As the Executive Director of the Dade Association of School Administrators (DASA), I want to take this opportunity to welcome you back as you embark on the 2023-2024 School Year. DASA is your professional organization and is instrumental in creating the platform for communication with the Superintendent and the School Board in support of the exceptional leaders in our District.

The primary attention for all of us is the safety and wellbeing of staff and students while providing support for appropriate learning opportunities for our students.  You need to know DASA is here to support and advocate for you as Managerial Exempt Personnel (MEP).  We must be united and remain focused in our conversations with the Superintendent and the School Board on issues of mutual interest.

As an organization we continue to bolster membership; there is added strength when we work collaboratively and participation in the networking engagement.  We reach out to current MEP employees who are not members of DASA and to individuals as they become MEP employees to join our professional organization.  We hold regularly scheduled meetings with our Officers and Directors to identify important issues of concern, relevant to the individual representative groups. This practice enables us to address matters of importance when we engage in the meet-and-confer process with the Superintendent and his staff.

Once again, I want to personally thank all of you for the dedication and hard work you provide every day. Please know DASA is committed to working diligently for all of you as we make this professional organization a beacon for administrators in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Jorge L. Garcia, Executive Director