Miami-Dade County School Board District 4 candidate Kevin Menendez Macki is an educator with 17 years of experience and a tireless passion for his community. Born and raised in Hialeah, he attended Barry University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Florida International University. He served as teacher at Hialeah Gardens Elementary, was a professional development liaison and teacher at Joella C. Good Elementary, and is now the principal at Horeb Christian School. For more information, navigate to kevinmenendezmacki.com.
Ahead of the August 23 primary election, and with early voting now in progress, here are 10 questions with Menendez Macki:
What made you decide to become an educator?
Kevin Menendez Macki: At an early age, I enjoyed working with young people. I had the desire to make an impact and inspire our youth to be their best.
Who was your favorite teacher as a child and why?
Mr. Young from North Twin Lakes Elementary. He was really good at making learning fun. I genuinely enjoyed his class.
Why are you running for the vacated MDCPS Board District 4 seat?
Over the years as both a teacher and a principal, I’ve had the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of students. I’d like to broaden that impact district wide.
Where did you go to school?
I attended various schools: Horeb in Hialeah (where I am currently the principal), North Twin Lakes Elementary, Joella C. Good Elementary, Lake Stevens Middle School, American Senior High School and Dade Christian.
What is your earliest school-related memory?
I remember lunch time with my friends in 3rd grade, particularly putting corn on my pizza and my mother bringing cookies to our bake sales.
What was your favorite K12 subject?
Math was always my favorite.
What is the most important issue in your race?
School safety. We need to ensure that we protect our children from both external and internal threats. Once elected, I will prioritize physical safety and mental health.
Why do you think you are best candidate?
I am the only educator in the race. It is vital that our elected representative understand education, the system and its gaps. I understand how to tackle learning loss, how to boost teacher morale, how to manage a school budget, etc. I also obtained both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education from Barry University and Florida International University respectively. Education is my passion and I want to bring that passion to the school board.
If elected what would you do on Day One?
I plan to start visiting all the schools in our district to build relationships with administrators and understand where there are gaps.
What do you do for fun?
Spend time with my family, go to the gym, and play basketball.
