Welcoming counselor, Dr. Carlos Insignares, Miami High’s newest addition to the student services staff.

Prior to working at Miami High, he also worked at as a teacher St. Brendan’s Elementary School, Auburndale Elementary School, and as a counselor Carver Elementary.

What made him choose Miami High? “I think it was providential. I don’t think it was something that I put in play or that I aimed for. I met Miami High’s student services chairperson Ms. Diaz De Villegas at a GSA conference

. She had let me know that there might be a possibility of a job for me at this school,” he said.

Being a counselor comes with its pros and cons. Dr. Insignares loves to see the light shine in people’s eyes when they’ve understood and realized their potential.

On the other hand, there are some challenges. “The lack of teamwork between the student and the counselor is something that hinders that. Also, sometimes there is apathy shown by the school towards students. I think those are things that I find deterrent in this field,” he said.

His determination and level of responsibility are what Dr. Insignares believes to be his best qualities.  “Over time I’ve learned how to get things done and why they should be done. I never try to create excuses for myself, and I don’t accept excuses when things need to be done.  Yet I’m careful not to impose my expectation on other people especially students. I also have a strong sense of justice. I don’t like to see any group of people marginalized or being oppressed, so I make sure it doesn’t happen around me,” he said.

Dr. Insignares comes very well educated to Miami High. He attended Miami Dade Community College where he earned associate’s degree in computer science (1986). He completed his bachelors in education and human resources at Florida International University (1993). He then did his masters in guidance and counselling at St. Thomas University (1996). He got his doctorate in Education Leadership/Computer Technology at Barry University (2008), and last but not least he finished his 2^nd masters in Divinity and Anglican studies at Yale University (2016).

The most defining moment in his life, he said, was when he went away for 3 years to divinity school. “I was able to think about my main priorities and how to organize them better,” he said. “I was also given the time to get a lot of help in processing my way of thinking and my personal issues.”

When he was 11 he got his first job as a distributer of flyers for a local supermarket. While in high school he started working as a Clerical I at an insurance company. In order to get that job, he took classes that gave him the skills he needed to get it. He was also a computer programmer for some time.

With such a varied work history, what made him choose counselling? “I don’t think I chose counseling. I think it became something apparent in my life. It became something that I knew that I wanted to do because of the results I was gaining from the help I was giving in my personal life,” he said.

Carlos Antonio Insignares was born on January 5, 1964, in Miami. He attended Auburndale Elementary School, Miami Private Middle School, and Coral Gables Senior High. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, dancing, theatre, and theology.