Rafael Villalobos Makes Education a Top Priority

Rafael A. Villalobos is beginning his path toward leading Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) with a clear message about his priorities: strengthen education and keep students at the center of the District’s decisions.

The Miami-Dade County School Board approved a $7.4 billion budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with more than 96 percent allocated to teaching, direct student services, custodial operations, security and other essential school-level services.

For Villalobos, that commitment to education is backed by more than three decades of experience within the school system. An M-DCPS alumnus, he began his career 32 years ago as a teacher at South Dade Senior High School before moving into leadership roles at several schools and administrative levels.

His career includes serving as an assistant principal and principal at multiple schools. In 2008, he became the founding principal of Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial High School. Years later, his leadership at John A. Ferguson Senior High School earned him the 2020 Principal of the Year recognition.

During his tenure, the school achieved a graduation rate of 99 percent.Since 2022, Villalobos has served as South Region Superintendent, providing executive oversight for more than 100 schools and approximately 80,000 students. The region achieved a 98 percent graduation rate while his administration introduced initiatives to increase parent engagement and develop the next generation of school leaders.

That experience now accompanies a budget focused heavily on the classroom. “A budget is ultimately a reflection of our core values,” Villalobos said, emphasizing frontline instruction, specialized student services, school safety and competitive compensation for employees among the District’s priorities.

The budget also maintains support for Art, Music and Foreign Language programs while establishing reserves to prepare for a potential enrollment decline related to lower birth rates, migration shifts and Miami’s high cost of living.

Voter-approved referendum funds will direct 88 percent toward teacher salaries and 12 percent toward school safety. Additional funding will support facility repairs and campus security improvements. The school millage rate is set at 6.623, slightly below last year’s 6.633.

With a career that began in the classroom and advanced through nearly every level of school leadership, Villalobos approaches M-DCPS’ top post with a defined vision: invest in educators, protect schools and expand educational opportunities for Miami-Dade students.