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Citizen of the Year

The Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce is delighted to recognize Cushman’s Associate High School Director, Douglas Romanik, as its 2020 Citizen of the Year. Doug is a life-long resident of Miami Shores, moving from the Twin Cities to Miami with his six siblings in 1977. Upon arrival, the family became entrenched within the village, adopting Saint Rose of Lima Parish as their house of worship and the Miami Shores Recreation Center, where the Romanik clan played sports until sunset, as their de facto home.

Doug attended St. Rose in middle school and matriculated to Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Preparatory School where he excelled in the classroom and on the gridiron. Doug attended Harvard University, playing football his freshman year, and studying economics. After his stint in Cambridge, Doug decided to attend the University of Miami Law School. With JD in hand, Doug entered the workforce in Miami, working briefly at Katz Barron Law Firm followed by the Florida Bar. At this time, Doug felt a calling beyond law and decided to join his brothers in running the family bowling alley, Cloverleaf Lanes.

When an opportunity became available at his alma mater, Archbishop Curley, Doug embraced his true vocational calling. Doug commenced his tenure as Dean of Students before briefly assuming the role of Advancement Director. Shortly thereafter, he was chosen to take over as Principal, a position he held until 2017.

It was at Curley and then The Cushman School, where in 2018 he reunited with his sister, and longtime Cushman Middle School Director, Jennifer Geimer, that his true gifts unveiled themselves. As current Associate Director of the Cushman High School, Doug is reaching a new era of being a Miami Shores resident. Doug’s commitment to the Community Learning Partnership of Miami Shores, Green Day and Unity Day only partly captures his duty to serve and support initiatives within the Miami Shores Village.

When Doug isn’t molding young adults at Cushman High, he spends his free time giving back in other ways. Anyone who’s enjoyed a day at the St. Rose Carnival has benefitted from Doug’s hard work as he’s served on the carnival committee for the last eighteen years and helped chair the event each of the previous five years. Doug also plays the role of Santa to the delight of children at the Breakfast with Santa Day at St. Rose.

Doug, and his wife Haydee, have raised their three daughters, Megan, Rhian and Grace, in Miami Shores, where the family enjoys riding bikes, attending community events and frequenting the fabulous new restaurants on NE 2nd Avenue. The Cushman School is proud that our very own Mr. Doug Romanik has received this prestigious honor by the Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce.

– Kyle Mullan
Global Studies Instructor
Cushman High School