Student Government President Zachary Figueroa speaks during the Sept. 17 opening of The South Florida Autism Charter School in Hialeah. Photo courtesy of the school.
The South Florida Autism Charter School celebrated the grand opening of its five-acre campus and facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 17.
The school, at 3751 W 108th St. in Hialeah, says it is the first charter school in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties dedicated to children who are on the Autism spectrum. The campus has 200 students enrolled in kindergarten - 12th grades.
Speakers included Student Government President Zachary Figueroa, who is shown in the photo, and schoolmates Daniel Fernandez, the 2020-2021 valedictorian, and Austin Ochoa, captain of the basketball team.
Also present for the celebration were Head of School/Principal Dr. Tamara Moodie; Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho; and Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 12 and Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava provided a video that was shown during the event.
Other officials in attendance included Glenn Pierce, chair of the school’s governing board; Morris Copeland, chief community services officer, office of the mayor, Miami-Dade County and Dr. Michael Alessandri, executive director, University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities.
The school is part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.