It is my belief that a great education occurs through strong partnerships between students’ families, Cushman’s professional faculty and staff, facilities and a community of experts. In partnership, instilling in our students a strong work ethic, a sense of joint and personal responsibility toward oneself, the school and community, and unfailing courtesy and kindness contribute to developing students to their fullest intellectual, creative, social-emotional, physical and spiritual potential. Within this process, the continued application of research in the field of cognitive neuroscience, Multiple Intelligences Theory and Habits of Mind, and understanding and addressing the individual learning differences and needs of students in a personalized way, lead to happy, engaged students who become life-long learners. Many speak about the future of education but that the future is here. The impact of globalization requires an unprecedented educational landscape. We, at Cushman, know this and are leading the way in this transformational journey. Withstanding the test of time of the past 98 years, the roots of our beloved School remain strong with Character always placed first. While continuing to evolve, we know that to truly educate and prepare students for a different world that requires agility, flexibility of thought, and creative thinking, the cultivation of students’ entrepreneurial mindsets is a must. This entrepreneurial mindset is the foundation for children’s adult life in which critical thinking and synthesizing capacities, design thinking, and the ability to adapt and apply knowledge in unique ways will be at the forefront. It is the person who combines the love for learning with the ability to reinvent his or herself that will experience success. Miami is a world-class city with a uniquely diverse population and culture. Under my leadership as Head of School, Cushman will continue to strengthen and become defined as a world-class school that produces world-class leaders of tomorrow Head of School Dr. Arvi Balseiro has served The Cushman School community for the past 38 years and is Cushman’s third Head of School in the 100 years of its history. Prior to serving as the Head of School, Dr. Balseiro served as the Primary School Director, Curriculum Director and Dean of Faculty. Additionally, she taught for many years, and her passion for curriculum and instruction led her to become the leading recipient of the Florida Council of Independent School’s DeWitt E. & Vera M. Hooker Fellowship Award seven times for innovative curriculum design. Dr. Balseiro founded and co-curated TEDxCushmanSchool and TEDxYouthMiami, the first TEDx talks for young children ages six years old through young adulthood, and these TEDx talks were delivered globally for many years from the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. Dr. Balseiro has also served Florida’s educational community in a variety of ways. She has held a Board position with the Florida Council of Independent Schools (F.C.I.S.) and, prior to that, the Florida Kindergarten Council, premier independent school accrediting associations. She continues to serve F.C.I.S. and lead accreditation teams throughout the state of Florida. Within the local community, she served on the Board of the Biscayne MIMO Association. In 2022, Dr. Balseiro was the recipient of the Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. Dr. Balseiro holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a Doctoral Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Brain-based Learning. The greatest joys in her life are her five children, Christopher, Jennifer, Christina, Jonathan and Leo, and their spouses, along with eight beautiful grandchildren.
Leading the Way
Welcome from the Head of School
Dr. Arvi Balseiro
About Dr. Arvi Balseiro
Experience the Cushman Journey
“The Cushman School in the 21st Century is still a place where talented students are encouraged to be their authentic selves, to discover how to be responsible citizens, and to feel the joy of doing their personal best.”
– Dr. Joan Lutton, 2nd Headmaster, 1979 – 2012