For new Doral Middle School Principal Tatiana M. Serrano, taking a step backwards meant giving her the confidence to move forward.

(Left to Right) Doral Middle Registrar Mary Heyl, Guidance Department Chair Charlotte Rosen, Assistant Principal Dr. Ricardo Garcia, Principal Tatiana M. Serrano, Region III Superintendent Robert L. Thomas, Media specialist Dwight Bailey, ESE Department Chair Maria H. Cabada, and Office Manager Maria A.

"I am very excited about opening Doral Middle," explained Serrano, "but I was very happy as the principal at Rockway Elementary as well. It was a great opportunity to see the elementary side of things--it was very important for me as a 'secondary school person' to see first-hand the elementary process, and the nourishment and guidance that takes place at that level."

Serrano was the principal at Rockway for the last four years, during which she had a very distinguished record. Most notably, her school won the Five Star Award twice during her tenure at Rockway. The award is the highest honor given by the state for community involvement.

She has similar lofty ambitions for Doral and said, "Our goal is to receive that recognition our very first year--we want to get businesses and the rest of the community involved right off the bat."

Before joining Rockway, Serrano had a varied background leaving her well prepared for her current position.

After teaching social studies with a bilingual curriculum content to Mariel Boatlift refugees her very first year at Miami Springs Middle, she moved to West Miami Miaddle where she taught social studies for two more years.

Subsequently she went to Ponce de Leon Middle for seven years, three as a faculty member and four as a guidance counselor, where she served under her "mentor", Assistant Principal Bob Kalinsky.

"Bob was great to work for," she said. "He provided me with a tremendous opportunity for professional growth for which I am so grateful."

From there she went on to Ruben Dario Middle School as an assistant principal (she opened that school as well) and would stay there for six years.

Along the way Serrano developed an ideal and/or unique impression of what the primary role of a principal should be.

She explained, "I see myself as a source of support for the children and their parents. I want to help them find things to engage in which are positive in terms of their own growth and that of the community. I like to get to know my students personally--for instance, if time permits I like to accompany them on field trips, to get to know them outside of the structure of the school setting, and interact with them in that environment."

And Serrano has recruited similarly minded individuals to fill out her staff.

She said, "I have made sure that the people I bring in are child-oriented, dedicated, and caring."

Region III Superintendent Robert L. Thomas wholehearted agreed with her assessment of the staff that has been assembled, saying that, "the staff we've put together with the assistance of Tatiana Serrano is not only the cream of the crop of Miami-Dade County but also in the country. When you factor in the community itself which has been so enthusiastic in its support you can see why we're so excited about Doral Middle School."

On March 14 of this year Serrano hosted a meeting which unveiled the school's uniforms and elected the PTA officers for the upcoming year. But as you might have guessed given her background, that is only the beginning of Serrano's attempts to get the community involved in the school.

She said, "We are actively recruiting Dade Partners for the school, and have already enlisted the support of the Miami-Dade Police Department Doral District and Community Affairs, the McDonald's on NW 41 St., the Publix at NW 107 Ave. and NW 58 St., Ibiley Uniforms, the Doral Country Club, Coca-Cola, and C and C International Computers."

The school, which will have 500 students initially before filling gradually to capacity, will be comprised of students from John I. Smith Elementary and those students that live in the Doral area currently attending Miami Springs Elementary. Eventually students from the new Doral elementary school under construction will attend as well.

Regarding the new elementary school Thomas said, "As we speak, the new elementary is being erected at NW 144 Ave. and NW 58 St. with a scheduled opening date of the 2001-2002 school year."

The students that will be attending Doral Middle next year have already chosen by ballot its colors, blue, teal, and gold, and its mascot, the Blue Dolphin.

To find out more about the school or about becoming a Dade Partner you can contact Serrano at 305 883 0401, extension 23.