Hialeah Gardens High School (HGHS) continues to raise the bar for engineering education in Miami. Under the leadership of teachers Alex Garrido and Lianet Rodriguez, students at HGHS are now enrolled in two hands-on engineering courses through Engineering for US All (e4usa)—e4usa+Making and e4usa+Programming. The school’s commitment to empowering students with real-world engineering skills represents a growing momentum in the region, where six Miami-area teachers are now part of the e4usa community.
This year marks a major milestone for e4usa nationally as well, as the organization was recently recognized by NAF as an official curriculum provider. This alignment creates new opportunities for schools like Hialeah Gardens—especially those with STEM and engineering pathways—to offer rigorous, project-based learning while connecting students to future workforce opportunities.
Teacher Leadership at HGHS
Alex Garrido, who teaches both e4usa+Making and e4usa+Programming, completed e4usa’s summer professional development (PD) in Miami at Florida International University (FIU)—one of e4usa’s key university partners. The in-person experience gave him the chance to collaborate with other educators, explore the curriculum in depth, and prepare for a year of hands-on learning.
“e4usa gives students the chance to learn by doing. They get to design, test, improve—and realize that engineering is for everyone,” Garrido shared.
Lianet Rodriguez is now in her second year teaching e4usa+Making, having completed her PD through e4usa’s online training. She has already seen a shift in her classroom culture, as students gain confidence through open-ended projects and teamwork.
“I love watching students discover that their ideas have value,” Rodriguez said. “With e4usa, they start to see themselves as problem-solvers and creators.”
Hands-On Learning, Real-World Impact
The e4usa curriculum is built around engineering design, creativity, iteration, and local problem-solving. At HGHS, both teachers are excited to guide students through meaningful projects this year and help them build portfolios that can support future college, career, and credentialing pathways.
As e4usa continues to grow in Miami, the impact at Hialeah Gardens High School stands out. The school’s students, known for their curiosity, resilience, and drive, are already making their mark.
“The students at Hialeah Gardens are exceptional. We can’t wait to see the innovations they develop under the leadership of Mr. Garrido and Ms. Rodriguez,” said Andrew Green, Director of Partnerships and Communications at e4usa. “Their work represents the bright future of engineering in Miami.”
Looking Ahead
With continued support from teachers, administrators, FIU, and now NAF-aligned curriculum, e4usa is committed to expanding access to meaningful engineering education throughout Miami-Dade County and beyond. The projects, prototypes, and ideas emerging from classrooms like those at Hialeah Gardens are just the beginning.
e4usa is proud to work alongside HGHS and looks forward to celebrating the students’ achievements this school year.
