Foundation Board Member

Lourdes P. Gimenez is a long time Miami-Dade County resident, retired professional educator and administrator with over 35 years of experience in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools System.   She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Florida International University in 1976 and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern University in 1980.   In 1992, she received an Educational Leadership Certification from Nova University  and in 2007, she participated in the Harvard Principal’s Leadership Program.   She began her career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 1981 as a teacher in Henry M. Flagler Elementary School.  She advanced to the capacity of Curriculum Supervisor at the region level where she managed Bilingual instruction.  In 1992 she returned to the school-site as the Assistant Principal at Coral Gables Elementary School and subsequently was promoted to Principal at George Washington Carver Elementary School.   In 1999 she was named the founding Principal for Dr Carlos J. Finlay Elementary School, a Dual Language Program and Professional Development School, with Florida International University.   During her time as a school-site administrator, Mrs. Gimenez was given the opportunity to implement one of the first School Choice models, as well as the first Italian Program in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

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In her last appointment, as Personnel and Technology Operations Administrative Director at Central Region Office, Mrs. Gimenez served 86 schools, overseeing over 215 administrators and 77,000 students.  Additionally, she served on a myriad of committees and task forces, including on The State Advisory Board for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Governor’s Educational Equity Task Force. In 2018, she received a Gubernatorial Appointment, as a Board Member, to The Children’s Trust.   She was also named as a Board Member on the Agape Network Foundation.  Mrs. Gimenez has received numerous awards and recognitions, including her installation to the Miami Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame and the Florida International University Golden Medallion for Outstanding Alumna.

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She is married to Carlos A. Gimenez and they have three adult children, Carlos, Julio and Lourdes and six grandchildren; Alexis, Danny, Lucas, Ava, Marcus and Michael.