Project Description
Dr. Contessa Bryant, Fellow
New World School of the Arts
Miami, FL
Dr. Contessa S. Bryant. A proud product of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Dr. Bryant has more than twelve years of administrative experience. She was recently appointed principal at New World School of the Arts (NWSA). Prior to this appointment, Dr. Bryant served as principal at Homestead Middle School, a school that embraced her transformational leadership abilities and principles. Significant advances were made under her leadership: school grade increased with the school earning 73 points over the previous year, increased community partnership, recognized for numerous awards and honors and recipient of a completely redone computer lab sponsored by Mr. Ray Allen, formerly of the Miami Heat and the Ray of Hope Foundation. Several innovative programs and electives were introduced including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, public speaking, student government, agribusiness, cheerleading and Excellence Academy. Despite the years spent in the urban core, Dr. Bryant sees it as a dream to now serve as the principal of her own high school located in the heart of Downtown Miami. This school is a Florida Center of Excellence in visual and performing arts. The robust arts program coupled with a rigorous academic program empowers students to become national and international leaders. Outside of school, Dr. Bryant is a sought-after motivational speaker, a writer, a proud wife and an adoring mother.
Waleska Cardona, Ally
Activities Director
New World School of the Arts
Miami, FL
Waleska Cardona is the Activities Director at Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ (M-DCPS) New World School of the Arts, where she has been employed for 14 years. During her tenure with MDCPS, Ms. Cardona has served as a Curriculum Support Specialist, Mathematics Transformation Coach, and teacher in the district’s most fragile schools. Holding a BA in Health Administration with a minor in Psychology, Ms. Cardona is now completing a Master's in Educational Leadership. A firm believer in holistic education, Ms. Cardona's degrees in health administration and psychology illuminated the prior lack of emphasis on social emotional learning in the field of education. For this reason, she joined the field. Developing the holistic child is a fundamental component of academic excellence to prepare students from elementary and beyond. Working in diverse positions as a trained Elementary/Middle School Mathematics Coach, Student Assessment Coordinator/Test Chair, and Magnet Lead Teacher, Ms. Cardona has been awarded the opportunity to examine the multiple aspects of educating a student. Her teaching philosophy is simple - students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. In 14 years of Title I teaching experience, where 96% of students receive free or reduced lunch, Ms. Cardona has learned that students need to know she cares before opening their hearts and minds. She shows she cares by forming relationships. "I try to help them find their dreams and strengths so they can believe in themselves the way I believe in them."