About Our Principal
Alicia A. Casanova's childhood dream was to make a difference in the lives of children. At the age of only 19, with few funds but lots of enthusiasm, goals and ambition, she pursued her dream by starting her own Pre-School Center. With her strong belief that children learn best hands-on and when Teachers recognize and address each of their individual needs and learning styles, the Center became very successful and through the years transformed into a prestigious, reputable and fully accredited Private PK-8 School educating hundreds of children.
Ms. Alicia has been the Principal and sole Owner of Highpoint Academy since 1976, devoting endless hours to her profession. She attended St. Patrick School in Miami Beach from Kindergarten thru her Senior Year. She then attended Miami-Dade Community College and later obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Education Administration from La Salle University in Louisiana.
Ms. Alicia has earned many honors in the field of education and is called upon continuously to consult others regarding the status of private schools in Miami-Dade County. She has been a guest on various national and local television shows speaking on education-related issues. Ms. Alicia has organized and presented many workshops, conferences and seminars relating to education. For many years, she has Chaired and been the Master of Ceremony at DAANS "Star Awards" Luncheons and BIPRISA’S “Annual Awards Luncheon”; (at these events, over 900 attendees honor the best all-around students from each accredited member school.)
Ms. Alicia lives in a beachfront condo in Miami Beach where she has been its Board President since 2001. She has three wonderful adult children: Cosme Alexander, Annia Vanessa and Eric Daniel, and two beautiful Grandchildren, Lucas Giovanni and Alana Mia (Annia’s children.) She is an avid boater who loves to travel and explore. Ms. Alicia has dedicated her life to her profession.
Memberships include:
* President of the "Council of Bilingual Schools" (COBIS)
1981 to the present
* President of the “Independent Schools of South Florida” (ISSF) (formerly DAANS)
2011 to the present
* Vice-President of the "Bilingual Private Schools Association" (BIPRISA)
from 2003 to the present (Treasurer from 1990 to 2003)
* President of the Board of "The Green Diamond Condominium Association, Inc." and of the "Blue & Green Diamond Master Association, Inc."
2001 to the present
* Vice-President and founding Board Member of the "MidBeach Neighborhood Alliance" (MBNA)
2011 to the present
* Founding Partner of LANS Chemicals, Inc.
2011 to the present
* Vice-President of the "Dade Association of Academic Non-Public Schools" (DAANS) 1991-1993 and from 1997 to 2011
* Vice-President of the Florida Association of Academic Non-Public Schools (FAANS)
1989-1991 and from 2007-2009
* Member of the "Advocacy Committee" of the Florida Association of Academic Non-Public Schools (FAANS)
2003-2005
* Member of the Dept. of Education's "Non-Public Schools Advisory Council"
1995 to 2002
* Vice-President and founding Member of the "Society for Abused Children of the Children's Home Society" 1988-1992 (Co-Chaired the Society's annual "Pink & Blue Gala" fundraiser. Helped establish the "McLamore Children's Center" for abused and abandoned children.)
* Advocate for the "Interfaith Coalition for the Andrew Recovery Effort (I-Care)
1992-1994 (helping families who lost their homes to Hurricane Andrew.)
* Board Member of the "Children's Foundation of Greater Miami"
1991-1995
* Member of the "National Association of Elementary School Principals" (NAESP)
* Donor for numerous charities including "St. Jude's Children's Hospital," "La Liga Contra el Cancer" the "Juvenile Diabetes Foundation” and many other organizations since 1980.