Hispanic Excellence: Public Service & Education

The Panthers ‘Celebration of Hispanic Excellence’ program recognizes individuals nominated by their peers, colleagues, families or friends for the positive impact they are making in South Florida and beyond. This includes business owners, educators, creators, healthcare workers, public servants, executives and more.

This week, the Panthers recognize highlight leaders in public service and education.

LTC, U.S. Army (Retired)​

Lieutenant Colonel Alberto Castro is a distinguished retired U.S. Army officer with a strong record of military service, leadership, and dedication to his country. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he dedicated 22 years of honorable active duty service to the Army, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership, professionalism, and commitment to duty throughout his career. His service included seven deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism, spanning Iraq, Afghanistan, and the broader Middle East — experiences that reflect the courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to his fellow service members that defined his career. Beyond his individual accomplishments, LTC Castro's story is one of the impact a dedicated leader can have on the teams and organizations he serves, embodying the values of duty, honor, and selfless service at every step. Born on Long Island, New York, to parents from the Dominican Republic, LTC Castro proudly embraces his Dominican heritage and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Many of the relationships that have shaped his life trace back to his military service; he met his close friend Saul Aramboles while the two were stationed together at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in 2005. He's married to his wife, Georgia Castro, and together they have three children, having shared 18 years of marriage. His career stands as a testament to what more than two decades of honorable service, leadership, and commitment to country can look like.​

Author, Professor of Creative Writing & Associate Dean, University of Miami​

Chantel Acevedo is an award-winning author who writes for both adults and children; her adult novels, especially her historical fiction, center on the experiences of Cubans and Cuban-Americans. Acevedo was born and raised in Hialeah to Cuban parents, is a product of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the University of Miami. Her middle-grade stories are fun and full of adventure, and this year she has added two new titles to her published works: a co-authored middle-grade novel, No Way Never Sisters, and a work of adult fiction, Cages, about a daughter seeking information on the father she never knew. Her professional journey has taken her from teaching at her former high school to Auburn University and finally to the University of Miami, where she now teaches Creative Writing and serves as an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. ​

Bilingual Teacher Assistant, Lyons Creek Middle School​

Mayra Beauchamp is a passionate and proud Puerto Rican educator recognized for her exceptional dedication to students and families. A bilingual teacher since 2005, Mayra consistently goes far beyond what is expected, generously sharing her personal phone number with parents to ensure they have support and using her own resources to provide clothing, school supplies, and other necessities for students and families in need. Mrs. Beauchamp consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication to the academic, social, and emotional success of her students. Through engaging, culturally responsive instruction, she creates an inclusive classroom where multilingual learners feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential. Her ability to build strong relationships with students and families fosters trust and encourages meaningful collaboration between home and school. Beyond the classroom, she willingly assists families in need. Her passion for bilingual education is evident in the remarkable growth her students make in both language development and academic achievement. She inspires confidence, promotes equity, and serves as a tireless advocate for all learners. Her professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to excellence make her truly deserving of this recognition. I wholeheartedly recommend her for this award without reservation. Her kindness, compassion, and extraordinary patience create a welcoming environment where every child feels valued and supported, and she builds meaningful relationships with students and families that earn their trust and respect. Her unwavering commitment to serving others, both inside and outside the classroom, makes her an invaluable member of her school community.​

Assistant Director, Broward County Animal Care​

Alyssa Dazza serves as Assistant Director of Broward County Animal Care, the official pet adoption and animal welfare agency for Florida's second-largest county. With more than a decade of experience in animal welfare, she oversees strategic operations, shelter services, and community initiatives that promote responsible pet ownership, public safety, and lifesaving outcomes, managing an $11 million operating budget and leading a multidisciplinary team. Under her leadership, the agency posted its most successful year on record — with thousands more pets adopted, reunited with owners, or transferred to rescue partners — and earned statewide recognition as the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association's Runner-Up for Agency of the Year. Before joining Broward County, Alyssa held leadership roles at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, Hearts Alive Village Animal Rescue & Clinic, The Animal Foundation, the Humane Society of Greater Miami, and Miami-Dade Animal Services. Across that career, she's built programs that keep families together, expand access to veterinary care, remove barriers for underserved residents, and cultivate partnerships that increase lifesaving opportunities — work that's helped redefine animal shelters from a place of last resort into community resources built on education, prevention, and compassion. As a proud Hispanic leader, Alyssa is fluent in Spanish and has made it a priority to ensure animal welfare services are accessible across South Florida's diverse communities, so language and cultural barriers never stand between a family and the help they need. She leads with empathy and humility and has spent more than a decade doing much of this work behind the scenes — mentoring teams, solving operational challenges, and building systems that outlast her own tenure. Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida International University and a Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida and is a Fear Free Certified Shelter Medicine Professional. Her impact is measured not just in the lives she's saved, but in the culture of compassion and innovation she's helped build throughout South Florida's animal welfare community.​

