Maria was born in Lima, Peru and grew up traveling around the world. As a result of that she has lived in different parts of the world including East Africa, Italy, Honduras and Canada. Due to her experiences growing up she is now devoted to ensuring training in cultural responsiveness for all programs working with youth. She completed her BA in Early Childhood and Family Studies at the University of Washington and later on her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Trinity Western University in British Columbia. She speaks Spanish, Italian and English fluently as well as French Moderately and currently lives in Spokane with her husband and two kids.

She is passionate and currently actively working and researching new methodologies and school practices to support Biracial and Multiracial Student Identity Development as well as TCK Children (Third Culture Kids). As a former Educator she has globally taught and explored different curriculums including the new British Columbia Curriculum in Canada and the National British Curriculum in the UK. She has also worked with different educators in the area of curriculum development. In the last few years she has had the opportunity to live in Panama and support the development of a Project-Based Learning International School in the Rainforest and acted as a School Principal. She is Project-Based Learning Certified through the Buck Institute for Education in California.

Maria has also had the amazing opportunity to work with Head Start and ECEAP programs in Washington. Maria believes in the importance of empowering teams to grow successfully and achieve the development of inclusive, high-quality programs that benefit all.