During the pinnacle of his education career in which he was constantly recognized for his achievements, Eric Acosta accepted a job offer with a Fortune 500 company in New York, where he parlayed his teaching skills into an executive position earning more than a six-figure a year salary.
While his success spilled over to Corporate America, it reminded him of how important it was to make sure kids reach their full potential and share the same success as their peers in a remarkably competitive job market.
And he wanted to be the person to place a thumb print on students’ lives, trading in his corporate suit, brief case and luxury-style office for a smaller office and desk inside a public school.
Teaching was Acosta’s true calling and he returned to the field he loves best as the new principal for Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School.
Previously the principal at Palm Springs Middle School, Acosta replaced Jose Bueno, who was last year’s Miami-Dade County Principal of the Year.
Bueno was promoted to a higher position in the regional office for Miami-Dade Public Schools.
Acosta, who grew up in Hialeah, is so excited about his new position that he wished regular school could start now.
“I am so excited about the first day of school,” Acosta said with a smile while sitting at his desk. “Nothing beats the first day of school, watching the students walk through the doors and we’re ready to teach them what they need to learn. This is excitement.”
As the new principal, Acosta’s main goal is to keep HML as an “A” school, enhancing the school’s magnet, Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment programs.
The Dual Enrollment Program is a partnership with Florida International University.
“This school is a success,” he said. “The staff did an excellent job polishing the gem. My goal is to continue polishing for a world class gem.”
HML’s iPrep program is the gist of Acosta’s passion to help drive his students to their full potentiality.
The program, which was the brainchild of Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, sought to meet the digital and real-world needs of 21st Century learners. iPrep is an alternative schooling concept to the conventional teaching and learning practices in traditional school environments, where open-area classrooms, state-of-the-art technology, and real-world applications drive instruction.
Carvalho opened the first iPrep Academy in 2010 in the downtown administrative offices. Needless to say, this avant-garde academy was a fledgling success within its first year.
Acosta calls the iPrep program at HML a college within a high school.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” Acosta said. “We have great academics, technology, activities and sports all right here on campus.”
The classrooms take up nearly the entire third floor, which are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, digital learning equipment, a cafe and rooms for kids to have to themselves for studying and relaxing.
Acosta said the program, which is a partnership with FIU, helps students earn college credits and have two years worth of college experience once they graduate high school.
Acosta is no stranger to some of the students, especially the incoming freshmen students, which makes the transition from middle school a little easier.
He knew them well when he was the principal at Palm Springs Middle School in Hialeah.
“Palm Springs Middle has the same characteristics at HML, the family-oriented community and dedicated staff members,” he said. “The transition should be good because a lot of students who went to Palm Springs Middle are now here. Another goal of mine is growth in the community, get as many parents involved in our schools.”
Acosta said his message to students is there are no limits when accomplishing their goals, as long as they dedicate themselves and reach out to him and teachers who want to help them.
“The freshmen class and all students have an experience and opportunity to reach their dreams,” Acosta said. “The freshmen class holds the key to their futures. Everyone in the building will help them reach their goals.”
Acosta always wanted to be a teacher since he was a kid.
His parents, who migrated from Cuba, underscored the importance of a good education. His father was a lawyer in Cuba.
Acosta earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education and education leadership from FIU and Nova Southeastern University.
“They told me to get a good education because it will open doors for you,” he said. “And it did. So what better way to be involved with kids through education. It’s my purpose in life.”
Acosta climbed the ranks in education, as an assistant principal at South Miami Middle School and held the same position at Design Architecture High School.
He opened up Doral Middle School which gave him the opportunity to work at an educational institution from scratch and create “wonderful and new opportunities” for students.
After he landed the regional vice president job at the 500 Fortune Company, Acosta said educating students was missing from his life.
“I missed the face-to-face talks with students and find out what they need to make them better,” Acosta said. “This is what I was meant to do. I have been in Corporate America but nothing beats leaving a positive mark on a student’s life.”
Acosta is married to an educator and his two kids attend Miami-Dade Public Schools.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.