CAROL MONTEALEGRE's Obituary
Carol Ann Coleman Montealegre, 77, of Coral Gables, FL, passed away on Saturday, September 20.
She was born in New Orleans, LA, on October 23, 1947, to John F. Coleman, Sr. and Marilyn Peyrefitte Coleman. She spent her childhood in Honduras with her three brothers: John F. Coleman, Jr., James P. Coleman (deceased), and Clayton T. Coleman.
Carol graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. She worked as a preschool teacher and lead trainer for the Division of Early Childhood Programs of Miami-Dade Public Schools for fourteen years, and later earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Nova Southeastern University.
After leaving the school system in 2000, she founded her own consulting company and served in a variety of roles in the field of early childhood education. She was a Senior Consultant at the National Institute for Innovative Leadership in Miami, Director of the Quality Counts Career Center operated by the Children’s Forum in Florida, and a consultant to the Miami Children’s Museum Charter School, the YWCA of Greater Miami and Dade County, and the Catholic Charities’ South Dade Child Care Center. She was also a certified teacher/trainer for the HighScope Educational Research Foundation and traveled extensively throughout the United States in that capacity.
Carol served as President of the South Florida Association for Young Children (SFAYC), on the Board of the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC), and as a Member-at-Large on the SECA Board of Directors (2008–2013). She was elected President of SECA for the term of 2015 - 2016.
Carol is survived by her devoted husband, Jorge Isaac Montealegre. They were married for 56 wonderful years, filled with love, laughter, and travel. Together, they raised two children: Nicole Montealegre Colley (widow of Arthur L. Colley) and Paul Forrest Montealegre. She was a loving grandmother to Arthur Lawrence Colley, Jr., Clayton Forrest Colley, and Paul Forrest Montealegre, Jr.
A mass will be held in her honor on Friday, October 10, 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Little Flower, Coral Gables, FL. This will be followed by a Celebration of Life at the Riviera Country Club. In lieu of flowers please contribute to Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
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