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Roberto Rabelo, a social studies/civics teacher at South Miami Middle Community School, has been named the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2027 Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year at a ceremony held this evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Miami Airport & Convention Center.
Rabelo, a 37-year veteran teacher at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), has a legacy of mentoring students and helping them to harness their incredible potential at South Miami Middle Community School. His inspiration for becoming a teacher came from seeing his mother’s perseverance as a caregiver for his brother, Lazaro. His first teaching position was at Kensington Park Elementary School, the school his brother attended, and where Rabelo was awarded Rookie Teacher of the Year in 1993.
He is the founder of the DWOW Mindset of Success—Do What Others Won’t. This philosophy drives dramatic results: in one year, his Civics EOC scores soared from 64% to 83%, outperforming advanced classes.
But his influence extends far beyond the test scores. As the “Social Learning Guru”, Rabelo champions social-emotional growth, leading school-wide movements of positivity. He established The Power of One and ICLK (Inspiring Compassion, Love, and Kindness), both student-led initiatives that encourage students to get involved in meaningful community service.
Roberto Rabelo is more than an educator; he is a mentor, a leader, and a hero, dedicated to showing every student they are limitless.
The Teacher of the Year runner-up is Dale J. Adamson, a robotics/engineering teacher from Howard D. McMillan Middle School.
The top rookie teachers were also recognized at the event. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2027 Rookie Teacher of the Year is Kristian Jose Luciano, a social studies teacher at Homestead Middle School.
Luciano is a model of resilience, using his personal experiences to guide 7th- and 8th-grade students and help them reach their potential with compassion and high expectations.
His impact is measurable. Under Luciano’s leadership, students demonstrated a remarkable 14-percentage point increase in the 2025 Civics EOC, a true testament to his teaching prowess. He champions student success as the sponsor of the National Junior Honor Society chapter and is a valued mentor to his colleagues.
Beyond his role as Social Studies Department Chair, he serves the community as a Volunteer Guardian ad Litem, advocating for children in the foster care system.
The Rookie Teacher of the Year runner-up is Katherine Ocejo, a Kindergarten teacher from Ernest R. Graham K-8 Academy.
The signature sponsors for the event include the Educational Federal Credit Union (EdFed), United Way Miami, and Kendall Toyota, which will present the Teacher of the Year with the keys to a new car. The event is made possible through partnerships with United Teachers of Dade, Miami-Dade County Council of PTAs/PTSAs, the Dade Association of School Administrators, Univision and Fox-Mar Photography.
Teachers such as those recognized tonight serve as a reminder to the community about why M-DCPS is your best choice!
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