On the first day of school, this high school in Little Haiti celebrates its first A rating

As the sun rose over Miami Edison Senior High School in Little Haiti, there was a resounding sense of pride among the students, teachers, administration, district staff, and even the crosswalk guard.

“We are so proud to be here – we are an A school! We work hard for it. It was not easy, but we did it,” said crosswalk guard Loretta Duncombe, as she stood outside the front gate ushering students into the school.

“Welcome back y’all, welcome back,” she said to one student. “Let’s go, let’s go,” she said to another.

Thursday was the first day of school for Miami-Dade County Public Schools and there was excitement and nervousness at schools all over the county. Miami Edison had a celebratory first day, touting their new A-rating from the state. The high school, which has a large population of students from other countries, faced the threat of closure in the past because of poor performance. But this school year has started on a note of optimism.

Edison and other schools in the county like Hialeah Middle welcomed back students, including many newly arrived immigrants, who were excited about the upcoming school year. And in several districts with school board elections coming up next week, parents shared what issues they will take into consideration on Aug. 20.

‘They finally see us’

Loretta Duncombe has been working as a crosswalk guard for the past nine years and was an assistant for 24 years, so she has seen Miami Edison Senior High transition from a school that the state threatened to shut down, to a school proud of its achievements. The pride she feels at the school’s newly achieved A-rating from the state is shared by all the school’s staff.

“We push a lot for kindness, embracing one another, and supporting one another,” said James Dominique, principal of the school and Miami Edison graduate.

Dominique explained the importance of the Bantu word “Ubuntu,” which signifies having humanity to others. He said that without achieving harmony, students cannot focus on academics.

Aliette Pierre-Joseph teaches reading to first-year students who are below grade level. She agrees with Dominique that the most important thing is to set a foundation of respect and trust.

“When they truly know you care, they’ll do anything,” said Pierre-Joseph, another Edison graduate. Her son Sterling Joseph is a senior at the school and committed to FIU to play football.

Joseph says in his four years at the school, he has seen it grow from unstructured and chaotic to much more academic and spirited. “It got a little more strict with academics,” he said.

The superintendent of schools for Miami-Dade, Jose Dotres, was at Miami Edison on the first day to congratulate the school on its achievement.

“We are so, so proud of the history of the school, the work that has been done, and for this community to say Edison is an A-rated school,” said Dotres during the morning announcements.

Although Miami Edison Senior High remains on the Florida Department of Education’s list of low-performing, high-priority schools for the 2024-2025 school year, this year’s new rating was a cause for celebration and both teachers and staff were sporting Grade-A medals around their necks for the first day.

Miami Edison Senior High almost closed down in 2004 and then again in 2011 for not meeting academic standards. Last school year, it received a C rating from the state.

The school is 72 percent Black and 26 percent Hispanic and has many students who recently arrived from other countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and Honduras.

“It’s difficult, it takes time,” said Elouise Nieto, an English as a Second Language teacher.

Often there are cultural differences that can affect learning. In Haiti for instance, students are taught to not speak up during class and to use eye contact, said teacher Pierre-Joseph. When they arrive at Edison, they have to be taught the new cultural norms.

Cesar Urraco came from Honduras four years ago, and does not speak much English. He is proud that this year he is moving up in his English as a Second Language class. “I found a better life here,” said Urraco.

Yolette Mezadieu, who teaches business, finance and entrepreneurship, never had any doubt about the greatness of Miami Edison. But, she said, it took 25 years for the outside world to finally recognize the school for what it is.

“It’s just like wow, they finally recognize us, and they finally see us,” said Mezadieu.

“It’s a wonderful sign for the community,” said Superintendent Dotres.

‘Go over my limits’

Seventh grader Keilly Zambrana plans to get straight A’s this year in her classes at Hialeah Middle School. She spent the summer relaxing and doing her summer work, and is starting the year with high hopes.

“I’ve been a little bit nervous, but I know it’s going to be good,” said Zambrana, who loves astronomy and dreams of working at NASA. “To get that I need study real hard, I need to go over my limits,” she said.

Like Miami Edison, Hialeah Middle School also has a large number of students who recently arrived from other countries.

Lawrence Tellez, 13, just arrived from Nicaragua seven months ago and sat in his first class on his first day of middle school on Thursday. He said in Spanish he has already noticed how many more resources there are in this country. “There is more food, more medicine, and more books,” said Tellez. This year he hopes to learn to play the piano.

Florida representative for District 112, Alex Rizo is a graduate of the school and showed up on Thursday to inspire the students along with Miami-Dade County Commisioner René Garcia and school board member Roberto Alonso.

The principal Lucy Trills was happy to have the guests, and welcomed them into a number of classrooms, including a classroom for students with disabilities, where one student hugged superintendent Jose Dotres, as well as other staff.

“She loves giving hugs,” said Trills.

School board elections next week

For other parts of the district, the first day of school is less than a week before elections for new school board members. Voters in Districts 3, 7 and 9 will go to the polls on Aug. 20.

In District 3, which stretches from Aventura to parts of Coconut Grove along the beaches and the bay, candidates are vying to replace Lucia Baez-Geller, who is leaving the school board to seek the Democratic nomination to run for the House of Representatives seat currently held by Republican María Elvira Salazar.

The four candidates are Joseph Scott Geller (no relation to Baez-Geller), Martin Karp, Hayley Ross, Brent W. Latham, and Gustavo Ortega.

Read More: Who’s on the ballot for the Miami-Dade School Board? Here’s what you should know

At Biscayne Beach Elementary School a few parents spoke to the Miami Herald during drop off and the one candidate many recognize is Gustavo Ortega, who currently teaches first grade for children on the autism spectrum at the North Beach Elementary.

Dunia Cosic, 48, who has a child in fifth grade, said she plans to do more research on candidates but knows Ortega personally and said he’s taught her son chess.

“He would be a great addition,” she said. “Once you’re in the school, it gives you a more personal perspective as to what the school really requires and what the students need, and what’s best for the school overall.”

In District 7, which includes parts of Kendall and Pinecrest, DeSantis appointee Mary Blanco is running to keep her seat against business woman Maxeme “Max” Tuchman and longtime educator Javier “Javi” Perez.

Outside Miami Killian High School in District 7 most parents were on the fence. One parent said he was looking for a candidate who keeps to “traditional” teachings.

“I want to see [the district] ask parents more what should be taught and not push ideologies,” he said.

On the first day of school at Palmetto Middle School in Pinecrest, few parents seemed to know who was running in the District 9 election.

Residents of District 9, which stretches from Pinecrest to Homestead, will choose between incumbent Luisa Santos and challenger Kimberly Beltran.

Betty West, a retired teacher and the grandmother of a sixth grader at Palmetto, told the Herald she is worried about book bans and religion in schools. She said she would support a candidate who is a Democrat, and she plans to vote.

Though the election is nonpartisan, politics have seeped into the race. Santos, a registered Democrat, opposes a proposed state constitutional amendment that would make school board races partisan . Her opponent Beltran is endorsed by Gays Against Groomers, Florida Right to Life and the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida said she wants to keep social justice issues out of schools, and she supports the proposed amendment to make school board races partisan.