Our Leaders
Leila Centner
Co-Founder
Leila Centner is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Centner Academy, a progressive independent ‘happiness’ school that combines a deep commitment to emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and happiness with a challenging curriculum featuring language immersion, entrepreneurial thinking, problem solving, creativity, and collaboration. Using a strengths-based approach to learning, all Centner Academy students and teachers have opportunities to do what they love across the curriculum through project- and problem-based learning. Centner Academy’s mission is to promote:
- Happy, thriving students
- Rigorous curriculum that engages students
- Mindfulness and emotional intelligence
- Effective foreign language acquisition
- Project- and problem-based learning
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Personalized learning journeys
- Habits to optimize neurodevelopment
Centner Academy’s curriculum philosophy was developed by a team of seasoned educators to meet the needs and expectations of globally minded families. Our intention is to shape future adults who are not only confident and poised to succeed, but who also have the character and skills needed to make the world a better, kinder, and more loving place for all.
Leila is on a personal mission to save the children by providing a happy, safe environment where kids can be kids.
For many years Leila Centner was the Chief Financial Officer of Highway Toll Administration (HTA) until it was sold in March 2018. Prior to her work with HTA, Leila held several high-level financial roles with Arthur Andersen and Deloitte & Touche, overseeing engagements with multi-billion dollar accounting clients. Leila’s greatest joy comes from being part of humanitarian organizations such as Convoy of Hope and the Centner Foundation, which she co-manages with her husband David. A proud mother of two daughters, Leila graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California’s School of Accounting and received her MBA from the University of California.
David Centner
Co-Founder
David Centner is a successful inventor, serial entrepreneur, tech visionary and philanthropist, with pioneering ventures in Web development, online marketplaces and electronic toll collection. Mr. Centner has had 4 successful exits with technology companies that he founded and led.
In 1994, Mr. Centner founded one of the world’s first Internet development and “interactive advertising” agencies, K2 Design. As its chairman and CEO, Mr. Centner at age 30 guided K2 Design through a successful 1996 IPO and eventual profitability. K2 Design was the first of its kind to be inducted into the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies.
In 1996, Mr. Centner founded and incubated CLIQNOW!, a leading online ad network, which was sold the following year to pre-IPO 24/7 Media.
In 1997, Mr. Centner founded and was CEO of MaterialNet, the world’s first reverse-auction, buyercentric business-to-business e-marketplace for raw materials. MaterialNet was acquired by Perfect Commerce in 2002.
In 2002, Mr. Centner founded, self-financed, wrote the first generation of code, and invented patented devices for Highway Toll Administration, LLC (HTA), the first and largest provider of vehicle tolling solutions in the world. At the time of its sale in March 2018, HTA, 100% owned by Mr. Centner, grew to oversee the tolling interests for approximately 4 million vehicles annually. HTA was acquired by private equity firm Platinum Equity investing from their $6.5 billion global buyout fund, Platinum Equity Capital Partners IV.
Mr. Centner is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business with a major in Entrepreneurial Management. Mr. Centner was born and raised in Miami, Florida.
Bianca Erickson
COO
Bianca believes we are all here for a reason and that we each have specific, unique gifts to contribute to this world — for humanity and our planet at this moment in time. When we each bring forth our individual gifts and live with a sense of deep meaning and purpose, is when we feel the best — the most fulfilled and happy, not to mention it is when we are doing the most good for others.
Centner Academy provides our children with the practices to uncover and explore their unique talents and gifts, their sense of meaning and purpose. Our world needs healing and our children’s approach to life will greatly impact the future of humanity.
Bianca graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Cum Laude with Honors from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor’s degree and a double major in Psychology and Spanish.
Jimena Hills
Principal of the Preschool & Director of the Brain Enrichment Hub
Jimena Hills, brings over 15 years of expertise in early childhood development to her roles as Principal of the Preschool and Director of the Brain Enrichment Hub at Centner Academy. Recognized by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association for her pioneering work in sensory integration and brain optimization, Jimena is a Recreational Therapist and entrepreneur with a passion for designing innovative programs that enhance children’s sensorimotor and sensory integration skills.
Her journey began after visiting numerous schools and identifying a common need among students for specialized sensory motor and reflex integration support. This insight inspired the creation of Centner Academy’s unique movement and sensorimotor classes, tailored to foster balance, body awareness, and sensory motor skills in a meaningful and engaging way.
As Director of the Brain Enrichment Hub, Jimena leverages cutting-edge neurodevelopmental research to ensure an optimized learning environment for every child. Her expertise in sensory and reflex integration allows her to identify and address neurodevelopmental or sensory immaturities that may impact learning and development. Beyond her work in the gym and classrooms, she collaborates with families to provide resources and insights that empower children to reach their full potential.
