What is the Center for Academic Success & Well-Being?

Marra began teaching at the age of 5 in her basement in West Virginia. Her students were her brother and cousins, but this passion for education has continued to be fueled by the growing number of students she has had the pleasure of working with since 2007. Marra’s initial six years of education focused on engineering, providing her the means to bring math and science to life in the classroom. In addition to her math classes, Marra works with Upper School students to raise money and awareness of Veteran’s issues through Ties with Troops. She is also the Class Sponsor for the Class of 2020, and co-sponsor of Mu Alpha Theta. When not at MCDS, Marra is spending time with her family: David (husband), Jack (7), Sadie (4), and Sloane (to be born Nov. 2019).Marra has Florida Professional Teaching Certifications for Mathematics (Grades 6 – 12), General Science (Grades 5 – 9), and Physics (Grades 6 – 12) as well as California Single Subject Credentials in Foundational Science, Physics, and Mathematics (all levels).

Elizabeth De La Cadena earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in English from Virginia Tech University in 1994.  In 2009, after a career in Information Technology, Elizabeth earned her Master in Counseling from Barry University and became a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor.  She went on to work with individuals and families in private practice, utilizing strength-based and cognitive-behavioral approaches in therapy.  Elizabeth joined the Miami Country Day community in 2016 where she began teaching social and emotional skills to Middle School Students.  Beginning this year, Elizabeth will serve as the Lower School Guidance Counselor where she will work closely with students and their families, as well as with faculty and administration.  In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys, spending time with her husband and three children.  She also loves reading, travel, relaxing on the beach and taking Pilates classes.

Clarisa’s belief that education is the foundation for human growth and empowerment is what drove her to the educational field. After securing her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education she taught for several years in Managua, Nicaragua as a first grade teacher. Returning to the US in 2002, she pursued a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Teaching at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Masters in hand, she returned to Nicaragua on 2004 to work as a first grade teacher and Grade Level Coordinator at the American Nicaraguan School. Considering herself a lifelong learner, she pursued a Literacy Coach training program and worked as a literacy coach for 3 years in the same school. In 2010 she had the opportunity to move to New York City and work as a Spanish teacher at The School at Columbia University for years. Clarisa has been working at Miami Country Day School since 2014 as a first grade teacher. Here she feels she continues to strengthen her strong belief of the importance of a school’s sense of community and professional development. She believes that the best professional development is ongoing, experiential and collaborative and that a school’s sense of a community can be cultivated, consolidated and supported by all these factors which are evident at MCDS. It is her committed goal to apply her professional and personal qualifications to provide optimal conditions for the academic and ethical development of our student body not just as lifelong learners, but also as valuable members of a global community whose contributions may, one day, make a difference.

As a second generation Miami native, working at MCDS since 1998, has been a great fit for Jennifer as an educator and parent. She graduated from Barry University with a BS in Exercise Science and found her love of teaching physical education to children. As a PE Teacher in all three divisions, she has seen children progress into adulthood. Her four children all attended MCDS and two are still current students. She enjoys exercise, yoga, cooking and time with her family.