Mr. Carlos O. Alvarez has been in the field of education for over 20 years as an educator and administrator. He holds two educational degrees: a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education from St. Thomas University and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
As stated by Oprah Winfrey, “To move forward, you have to give back.” In 2008, Mr. Alvarez was offered the opportunity he had always hoped for – to give back to his Hialeah neighborhood community. He was selected to develop and lead a unique charter school, the City of Hialeah Educational Academy (COHEA), with an emphasis on public service academies. Through education, he and his team created a learning environment to help students reach their potential—a school committed to preparing students for success and leadership within their community.
Under his leadership, COHEA became a six-time “A” rated school and received national recognition from Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best High Schools in America. In 2014–2015, the City of Hialeah awarded the school its Education, Mentoring and Inspiration (EMI) Award for Best School.
During his tenure, Mr. Alvarez expanded the school’s academic offerings by introducing Law and Legal Studies, Mass Communication, and Education academies to complement the original Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Fire Fighter programs. He also led the expansion of the school’s physical campus and student body—growing enrollment from 89 students to nearly 1,000. With support from law academy students, Mr. Alvarez successfully lobbied the Florida Legislature for funding to construct additional buildings and launched the middle school program to create a robust 6–12 learning environment.
Mr. Alvarez is passionate about education as a vehicle for personal success and remains deeply committed to innovation. He played a pivotal role in launching an innovative STEM initiative at COHEA designed to foster inquiry, problem-solving, and project-based learning across the curriculum.
As of the 2025–2026 school year, Mr. Alvarez has transitioned from his role as principal of COHEA and now serves as the principal of SLAM Miami. He is also the founder of the CIVICA Network and continues his work with COHEA as board chair. In this new capacity, he remains dedicated to COHEA’s mission and success, helping guide its future and support its students, staff, and broader community.
Mr. Alvarez truly believes in the words of singer/songwriter Luis Fonsi: "Widen the path of opportunities and continue to leave a powerful and positive legacy in this world."
