Teaching, Connection, and a Summer Well Spent

Dear Margaret,

Next week, school starts in Miami—marking the end of summer for many. As an advocate for education, I want to share a summer story close to my heart, one that involves my grandson and his first real taste of teaching.

My grandson, Cole Cacho-Negrete (Bruce’s son), spent nearly two months living with me while completing a teaching internship with Breakthrough Miami, a nonprofit that guides students—called “Scholars”—from low-income families through an eight-year academic journey beginning before 5th grade and continuing through college entry.

Cole taught 8th-grade history during Breakthrough’s six-week Summer Institute at Gulliver High School—conveniently located just across the street from my home. Inspired by his own high school history teacher, Cole is pursuing an education degree at the University of Michigan and jumped at the chance to teach in Miami, even if it meant living with his granny.

The experience confirmed what Cole had long suspected: he loves teaching. While he now thinks high school might be a better fit than middle school, he greeted each day eager to dive into a new lesson. Outside the classroom, he forged close friendships with four other interns, spending afternoons working on lesson plans, playing pickleball, going to movies, sharing meals—Chinese food at Tropical Chinese quickly became a favorite.

The gang of 5 enjoying the Miami water and sun

Cole was the only one planning a career in teaching, but all of the interns spoke with passion about what they’d learned. Their reflections captured both the challenges and rewards of the work:

• “I never knew teaching was so hard.”
• “I have a new appreciation for teachers.”
• “I felt a huge responsibility for the students’ futures—it was challenging.”
• “I learned to be more flexible when things didn’t go as planned.”
• “To be effective, I had to adapt my communication style for each student.”
• “I saw how important community is in these students’ lives—our efforts mattered.”
• “I didn’t realize how much impact one-on-one attention could have in a student’s life.”

When I asked Cole how the Scholars benefited from having young, inexperienced teachers—trained for less than a week—he told me the key was connection. Being closer in age helped him relate to the students and make history feel relevant. In one lesson on revolutions, he used social media as a modern parallel to show how ideas spread and movements gain momentum today. He even worked in a mini-lesson on spotting misinformation online, teaching his students to think critically like historians.

At the close of the summer program, Cole received a special honor: he was voted “Role Model” by the Scholars. For someone still exploring his path as a teacher, that recognition was more than just a title—it was a vote of confidence from the very students he had hoped to inspire.

Cole (in blue shirt) with Scholars in his 8th grade class

6th graders having fun with their teacher
(in purple Breakthrough shirt - first row)

As for me, the proud granny, I was deeply moved by the passion and dedication of these young adults. Watching them grow, connect, and inspire was a gift. They reminded me that the future is in good hands—and that even one summer can shape lives in powerful ways. And just maybe😊, Cole would like to teach in Miami someday!

More Good News….. from Raymond James

Raymond James Financial has just announced its latest earnings, marking an extraordinary milestone: 150 consecutive profitable quarters. Since going public in 1962, the firm has experienced only one negative quarter in its entire history.

This consistent performance reflects Raymond James’ conservative and disciplined approach, grounded in a philosophy where clients always come first. It’s a powerful reminder that long-term thinking and putting people at the center of every decision truly pays off.

Thanks to all of you for being part of the Starner Group and Raymond James.

Sincerely,

Margaret C. Starner
Senior VP - Wealth Management
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 500
Coral Gables, FL 33134
www.starnergroup.com
305-461-6660

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