Mr. Octavio J. Visiedo is a lifelong educator and had the honor of being the first Cuban American Superintendent of Schools in the history of Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS). Mr. Visiedo was also the first MDCPS graduate to lead the 4th largest school district in the nation from 1990 to 1996.
Mr. Visiedo began his employment with MDCPS as a 19 year old bus aide at Ada Merritt Junior High School. Mr. Visiedo ascended through the ranks and served as an Assistant Principal, Principal, Director, Executive Director, Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent which uniquely prepared him to lead MDCPS through historically challenging times. Mr. Visiedo was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Schools at the age of 39, making him at the time the youngest urban school Superintendent in the nation.
Under Mr. Visiedo’s leadership the $1.5 billion capital construction program that languished for several years was placed on track, Pre-kindergarten programs expanded dramatically, raised over $3.5 million dollars of private funding for scholarships, dramatically improved the academic performance of MDCPS students at all grade levels and most significantly, led the recovery for MDCPS after Hurricane Andrew, at the time, the single largest national disaster in the history of the United States. As a result, Mr. Visiedo was honored by the South Florida community for being one of the Heroes of Hurricane Andrew.
In search of different challenges, he moved to the private sector. He proceeded to raise over $55 million in Wall Street to establish Chancellor Academies and a variety of other educational related enterprises throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico.
Currently Mr. Visiedo serves as a Faculty/Research Associate with Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator at Florida International University. This initiative aims to promote and foster social entrepreneurship and innovation among upcoming FIU artists and designers.
