Jose L. Dotres

Dr. Jose L. Dotres is the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), the fourth-largest school district in the nation with over 40,000 employees and 330,000 students.

At the age of five, he arrived in Miami, Florida – an immigrant boy from humble beginnings who enrolled in M-DCPS as an English Language Learner, graduated from high school, and began a long and rewarding career serving students, parents, employees, and the larger school community within the system that welcomed him as a child.

Having held multiple instructional and administrative leadership roles over the course of his career in M-DCPS and other educational organizations, Dr. Dotres is a proven educator with a wealth of experience. He has served in the capacity of Teacher, Reading Coach, Principal, District Administrator, Regional Administrative Director, Region Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer of Broward County Public Schools, Chief of Staff, Chief Human Capital Officer, and most recently, Deputy Superintendent of Collier County Public Schools.

Teaching the whole child and ensuring optimal conditions for teaching and learning are at the forefront of his decision-making and serve as his guiding philosophy. He is a strategic thinker, visionary leader, and innovator with a strong commitment to building the leadership capacity of others. His inclusive management style inspires and empowers others to reach their maximum potential. Throughout his long-standing career as a district leader and educational advocate, he established signature programs centered on teacher leadership, teacher and leader effectiveness, and cultivating the teaching profession from within the organization. A champion of professional learning, Dr. Dotres strongly believes in providing professional growth and career opportunities for the entire workforce. He envisions positioning M-DCPS as a school district of choice for students and parents, and an employer of choice for the community.

On the national level, Dr. Dotres has made significant contributions to organizations such as the Council of the Great City Schools. Additionally, he is the co-author of several educational publications and has presented to the Florida Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and the Florida House of Representatives’ PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee on Education on topics related to teacher recruitment and retention and early literacy interventions. In 2013, he was inducted into the Miami Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame. Dr. Dotres holds a doctorate degree in Leadership and Innovation from St. Thomas University, an educational specialist degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Miami, a master’s degree in Reading from Barry University, and a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Florida International University.