Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg, Head of School at Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School in Miami-Dade County, was named the overall winner of the 2016 Council for Educational Change’s Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award. The honor recognizes and rewards principals who have participated in Council programs, and whose leadership skills have improved the academic performance of their students.
Under the leadership of Acevedo-Isenberg, the newly created Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School developed an award-winning dual-language immersion program and the school was rated A in its first year of operation. Part of her strategy includes providing tutors for children struggling with second language acquisition. In addition, she coordinates periodic observations in which teachers observe high-performing colleagues and share best practices along with monthly data chats. By reviewing data, hosting discussions and tailoring instruction to meet the needs of each student, teachers improve student achievement. Ms. Acevedo-Isenberg works closely with her business mentor Ana-Marie Codina Barlick, of Codina Partners, as well as other Council-facilitated business partnerships.
“This is a team win. We have the most passionate and dedicated students, parents, and teachers on this planet,” said Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg, head of school at Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School. “Creating partnerships with the community, working with the Council for Educational Change, and receiving mentorship from Ana-Marie Codina Barlick has truly created the perfect combination for a learning institution where a little magic happens every single day.”
The other two finalists who demonstrated strong leadership skills and worked closely with their business partners were Principal Marianne Simon of Reynolds Lane Elementary in Duval County and Principal Tabitha Griffin of Belleair Elementary in Pinellas County. Acevedo-Isenberg was awarded $10,000 and the other two finalists each received $5,000.
The award was presented at a luncheon at the University of Miami where business partners Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Frank Scruggs, partner of Berger Singerman LLP; and Alex Villoch, president & publisher of the Miami Herald Media Co., were recognized for their pivotal role in establishing the foundation from which the Council has been able to grow successful school leaders. The Braman Family Foundation and Debi Braman Wechsler were recognized for their invaluable commitment to improving the quality of education in our public schools. The Carnival Foundation, Cobb Family Foundation, Miller Family Foundation and Richard & Susan Finkelstein were the generous sponsors of the Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award luncheon.
The Council for Educational Change, a statewide nonprofit organization, delivers programs that strengthen the leadership team in schools across Florida with the goal of improving student achievement. The Council was the vision of the late Leonard Miller, co-founder of Lennar Corp. Mr. Miller believed that principal leadership is the catalyst to ignite school improvement. His leadership, vision and expertise inspired the Council’s Principal Leadership programs, including CEO/Principal mentoring partnerships. Under this program, successful business executives mentor and coach school principals to develop programs that encourage students to graduate career-ready and equipped with skills and abilities to obtain meaningful employment. Over the past 13 years, the Council has invested more than $30 million in leadership programs across Florida, and touched the lives of more than 1.6 million students in over 900 schools.
Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School is located in Downtown Doral, a mixed-use community developed by Codina Partners in the heart of Doral offering a true live, work, play, learn lifestyle. To learn more about Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School, visit www.ddces.org or call (305) 569-2223.