Jimena’s alignment with Centner Academy’s mission has been a transformative step in her vision of creating a holistic model of brain and body development. Her dedication to nurturing young minds ensures that every child at Centner Academy thrives in an environment designed to optimize growth and success. Jimena graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Florida International University (FIU).
Paulina Balletas
Elementary School Principal
Paulina Ballestas is a passionate and experienced educator with over 12 years of dedicated service in diverse educational settings, including public, charter, and private schools. Paulina holds certifications in K-12 Special Education and Elementary General Education, along with endorsements in Reading and ESOL. Paulina Ballestas is also Orton-Gillingham certified, demonstrating expertise in addressing dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Throughout her career, Paulina has consistently demonstrated a commitment to student success and has made significant contributions to the educational field. Paulina has a proven ability to create inclusive and engaging learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of all students. Paulina successfully implemented innovative teaching strategies and interventions that have positively impacted student learning outcomes. Paulina’s experience is diverse, encompassing roles as an elementary teacher, Reading coach, and Math and Reading interventionist. Notably, as part of the administrative team at a Native American school, Paulina spearheaded the department of Common Core transitioning and led the school’s transformation into a model school for the Bureau of Indian Education. Paulina’s dedication to professional growth is evident through her ongoing pursuit of professional development opportunities. Paulina has presented at educational conferences, mentored aspiring educators, and served as a valuable resource for colleagues.
Brett Hannan
Middle & High School Principal
Brett Hannan is a visionary educational leader with a distinguished career in STEAM education, technology innovation, and gifted education. As the founding administrator of a private school in Palm Beach, Brett established a strong foundation for academic excellence and innovation, creating programs tailored to advanced learners. His expertise was further honed during his time at The Sage School, a premier institution for gifted education, where he developed a robust K-8 STEAM curriculum and established a cutting-edge Maker Space, enriching the educational experience for hundreds of students and faculty.
Brett’s contributions to education have earned him numerous accolades, including recognition as an MIT Makey Makey Ambassador, a Business Visionary Award from the South Florida Science Center, and a Proclamation from the state of Massachusetts for advancing STEAM initiatives. He is also an Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador and a LEGO Ambassador, celebrated for fostering creativity and technological innovation. As a thought leader, Brett has presented at prestigious conferences like ISTE, FCIS, and Scratch@MIT, offering insights on topics in the realm of education.
In addition to his leadership roles, Brett’s work in artificial intelligence and data analytics has been published in academic journals, including his research on “iHANDs: Intelligent Health Advising and Decision-Support Agent.” during his doctoral studies at UMass Dartmouth. Brett’s commitment to fostering a forward-thinking and student-centered educational environment resonates deeply with Centner Academy’s vision. By championing creativity, innovation, and holistic learning, he cultivates an atmosphere where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Through his dedication to integrating cutting-edge practices and interdisciplinary approaches, Brett helps shape a community that prepares students to excel in an ever-evolving world.
Lisa Esperon
Middle & High School Vice-Principal
Lisa Esperon is a master educator and compassionate leader with over four decades of experience in education. Since beginning her career in 1980, she has held diverse teaching roles, covering phonics, art, physical education, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science for preschool through middle school students. Her deep understanding of education and leadership has also seen her serve as a Vice Principal for middle school programs, shaping her into the inspiring leader she is today. Lisa joined Centner Academy as an Office Manager, where her organizational skills and commitment to the school’s mission quickly shone through. Her love for teaching brought her back into the classroom as a math instructor, a role she embraced wholeheartedly.
Today, as Vice Principal, Lisa combines her teaching expertise with her leadership abilities to guide and support students and staff alike. Throughout her career, Lisa has been recognized for her exceptional contributions to education. This year, she was honored with the Big Heart Award, celebrating her kindness, dedication, and positive influence on the Centner community. She has also received the prestigious Teacher of the Year award, a testament to her skill as a transformative educator. Outside of her professional accomplishments, Lisa is a proud mother of three sons and grandmother of two. Her eldest son works in education as part of a charter school, her second son is dedicated to county administration and her youngest son is an engineer. Her family reflects the values of hard work, passion, and service that she embodies every day.
Lisa Esperon’s dedication to fostering a love of learning, her commitment to nurturing the whole child, and her compassionate leadership make her an invaluable part of Centner Academy. She continues to inspire students, staff, and families to strive for excellence while creating a culture of care and connection.
Our application process begins with a private tour with a member of the friendly Centner Academy admissions team. We can’t wait to meet your family and learn more about your learners.
Prospective students and families will be invited for interviews to make sure our school community is a great fit.
Interview
After you fill out our inquiry form, we will provide you with access to our Online Admissions Portal.
Decision
The Admissions Team sends decisions by email. If your family is accepted, you will have two weeks to accept or decline our admission offer and complete the enrollment contract
