Meet Maria

Maria is an expert educator with over 25 years of leading and teaching in urban public schools and universities. She has shared her research in cognitive science, motivation, and self-regulated learning with teachers at local and international STEM workshops. As an educator, Maria has worked to ensure all students, especially historically marginalized voices, are empowered to learn via equitable supports. Maria has also served the community as a Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader and as President of Bellaire Young Mothers.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR & TEACHER

Houston ISD Math Specialist & Teacher-Madison HS, Lawson MS (formerly Dowling MS), Sugargrove MS
Assistant Principal, Southwest Schools
San Antonio: Teacher, Department Chair, & GT Coordinator, Wheatley MS
Lifetime Teacher Certification for Grades 1-8 Self-Contained and Mathematics
Principal Certification for Grades K-12

PROFESSOR & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINER

Clinical Associate Professor, teachHOUSTON, University of Houston
Adjunct Professor, Educational Psychology, University of Houston
Adjunct Professor, Sarasota University, FL
Regional Instructor, Texas Instruments
Educational Leader Council, Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (formerly EF+Math)
Office of STEM Engagement, Rice University

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER

Dissertation: Teacher-Student Motivation & Classroom Practices
Research Interests: Executive Function, Self-Regulated Learning, and Racial-Ethnic Identity
Masters Report: Homophobia and Heterosexism in Schools

PARENT & COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER & ADVOCATE

President, Bellaire Young Mothers
Volleyball Coach (Ages 7-8 and 9-11), Bellaire Recreation Center
Kindergarten Room Parent, Condit Elementary, HISD
Troop Co-Leader & Cookie Manager, Girl Scouts (Willow Rock Community)
Advocacy Core Team Member, Raise Your Hand Texas - Greater Houston
Forum Conference Coordinator, Community Voices for Public Education

GRADUATE

G.C. Data Science & Business Analytics, UT-Austin
Ph.D. Educational Psychology, University of Houston (UH)
M.A. Curriculum & Instruction, UT-Austin
B.A. Plan II - Liberal Arts Honors, UT-Austin
B.S. Applied Learning & Development, UT-Austin
Booker T. Washington & the HS for Engineering Professions, HISD