North Miami council appoints Miami-Dade educator to open seat, city manager resigns
The North Miami City Council this week appointed a Miami-Dade educator to fill the seat vacated by Alix Desulme who became the city’s new mayor.
Pierre Frantz Charles, a high school math teacher with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, will serve in the District 4 seat left open when Desulme was appointed mayor on Dec. 13 to fill the seat of former Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime.
Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Mary Estime-Irvin made the motion during Tuesday’s meeting to appoint Charles, who was approved on a 3-1 vote. Councilwoman Kassandra Timothe was the dissenting vote.
Read more: North Miami gets new mayor and moves election date, extending council members’ terms
“There are very few events that we have where he is not participating in. He has served on boards, he is an educator. I happened to visit his church, and I see his involvement. He’s about the people,” Estime-Irvin said.
Charles was selected from among 10 applicants, including educator and past District 4 candidate Beverly Hilton and executive director of Haitian American Professionals Coalition Marline Monestime, who were favored by residents voicing support during Tuesday’s meeting.
“One thing I will tell you is service is a calling and I am here to serve. I have the passion, I have the will and the integrity to work with you,” Charles said at the meeting ahead of the council’s decision. “And I’ll be more than happy, ladies and gentlemen, to go under your wings and please take me with you. Take my hand. Let’s move together and let’s move the city of North Miami forward.”
Born and raised in Arcahaie, Haiti, Charles came to the United States in 1995, according to an online biography on North Miami’s website.
Since 2009, Charles has been a math teacher at Miami Central Senior High School, where he has been twice awarded teacher of the year, most recently for the 2021-2022 school year. He has been an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College, Wolfson Campus since 2014.
Charles serves on the advisory committee for the Community Redevelopment Agency of North Miami. He also serves as the secretary of the North Miami Citizens Investigative Board and is president of the Association of Haitian Educators of Dade.
He will be sworn in Jan. 17 at the induction ceremony of Desulme.
Charles’ appointment comes after North Miami city manager Theresa Therilus resigned on Jan. 5. She was first hired city manager in July 2020 and her last day will be Feb. 3. Her resignation was listed in an agenda item that would allow her to consult with the city manager’s office. The council approved her consulting role during Tuesday’s meeting.
The contract expires July 1, but can be terminated by either party with a 15-day written notice.
