Speakers

Rafael A. Villalobos
Superintendent of Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Rafael A. Villalobos serves as Superintendent of Schools for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), one of the nation’s largest public school systems and the school district that helped shape his own life. A proud M-DCPS graduate, he began his career as a teacher at South Dade Senior High School in 1994 and, over more than three decades, has served at virtually every level of the organization—from classroom teacher and principal to Region Superintendent and Superintendent of Schools. A former M-DCPS Principal of the Year, his commitment to education was shaped in part by witnessing the profound impact educators had on his brother, who was blind and autistic—an experience that helped define his life’s work: ensuring that every child is seen, supported, challenged, and given the opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential.

As Superintendent, Mr. Villalobos is focused on ensuring that M-DCPS remains a premier educational organization and the best choice for every child and family in Miami-Dade County. His vision combines academic excellence with innovation, exceptional employees, safe and welcoming schools, fiscal responsibility, modern facilities, expanded career and educational opportunities, and strong partnerships with the community. At the heart of his leadership is a simple conviction: great schools do more than educate students—they strengthen families, build stronger communities, and help create a stronger society and nation. For Mr. Villalobos, leading M-DCPS is both a privilege and an opportunity to give back to the school system and community that shaped his life while building even greater opportunities for the generations that follow.

Kyndall Brown
2027 Florida Teacher of the Year

Kyndall Brown is the 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year and Florida’s Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. As an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Harmony Middle School in Osceola County, she has transformed learning into an experience that extends far beyond the classroom. Through hands-on agricultural projects, student leadership opportunities, and partnerships with local farms, Kyndall has created spaces where students build confidence, discover their strengths, and find a genuine sense of belonging. She also founded Harmony Middle School’s first Fishing Club, bringing students across grade levels together through a shared love of the outdoors. Kyndall has a passion for agriculture, creating unique learning opportunities for students, and encouraging both teachers and students to be the best versions of themselves. She believes education is about planting seeds of possibility that can grow far beyond the classroom.

Roberto Rabelo
2027 Francisco R. Walker Miami-Dade Public Schools Teacher of the Year

Roberto Rabelo is entering his 38th year as an educator with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and is the 2027 Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year. Throughout his career, he has made students’ social-emotional well-being a cornerstone of his teaching, believing that academic success begins with students recognizing their own abilities and potential.

His signature TWAH Method—“Thoughts, Words, Actions, Habits”—and DWOW (“Do What Others Won’t”) Mindset of Success combine positive thinking, executive functioning skills, purposeful student engagement, and innovative instructional strategies to empower students to feel LIMITLESS. His classroom practices include daily student and parent communication, individualized support, purposeful seating, guided notes, technology integration, and movement-based learning designed to make civics engaging and accessible to all learners.

These approaches have helped his mixed-ability civics students, including ELL and ESE learners, consistently exceed district and state proficiency rates. As he approaches four decades in education, Mr. Rabelo hopes to share his passion, experience, and effective teaching strategies with current and future educators.

TBA
2027 Broward County Public Schools Teacher of the Year

Coming Soon!