Engaging in heartfelt conversations with students and teachers on a sense of renewed inspiration for the Cavalier lifestyle, the annual tradition of inviting influential members around Miami-Dade County into an authentic look at the operations of Coral Gables Senior High for “Principal of the Day” was Children’s Trust President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jim Haj. Bringing not just his title but his passion for serving the youthful energy of all ages across the district, Mr. Haj’s extensive career provides a trip down memory lane on education.
Having previously visited the Gables campus in the 2000s as a guest, his new priority as principal for Dec. 11, was to get a firsthand observation of the dynamic atmosphere. Deciding to tour around the school with principal Mr. Ullivarri, Mr. Haj first visited the 9000 and 6000 buildings.
Walking through the hallways and getting an insight into all of the five academic programs and extracurricular Gables offers, he then walked to see the Little Cavaliers Preschool and sat down with the Gables’ administration on plans for the 2024-2025 school year. Before leaving, Mr. Haj visited classrooms where he gave future advice to the Cavaliers and his mission at the Children’s Trust.
“What makes Gables so special is that it really motivates students to want to come to school and become infused with the spirit of being a Cavalier. It almost reminds me of the days when I was a principal at Southwest Miami High,” Mr. Haj said.
Before positioning himself as a focal point of inspiration across Miami-Dade, Mr. Haj dedicated himself to restructuring his alma mater from 2005 to 2011 as a principal for Southwest Miami. During his term, Southwest Miami became one of seven schools in the U.S. to receive distinguished recognition from the National Academy Foundation. Alongside winning recognition efforts as the 2010 Region 4 Principal of the Year, he would transfer as the next Administrative Director for the Central Region Office in 2013.
“As a student, I went to Southwest Miami and I went back there as a principal. I never thought I was going to return as a principal nevertheless be a region director and assistant superintendent, but I think those leadership roles, relationships, how to interact with people and how to oversee large organizations helped lead the way to putting my name on the ballot for the position in 2016 from over 100 qualified people. The message is to put yourself out there and as a young person ready to enter college, it is really to be challenging and put yourself out there and in uncomfortable decisions so that you can grow,” Mr. Haj said.
Winning the election as the next leader of the Trust in 2016, Mr. Haj found it hard to leave his position at M-DCPS for 13 years. Despite the different lines of work of impacting children, Mr. Haj’s new role allowed him to continue supporting families across Miami-Dade.
“I spent my entire career working for the children across Miami-Dade. I spent 25 years in the school system, I was a principal for many years, and I had many leadership roles before I left. At the Trust, we continue impacting children and families. We fund over $200 million annually to support after-school, summer programs and various events throughout the community. I was just walking around Gables and there’s a health clinic with nurses. That is Trust funded, and we support 150 schools with clinics and put 36,000 kids in programs. I am very proud of our work,” Mr. Haj said.
Now eight years in, the Trust, under Mr. Haj’s leadership, has been able to raise awareness for the future of supporting education. Despite going through high hurdles such as COVID-19, Mr. Haj alongside the 33-member board has been able to develop new afterschool programs in schools for children with disabilities and foster care youth whilst publishing 40,000 books to children every month in both English and Spanish.
“What motivates me is the work and its mission to support children and families. Every parent loves their child, but some parents need some additional support. Some work two to three jobs every day, while others have a child with a disability or may have other needs that make it hard, so we focus on how to make those parents the best as possible. Having 36,000 children in afterschool programs just helps elevate the parents not having to rush home after work and knowing that their child is in a safe place, in homework assistance and academic, social and physical support. In the summer too, when the parents have to work, we help make sure that there is a quality childcare center available across Miami by continuing to have the children learn,” Mr. Haj said.
Through it all, Mr. Haj has created a coalition of advocate groups and non-profit organizations, all supporting a common cause: children. While being Principal of the Day is not enough to justify the epitome of what he represents, his continued inspiration to return to Gables and fund the health clinic cements him as a forever Cavalier.
