Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Interdisciplinary Focus
Photography and English students collaborate to highlight loyal staff at RE
This project is a celebration of our Ransom Everglades family members who work in food services and general maintenance to make the school a welcoming and safe destination. However, their faces, names and journeys often go unknown and untold. The Faculty DEI Committee and the Head of School’s Office began the work of capturing the images and stories of six employees who have honored us with their loyalty for a significant number of years.
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Matrell Smith
Read MoreEssay by Marco Zhao ’23, portrait by Jules Murray ’22A Miami native and employee for 20 years, Matrell Smith has found great satisfaction working and watching students develop, leave, then return as adults. -
Gustavo White
Read MoreEssay by Livia Froes Herman ’22, portrait by Caroline Sosler ’22Gustavo White swam for over seven hours (7 p.m. to 4 a.m.) to the American military base in Guantanamo Bay to live the American dream of democracy, freedom and opportunity. He laments having to leave behind his family, four siblings, and many nephews and friends, including his lifelong best friend, Juan Alberto. -
Roherdy Garcia
Read MoreEssay by Lucia Rose Dahn ’23, portrait by Jules Murray ’22Mrs. Roherdy Garcia’s two children, Jose and Miguel, received their education in Miami and pursued their studies at FIU and Pace University. Miguel is an Afghanistan war veteran.
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Jesus Antonio Nodal
Essay by Dennis “John” Devaney ’23, portrait by Ali Murray ’23Read More
January 21 marks Jesus Nodal's 21 years of working at RE. Mr. Nodal is now 75 years old, content and is not planning on taking another position after his time at Ransom Everglades. -
Jacques “Yolette” Magana
Read MoreEssay by Carmen Sanchez-Tembleque Wood ’23, portrait by Christian Sosa ’22
Ms. Magana brought her contagious happiness and positivity to Ransom Everglades when she joined the facilities team in 2009. After hearing about the position from a friend while working at a Baptist church, Ms. Magana came in to interview at RE. -
Harlie R. Duarte
Read MoreEssay by Dina Lola Kaplan ’22, portrait by Caroline Sosler ’22Mr. Duarte escaped a Communist dictatorship in Nicaragua and has been an RE employee for 25 years.
The Portraits
Matthew Stock, a visual arts teacher, explained he invited students currently enrolled in his advanced photography class of natural light or portraiture who also had previous studio experience with him. Each student expressed a keen interest in the ethos of the project and self-selected to participate. They set up the lighting, directed the models and worked on each image in post-production. The instructor then worked with the students to help craft a vision for the project as a whole, “and the students, much to my pride as an educator, ran with the concept and executed it masterfully,” said Mr. Stock.
The Essays
Dr. Gila Aloni, an English teacher, explained that she wanted the contribution of writers who were diverse in grade level, ethnicity, gender and even personality. She selected both juniors and seniors, those from Asian backgrounds, Latin-American and Anglo-American. Additionally, she selected both outspoken students, capable of easily sustaining a conversation, but also some who were more reticent, pushing them out of their comfort zones. Finally, she selected only those students who were excited about the prospect of the interviews and writing.
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.