Love can take many forms: between friends, within family and couples who walk through life side by side. At Coral Gables Senior High, love is not just limited to homecoming dances, it is also found among teachers. Tied together by education, community and a shared life beyond the classroom, married couples such as Mr. and Mrs. Ball-llovera, Mrs. Kiely and Mr. De Armas and Mr. Rovira and Mrs. Baez show that love can be lived every day even as co-workers.

Mr. and Mrs. Ball-llovera

Supporting students in English and the English for Speakers of Other Languages Program, Mr. and Mrs. Ball-llovera also nurture their relationship rooted in patience and empathy. Alongside their passion for education, Mr. and Mrs. Ball-llovera have been married for six years, growing their family with two children. While the couple became accustomed to dropping off their little ones in the Little Cavaliers preschool, their youngest recently graduated while their oldest is making her mark in West Laboratory Middle School.

Teaching middle schoolers with toughness and heart, Mr. Ball-llovera was attracted to Mrs. Ball-llovera for her fierce personality and intelligence. From the moment he saw her, he knew she was the person he would spend the rest of his life with. At Gables, Mr. and Mrs. Ball-llovera guide students through literature and language, showing them how to express their voices.

“When we first started dating, or entering the couple phase, it was kind of crazy. We taught sixth grade English and reading at our old school, and so our students started figuring it out. Although we kept it a secret for some reason, you can say we were not very good at it apparently,” Mr. Ball-llovera said.

Every morning for Mrs. Ball-llovera begins behind the wheel, a routine that has become a test of time filled with drop-off lines and clock-watching. Even though the Little Cavaliers Preschool once kept the family under one roof, the Ball-lloveras now find themselves starting the day in different directions. Juggling family and work, two schools and two commutes means the Ball-lloveras doing their best to make it all work with a smile.

Showcasing their unbreakable bond by supporting each other and their students, Mrs. Ball-llovera helps newcomers navigate English as a second language, opening doors of opportunity. On the other hand, Mr. Ball-llovera shapes ideas and imagination through literature by teaching students how powerful words can be. Together, they prove that love shares a common thread which requires understanding and the courage to truly listen.

Mr. De Armas and Mrs. Kiely

Balancing equations and timelines, chemistry teacher Mrs. Kiely and history teacher Mr. De Armas prove that science and the past can make a perfect match. These former Cavaliers, despite being a grade apart, always crossed paths, whether it was at football games or study sessions, thanks to their wide circle of friends. Stepping into a time capsule, Mr. De Armas and Mrs. Kiely have returned to their alma mater to instruct in the halls they once roamed.

“Back then, I never let her forget she won prom queen. I would walk up to her in the halls, bow down very exaggeratedly and greet Kiely with a playful bow and say ‘My Queen.’…I guess it worked out,” Mr. De Armas said.

Between backpacks and bus rides, Mr. De Armas grew certain they were meant to be. After spending 18 months traveling, hopping out of trains and living in hostels, their relationship was tested and strengthened. Standing out to Mr. De Armas for her patience, Mrs. Kiely never once complained about the rough treks or long nights. Despite being raised in comfort, she embraced every challenge proving she was committed. Somewhere between those winding roads, Mr. De Armas discovered Mrs. Kiely was the woman he wanted to spend every restless night with.

Nowadays, their mornings start long before the sun rises. While most of Miami is still asleep at 4 a.m., Mr. De Armas and Mrs. Kiely are up and running, taking on different workouts with the same determination. Once dawn hits, their tag-team routine of two cars and two drop-offs begins: Mrs. Kiely drives their eldest daughter to school while Mr. De Armas takes their youngest to the Little Cavaliers Preschool.

Between park strolls, swim classes, dance classes and music lessons, once the last bell rings, the family dives into a dynamic schedule of activities. Relaxing during the evenings, Mr. De Armas and Mrs. Kiely unwind with game nights that spark friendly competition.

From classmates to a couple, their circle has grown into a family with one daughter thriving at the Little Cavaliers Preschool and the other beginning her own journey at a new school. What started as two classmates sharing the same halls has become a story of parents watching the next generation write their own Cavalier chapter.

Mr. Rovira and Mrs. Baez

Nurturing the next wave of students through the Exceptional Student Education and Childcare programs, Mr. Rovira and Mrs. Baez show a shared love for learning and each other. For Mr. Rovira and Mrs. Baez their love story all started with a dating app and a little bit of hesitation. In the early stages of their relationship, Mrs. Baez was not initially interested in Mr. Rovira, pondering on what to do for two weeks. But thanks to the encouragement of her friends, they have now been happily married for five years.

After dating for a year and growing a deep connection, Mr. Rovira took the next step and proposed to Mrs. Baez in the middle of the woods in North Carolina. Reacting filled with surprise, Mrs. Baezs’ yes highlights her dedication towards a lifetime together and the power of second chances.

“We enjoy the little things, but what catches our attention the most is Disney. We love just strolling around Disney and all the parks and as you can tell by her Childcare room, we really commit to being Disney adults, just like we commit to our relationships with our Cavaliers,” Mr. Rovira said.

Though they walk the same halls, their paths rarely cross outside of lunch breaks or morning rides to campus. Leading different professional lives, Mrs. Baez is dedicated to the Childcare program and Bowling team while Mr. Rovira remains committed to offering memorable real-world experiences for students in the ESE department.

Blending their careers and home life has come naturally to Mr. Rovira and Mrs. Baez. As co-workers and soulmates, they have created their own system built on trust, humor and unwavering support both inside and outside the classroom.

With four cruises planned and more Disney trips in the works, Mr. Rovira and Mrs. Baez have a long road filled with compassion ahead that promises adventure. In the midst of their journey filled with love, they have been considering starting a family in the future. Whichever comes first, they have a devoted life of marriage unfolding and plenty of stories to tell.

At Gables, love extends far beyond academics, carrying into families and lifelong partnerships. From the Ball-lloveras sharing of literature and language across classrooms, Mr. De Armas and Mrs. Kielys’ juggling of family and school life and Mrs. Baez and Mr. Rovira navigating life with empathy and patience, the love these couples show has powerfully united the Cavalier community.