Maria Siskar

Maria is a passionate and dedicated educator with over a decade of experience in various roles, specializing in curriculum development, instructional coaching, and advancing educational equity. A proud immigrant from Venezuela, Maria’s personal experience navigating the U.S. education system has profoundly shaped her commitment to supporting students from underserved communities. Early on, she was fortunate to be guided by teachers who helped her adjust to a new environment and fostered her academic growth, igniting her passion for education and advocacy.

Maria graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida, earning a double degree in International and Global Studies and Modern Languages (Spanish and French). While she initially pursued a career in law and human rights, a pivotal moment came when a friend encouraged her to apply for Teach for America rather than go straight to law school. This decision brought her to New York City, where she has spent her career working to improve educational outcomes for students in high-need communities. Maria also holds a Master’s in Special Education from Hunter College.

Before joining EdEquity Lab, Maria served as the Director of Academic Excellence at a New York middle school, where she focused on improving instructional practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and empowering educators to deliver the best possible education to all students.

Prior to this, Maria was the Dean of Instruction for Mathematics at a Brooklyn high school, where she led efforts to improve student achievement through innovative teaching methods, technology integration, and data-driven decision-making. Maria was also deeply involved in her school community, coaching the Girls Volleyball Team and serving on both the Equity Advisory Committee and Equity Steering Committee. In these roles, she helped drive diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist initiatives across the network of schools.

Maria is a strong advocate for Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and has coached teachers on how to implement best practices that support students from diverse backgrounds. Maria’s approach to education is rooted in her belief of the transformative power of learning. She is dedicated to creating and supporting environments where students not only excel academically but also grow as individuals. Her work is focused on improving student outcomes, empowering teachers, and fostering inclusive, equitable educational practices. Above all, Maria believes two on two education ideas:  that education is the tool no one can take from you and that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed—and she is committed to making that a reality for all students.