Cerra has built a national profile as a K-12 educator with a career that spans teaching, school-site administration as well as serving as chief lobbyist, chief negotiator in school district labor relations. In his role as the former deputy superintendent for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, he served alongside the current Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

His experience also includes city, county, state and federal government relations, as well as strategic planning and policy development. For the past 26 years, he has been president of the educational consulting firm Florida School Services, Inc.

His clients have included school districts, benefits providers, school design and construction and publishing and technology companies as well as an educational foundation.