Miami's oldest independent day school was founded by Dr. Laura Cushman in 1924. The school moved to this site in 1926, opening in early October after sustaining only minor damage from the disastrous September hurricane. Its original Mediterranean style classroom building was designed by Russell Skipton according to Dr. Cushman's specifications, with classrooms situated to receive cross ventilation and the breeze from Biscayne Bay. Windows were added later, and many came from the Royal Palm Hotel in downtown Miami. The school bell on the roof of the main building was the plantation bell used to call the construction workers to Villa Vizcaya. A firm believer in educational innovation, Dr. Cushman was a well-respected and recognized educator who served as principal for more than 52 years. She believed that developing industry, responsibility, reliability, courtesy, honesty, and integrity would help a child become a good scholar as well as a good citizen. Her philosophy of character development and educational excellence continued to guide the school, and in 1992 the United States Department of Education recognized it as a National School of Excellence.