocate against bullying and made her office a refuge for children that were experiencing it. She wanted the school to always maintain a feeling of home, and comfort for the children.
Kathy Diaz graciously served the community, school, and the world as an exemplary leader
every single day of her life. She saved her niece’s life twice when she was under the age of 7, when she had two epileptic seizures. Kathy at the time was between the ages of 15-17 years old. She taught her niece and many others how to read. Her petition for the street renaming reached 40,000 views, 1,900 signatures in support of the renaming, and letters from the CEO of Roc Nation, other CEOs of major companies, The Mayor of Miami, and Superintendent.
The week before her passing, Kathy was so ill, and in a wheelchair because her body physically ached because the cancer had spread aggressively, but she still went to school to serve her students, faculty, and community. Kathy’s life highlights the importance of mentorship, support, inspiration, and love. There are thousands of students, relatives and friends that can vouch for this, because Kathy touched lives.
Kathy leaves behind an 11 year old son named Jeremy Elliott Diaz. A street named after his
mother is vital for the family because they have vowed to continue her legacy, and honor her everyday of their lives, but it is important for the community because she led by example, and it will inspire everyone to do the same. Kathy is the first person in more than 50 years to receive a street in her name in the City of Homestead.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday July 30. The Mayor of Homestead, Commissioner,
and Council Members will be in attendance. Mayor Suarez, and Mayor Cava were invited, and may attend, as well as the Superintendent of Miami Dade Public Schools.
