Written by: TFVstaff • August 4, 2019• In Our Schools

Childhood is a Precious and Sacred Time

Since 1933, Conchita Espinosa Academy (CEA) has educated children with a unique philosophy and methodology developed and first put into practice by its founder, Conchita Espinosa, in Havana, Cuba. Espinosa believed that every child deserves and has the right to a complete education in the arts and sciences. She dreamed of a school where students would develop passion and character and where they would have the opportunity to enjoy the precious years of childhood. A visionary, at only 19 years old she opened the doors to Conchita Espinosa Academy, which quickly grew from a musical kindergarten to a K-8 school with over 450 students. In 1963, CEA re-opened its doors in Miami, Florida. It has since earned an outstanding reputation in the South Florida community for giving its students an excellent academic foundation, active involvement in the arts as part of their day-to-day lives, and a forward-focused preparation for life through the development of character in an environment of mutual respect and trust. The Espinosa Method, proven effective for 87 years, provides a structured, nurturing environment for children to become joyous and productive individuals with healthy bodies, curious minds, and strong civic, spiritual, and cultural values.

Maribel Z. Diaz, Espinosa’s daughter and current Director Emeritus, took her mother’s dream and enhanced it with her own. For the past 50 years, she has dedicated her life to expanding this vision, further developing sophisticated arts and sports curricula, envisioning and implementing the Mastery Program, which encourages all students to develop a passion, and reinforcing the idea that the teaching-learning process is dynamic, interdependent and in constant change. The school and its after-school Conservatory of the Arts has continued into the 21st century as a strong community of learners that has grown from the Espinosa women’s talent and vision. The school remains in the hands of the Espinosa family, with two generations of leaders, Diaz and her daughters, Carol Diaz-Zubieta, CEA Director, and Dr. Ana Diaz-Zubieta, Conservatory Director, strengthening and working towards an educational ideal that, in Espinosa’s words, each day is “mejor, mejor y mejor.”

Today, CEA is a fully accredited private, coeducational K3-8 school located on ten beautifully landscaped acres in southwest Miami-Dade County. The campus has four distinct facilities: the main school building, the Early Childhood Learning Center, the Conservatory, and state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports field and track. CEA’s facilities, educational programs and curriculum are thoughtfully designed to meet the specific needs of each developmental stage from K3 through 8th grade, creating thinkers and doers who are prepared to thrive in the twenty-first century. Through the integration of solid academic and arts curricula, students learn to think. They develop leadership skills, compassion, creativity, a sense of duty, self-awareness, and develop pride in themselves and their community. The Espinosa Method allows educators the ability to deliver the curriculum in a student-centered way that focuses on each child’s individual needs and abilities, giving teachers and students the freedom to discover and capitalize on their own unique gifts and talents.

For 87 years, CEA has grown and evolved. Location, faculty, books and technology have changed, but the integrity of its essence remains intact. CEA is more than a school. It is a community where students learn more about more. They are empowered to look for the best in others and themselves and are shaped into young men and women who actively explore interests, hone talents, and advocate ideas. CEA is proud to see its students become well-rounded individuals who, upon graduation, shine in the best high schools, top universities and, most importantly, in life. Conchita’s belief in the power of the spirit, the wealth of the mind, the sacredness of childhood, and the strength of following one’s dreams, continue to live on as part of her legacy.

Conchita Espinosa Academy is accredited internationally, nationally and regionally by Accreditation International (AI), National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA), the Middle States Association (MSA), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISF). CEA is also a member of the Independent Schools of South Florida (ISSF).

For more information, or to schedule a personal tour, contact Audrey Gonzalez (agonzalez@conchitaespinosa.com) or call 305-227-1149.

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