From nearly every nook and cranny of an old Lutheran church in north Coral Gables comes a steady rhythm of love, dedication, and compassion. Step through the doors of Crystal Academy and you’re greeted by contagious smiles, warm hellos, and an inviting atmosphere created by students ranging from toddlers to young adults.
Crystal Academy serves about 40 children and young adults on the autism spectrum, many non-ver-bal and facing significant developmental challenges.
Here, students learn, grow, and connect within a highly specialized environment tailored to their needs. Many rely on advanced assistive devices— from tablets with pictographs to eye-tracking technology—to communicate and engage in learning. For families, the Academy’s consistent, quality therapeu-tic programs provide rare and essential peace of mind.
Everyday skills often taken for granted—catching
a ball, sorting shapes, playing alongside peers—form
the heart of the school’s one-to-one instructional pro-
grams. Older students regularly practice real-world
skills such as communication, money management,
and daily living on weekly field trips using the local
free trolley to neighborhood places like Publix.
“Every child who walks through our doors brings
their own strengths, challenges, and spark,” says
Maria ‘Mary’ Palacio, founder and president of Crys-
tal Academy. “We meet them where they are and
guide them toward independence, connection, and
confidence. Our family founded Crystal Academy for
my son David, now 23, whose journey inspired a mis-
sion that today supports families across Coral Gables.
Children who rely on specialized support deserve a
place designed for them, an environment that under-
stands their needs and helps them communicate,
learn, and thrive.”
Mary’s journey for her son inspired what has be-
come a cornerstone for families across Coral Gables.
Starting with just two students in borrowed rooms,
Crystal Academy has grown into a vibrant commu-
nity supported by more than 50 teachers and thera-
pists. Its curriculum blends academics with speech,
occupational, and physical therapy alongside art,
music, and life-skills development tailored to each
child.
Crystal Academy’s future hinges on a decision ex-
pected in the coming months: whether the school can
finally move into a new, purpose-built home on its
current site—rent-free—or remain in an aging build-
ing with rising repair costs and the possibility of
much higher rents elsewhere. When Century Crystal
Group purchased the property in 2021, it promised
the school a new facility and playground with a 99-
year, rent-free agreement. Fifield Companies, which
plans to acquire the site pending zoning approval, has
committed to honoring that promise and giving Crys-
tal Academy the modern home it deserves.
A new building would relieve the school of rent and
heavy maintenance expenses—nearly $60,000 in re-
pairs this year alone—freeing resources for scholar-
ships, therapies, and individualized programs that
families depend on. Currently reliant on Medicaid
and insurer reimbursements, these savings could ex-
pand critical therapies and support.
Upon completion, Crystal Academy will have a
brand-new, cutting-edge school and playground on its existing
campus alongside an apartment community designed to com-
plement nearby hotels, condominiums, and businesses. The
school’s unique one-to-one model, therapies, and independ-
ence training are currently limited by the aging building’s con-
straints; a purpose-built facility will allow these programs to
grow and evolve.
But this future depends on the successful rezoning of the
property. Without rezoning, future owners could terminate the
school’s long-term lease, placing the school’s continued pres-
ence on the property—and the stability families count on—at
risk.
For over three years, ongoing legal challenges from a nearby
resident have delayed the vital rezoning approval needed for
Crystal Academy’s new home. Despite multiple decisions af-
firming the property does not qualify for historic designation,
new appeals, including one filed after the Board of Architects’
October 2023 approval, have stalled progress. The single on-
site tree she is challenging was already included in the prop-
erty’s comprehensive historic review, which courts upheld.
Arborists and experts have confirmed—through canopy analy-
sis, age assessment, and evaluation of its healthy root flare and
canopy—that the tree is 84 to 99 years old, in good condition,
and a strong candidate for safe on-site relocation. This pro-
longed uncertainty threatens the school’s future and disrupts
the stability essential for the children who depend on its pro-
grams.
“Our goal is to give Crystal Academy the home it deserves,”
says Sarina Sorrentino, Vice President of Development at Fi-
field Companies. “The compassion and structure inside that
school have changed countless lives. We want to ensure it con-
tinues—stronger than ever—in a safe, modern building de-
signed just for them.” Coral Gables officials, including Mayor
Vince Lago, have praised the school’s contributions, affirming
it embodies the city’s inclusive and compassionate values.
For Palacios, the facility represents more than a building:
“This new home isn’t just a building; it is stability for our fam-
ilies and a promise that we can continue offering the special-
ized programs, therapies, academics, arts, and supportive
structure our children need to thrive. It protects their future
and ensures that generations of children will have a place
where they can learn, grow, and belong. It is also a promise
that Coral Gables will continue to champion children of all
abilities.”
