Barbara Goleman Senior High School ushered in a one-of-a-kind program at the start of the 2015-2016 school year, the National Security Intelligence Magnet, also referred to as The Law Enforcement and Intelligence Studies Magnet.
The program was designed by the Goleman administration in conjunction with Academy leader and FBI agent, Peter Falcon and former FBI agent, Nelson Barbosa. It is the only school-based program currently affiliated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Division.
As part of the curriculum, Falcon and Barbosa coordinated field trips to the new offices of the FBI Miami Division in Miramar. Students of the program were split into three groups and each group visited the field office within the last school year to meet with a number of officials, including George Piro, Special Agent in Charge, known for his work as team leader and lead interrogator of the Saddam Hussein Interrogation Team.
“I wanted to provide exposure,” said Falcon. “We took them and several field agents talked to the students about different disciplines like the white collar crime unit, foreign counter intelligence unit, and counter terrorism unit.”
The students attended lectures with varied discussions such as an active shooter scenario. They were also given the opportunity for lengthy Q-and-A sessions with officials including Piro, and the students did not disappoint with the quality of questions posited, including concerns over cyber safety, the security of the new building, and the emotional toll endured through this line of work.
Piro was visibly impressed with the students and congratulated them for their work in the program noting that he expects to see many of them return for careers in the FBI following their college degrees.
A tour was conducted of specific areas of the building and students were able to wander through the detention center where booking, processing, and interrogations take place before inmates are transferred to federal detention centers.
Goleman principal Joaquin Hernandez also attended the field trips and looked on with pride as students asked questions and immersed themselves in the possibility of pursuing career opportunities in law enforcement. Hernandez himself has participated by attending the FBI Citizen’s Academy which offers members an up-close look at how the FBI operates and investigates.
Falcon, who teaches in the magnet program by day and works in the Miami Field Office in the evening, has a long history of both professions but this is the first time he has able to meld them together.
“I wish I had something like this back in high school, so for me this is personal,” said Falcon. “When I’m in the classroom, it’s not just a job, it’s my passion and now I’m enjoying teaching more than ever before in 25 years because I can combine both my passion for teaching and my work for the FBI.”
Falcon is trying to have the students visit Washington D.C. to see FBI Headquarters and possibly get the director to meet with them.
For more information on the magnet program, visit www.bghs.dadeschools.net or call 305-362-0676.