Time Flies When You're Having Fun: 50 Years of Service from Ms. Maria Elena Cartaya

Ms. Maria Elena Cartaya is a person who has become synonymous with Belen Jesuit. She is an amazing person who cares deeply about the students and has built incredible relationships with her peers. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from her beloved University of Florida. As Assistant Disciplinarian for the Middle School, she has been pivotal in forming young boys into men who take responsibility for their actions. Whether it is a loose tie, shoes worn incorrectly, or maybe something more serious, Ms. Cartaya treats every moment with a student or parent, with incredible attention and respect. Congratulations on 50 years dedicated to Belen Jesuit. 

“Ms. Cartaya makes history as only the third person to reach the milestone of 50 years as a Belen educator, and she is the first woman to celebrate the distinction of this Golden Anniversary,” said Mr. José E. Roca ‘84, principal. “We are truly grateful for her passion and dedication to Belen.”

Ms. Cartaya started working at Belen in 1974. She worked as a Spanish teacher, a French teacher, and a disciplinarian. Throughout the years she has always found the perfect balance between a stern look and a warm smile. You will often hear her through the hallways and in the dining hall reminding you to "Please tuck in your shirt, put your shoes on correctly, and get a haircut," always emphasizing the importance of personal discipline and making the right choices. Looking back at her time at Belen Ms. Cartaya said, “My time at Belen has been amazing, quite an experience. I’ve gone from 500 students and a building where most classrooms didn’t have windows to a ‘College Campus’ with over 1300 students. I went from no sports facilities, except for the ‘dust bowl’, to an Olympic size pool in the Gian Zumpano Aquatic Center, the Roberto Goizueta Innovation Center, Leyva Court, De La Cruz Stadium, Hernández Field, Maury Park, and the Roberto Surís Athletic Center. I have met and worked with some very wonderful people; some of them have passed away and I miss them every day. Fifty years? Time flies when you’re having fun.”

"On her 50th anniversary at Belen, we honor Ms. Cartaya for her unwavering dedication, profound impact, and tireless commitment to the school and thousands of students. Her decades of service exemplify the essence of selflessness and inspire us all to strive for excellence with compassion,” said Fr. Willie Garcia-Tuñon, S.J. ‘87. “Her legacy resonates deeply within our hearts, shaping the very fabric of our institution with her boundless passion and profound grace."

Working at the same place for five decades ensures you’re going to have some great memories. Moments like Fr. Ripoll standing in the front of the school shouting at the cars coming in that school was closed for the day due to flooding (something that she looks back on with great joy), to the awesome moments shared with fellow faculty members. She loves thinking back on the bus trips with students to away sports games, and other field trips, but Ms. Cartaya specifically remembers a time when she went on a field trip with Mrs. Beatriz Jiménez, Mr. Frank Pichardo, Deacon Eduardo Blanco and their spouses. Mr. Pichardo and Deacon Blanco’s antics were enough to get them kicked out of the park, but thankfully, they weren’t! 

As we commemorate her 50-year milestone, Ms. Cartaya wishes to express her heartfelt gratitude to the Belen community. “I would like to let the Belen community know how much I appreciate all the support and love that everyone has shown me throughout the years. I thank God every day for my family and every one of them! So, here is to another 50 years!”