Registrations, transcripts, grade changes–everything you need to graduate is done by one person, our school’s registrar Ms. Estrella “Star” Ibarra, who has been at Miami High for two decades now on a long, satisfying journey.

  Growing Up

Born on April 25th in Miami to Cuban parents, Ms. Ibarra attended Auburndale Elementary and Ponce de Leon Middle School, which was in a feeder pattern for Coral Gables High, but she turned away from Gables and became a Stingaree, graduating with the Class of 1992.

At Stingtown, she was very involved with extracurricular activities even though she also worked a part-time job to help her mom at home. She was in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA).

“Competing for both clubs was a thrill for me. The best part about everything was attending the state competitions,” she said.

Life as a Registrar

Five years after graduation from Miami High, she was hired by former principal Mr. Victor Lopez as an attendance clerk in 1997. The following school year she became the school’s official registrar, where she works to make sure students have fulfilled all of their graduation requirements. Ms. Ibarra enjoys coming to work every day because she finds joy in helping students graduate.

“The responsibility tied along with this job motivates me even more to come into work,” she said. Her coworkers are another big benefit for her of coming into work every day.

The hardest part about her job is turning down students because they cannot graduate. “It melts my heart seeing students open themselves up about health problems or family problems at home that affects their high school graduation,” she said. Another issue is telling students they cannot come to our school because they live outside of the boundaries.

Family

If Ms. Ibarra did not work at Miami High, she could see herself working at either a lawyer’s office or at a hospital because of her love for medical sciences. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and buying makeup, as she is a beauty enthusiast.

Outside of school, she likes to spend quality time with her children. A single mother of two kids, Gabriel and Daniel, she works diligently every day to make sure her family is successful. Gabriel, her eldest son, is a junior here at Miami High and is part of the wrestling team. Daniel, her youngest, is an eighth grader at Kinloch Park Middle School and plans to attend Miami High next year.

Ms. Ibarra has a twin sister who also works at Miami High. Her name is Ana Nuñez, and she is the principal’s secretary. When asked what it’s like to be a twin, she said, “It is not any different to me in the way I feel, but you do get more attention than usual.” One question they both always get is, “Is it you or your sister?” As twin sisters, they both have an emotional connection and an unbreakable bond.