Cristina Cartaya

As a devoted educator , Cartaya’s passion is the Learning E x p e r i e n c e School. A 12-year veteran of the school, Cartayawas the Secondary School director for three years before being appointed executive director of the school in 2004.

Her educational pursuits demonstrate an early love for children and a desire to help those youngsters with special needs. In fact, Cartaya is a State of Florida-certified educator in the following areas: mentally handicapped, varying exceptionalities and prekindergarten through grade 12 Mentally Handicapped Endorsement.

She received a bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Florida International University where she graduated summa cum laude and a master’s degree in Special Education with a specialization in Curriculum Design from Columbia University Teachers College.

Always thirsting for knowledge, Cartaya currently is working on her Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Administration.

At work, Cartaya is responsible for overseeing all school programs including all operational issues at both facilities. She serves as a member of and link between faculty members and the school’s board of directors and also is a liaison between the school and the community.

Cartaya adores the children with whom she works and often is seen putting in 12-hour days in a dedicated effort to raise funds needed for the school. In fact, the new 20,000-squarefoot campus opening in June was Cartaya’s brainchild. The project nearly is complete, under budget and on time, and she raised almost all the money herself through private donors. In this economy, that speaks volumes for her devotion to these children.

Her service to the community is reflected in the progress the students at the Learning Experience School achieve year in and year out. With Cristina Cartaya’s commitment to special needs children, our community is blessed with a resource that has and will help so many children now and in the future. Cartaya shares her success with a dedicated staff and, one can be sure, a supportive family is included in that mix.