There’s a new superintendent in town, and he’s a familiar face at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
The school board had narrowed its search down to two finalists and selected Rafael Villalobos, the district’s current South Area Superintendent, over Ernie Lozano, the chief human resources officer at Broward County Public Schools.
The vote was unanimous, but board members praised Lozano as well.
“It was a difficult choice, because you guys have amazing credentials, and both Broward County and Dade County are better for your collective efforts,” said board member Danny Espino to both men.
“I am grateful, and I am ready,” Villalobos said to the board.
As the internal candidate, the board members have seen Villalobos in action.
“And I just cannot wait to see how much more MDCPS is gonna flourish under your leadership, sir,” said board chair Mari Tere Rojas.
“I take what we do personal, because it’s about the communities, our society and the country as a whole and if we do it right, we’re all gonna benefit from it,” Villalobos responded.
Retiring superintendent Jose Dotres introduced his successor at a news conference after the school board voted, a passing-of-the-torch moment.
“I am so confident that this school district will continue its trajectory of success,” Dotres said.
The district has earned seven “A” grades in a row, so Villalobos was not hired to turn things around; his job is to continue the success and deal with the ever-changing education landscape. He said his first priority is to get to know the entire community, and then start working on boosting falling enrollment.
“I think the greatest issue that we have right now is definitely lower enrollment and making sure that parents understand that we are your best choice,” he said. “I view it as a competition; I view it as the opportunity for us to outshine the competitors, and we will do that.”
The next superintendent also spoke about immigrant and Haitian families who are losing TPS protection, and urged them to send their children to school.
“My message to those families is that we are welcoming every single child into our schools, that we have processes in place to support children at any level, Villalobos said.
Dotres’s contract runs through February, but the start date for Villalobos has not yet been determined.