Vice Mayor & Commissioner – District 4, Pembroke Pines​

Michael "Mike" Hernández serves as Vice Mayor of Pembroke Pines and Commissioner for District 4. Appointed in May 2024 to fill a vacancy, he quickly established himself as a reformer focused on transparency, public safety, and quality of life, winning a full term that November and being re-elected in March 2026 with 75% of the vote, a term that runs through 2030. He's also been reappointed by the city commission to serve as Vice Mayor through January 2027 and is the only Pembroke Pines commissioner ever elected on both a November and a March ballot. His legislative record reflects that same reform-minded, community-first approach. During his first term, he introduced a city charter amendment requiring appointments to fill Commission vacancies, which passed with 69% voter support, and pushed through legislation fully funding police officers as school resource officers at Broward County elementary schools after the school district declined to cover the cost. In 2025, he sponsored legislation designating Pembroke Pines an autism-friendly city — a cause close to home, as he and his wife are raising two children in local public schools and he's an advocate for children with autism — and led the city to become the first in Florida to formally oppose Florida Power & Light's historic rate increase, with both measures passing unanimously. After his 2026 re-election, he proposed shifting municipal elections from March to November in even-numbered years to boost voter turnout and save taxpayers money, while also directing millions in reinvestment toward park improvements and road and traffic upgrades in District 4 and citywide. Outside of city government, Hernández brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, public relations, and government. He currently serves as Vice President of Communications for the Partnership for Miami and previously served as Director of Communications for Miami-Dade County Government and Senior Advisor to the county mayor, managing communications for Miami International Airport, Port Miami, and the Emergency Management Department through crises including Hurricane Irma and the Zika VIRUS outbreak. From 2019 to 2024, he was the bilingual political commentator and analyst for NBC 6 and Telemundo 51. A Miami native and 18-year Pembroke Pines resident, Hernández holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Florida International University, where he later served as president of the alumni association and now teaches as an adjunct professor. He and his wife, Christine Cento Hernández, are raising their two children Brian Michael and Alyssa Nicole — who attend local public schools — right there in the community he serves. ​

Town Administrator, Town of Southwest Ranches​

Russell Muñiz has been the Town Administrator for the Town of Southwest Ranches, Florida since 2023, overseeing the accomplishment of public policy directives of the Town Council. Originally from New York City, he has served South Florida municipalities since 1995, previously at the Town of Davie and the City of Pembroke Pines. He earned his MBA from Nova Southeastern University in 1998 and a Master's in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University in 2009 and has taught both Public Administration and Business Administration courses to undergraduates at Barry University. He is an active participant in local government professional associations, including the Florida City County Managers Association and the Broward County City Managers Association, and currently serves as a Board Member for the Florida Latinos in Local Government association, a fitting extension of a career built on service, mentorship, and genuine care for the people and communities he works with.​

Commissioner, City of Hollywood​

Commissioner Quintana was born in the mountains of rural Cuba to a subsistence farming family. She emigrated to the US as a young child and grew up in Chicago. Every single day she recognizes that she is fortunate to live in a democracy where the sacrifices of one generation can transform the lives of those that follow. Idelma holds a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and later earned a master’s in education from Walden University. She has spent much of her life in service to others. Opportunities to do good have come in many forms including her time as a public-school teacher and administrator as well as a facilitator of human relations and diversity programs. She was the founder and President of the Hollywood Gardens West Civic Association, Co-founder and President of the Johnson Street Business District, a non-profit small business development group and served twelve years as Chief of Staff for Broward County Commissioner, Beam Furr. Most recently she is doing good in her role as a Hollywood City Commissioner. She has championed a new vision for State Road 7 including the re-branding of this roadway now known as “The Seven” in her city. She supports economic development with special emphasis on small, locally owned businesses as the backbone of our economy and promotes quality, reasonably priced housing options for those earning an average wage. Commissioner Quintana is a recipient of the Broward Sierra Group Environmental Champion Award and is committed to leading innovation that fosters prosperity through sustainability. Commissioner Quintana established the “Storytime In The Park” series where families come together for regular read-aloud gatherings to nurture a love of reading, recognize the value of green spaces in an urban setting and build community connections. Through the support of the Children’s Services Council, she has implemented the Asset Based Community Development model to put the talent, skills and passion of the people in our communities at the center of what we define as assets. She is working toward a future where our community and its natural surroundings flourish together. Commissioner Quintana and her husband Robert have shared 36 years of life together.  They and their son, Ian have lived in Hollywood for 24 years. Successfully running their small family business in Hollywood for the past 15 years has reinforced Idelma’s deep rooted belief in the power of community. She holds a strong conviction that many of our greatest challenges can only be overcome when we remember that “Together We Are More – Juntos SomosMás”​

Educator, Miami-Dade County Public Schools​

For 37 years, Virginia Sanchez has exemplified what it means to be an outstanding educator and servant leader in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Her career has taken her from the elementary classroom to middle school, where she has taught science across multiple grade levels with passion and excellence, while also helping students who arrived from other countries learn English and build the confidence and skills to succeed in school and in life. A Cuban American and proud member of the Hispanic community, Virginia has made meaningful contributions by embracing cultural diversity, serving as a role model, and helping students and families from many backgrounds feel connected and supported. Her heart of gold and unwavering respect for every child continue to inspire students, colleagues, and the community after nearly four decades of service.​