Bio

Maria Madrigal is Innovate’s Sr. Program Manager, Leadership Development, New Schools. She trains and coaches school leaders on how to design and lead excellent and equitable schools. She also leads Innovate’s Online Learning Literacy Initiative, working with organizers to help parents build knowledge and skills that allow them to effectively engage with their schools and public officials to not only support their children’s learning at home but also to advocate for the rights of all children.

Born in San Bernardino, California, to Mexican immigrant parents and the first in her family to attend college, Maria began her love for equitable schools when she was studying undergraduate at UC San Diego. Here she further discovered how inequitable the education system was and was determined to help more black and brown students not only attend college but graduate.

Maria began her career in education as a Teach for America corps member in Richmond, CA where she taught 3rd grade. Prior to joining Innovate, Maria served as the founding principal of Voices Academies – Mount Pleasant, a high performing dual immersion charter school located on the east side of San Jose, CA. She was also a fellow of Innovate’s Start-up Schools Fellowship program in 2015-2016.

A native of California, she holds a B.A. in International Studies Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters of Arts in Reading Instruction from Loyola Marymount University.

What I love most about our work is …

…parent voice! It is such an essential voice that is often forgotten when it comes to education.

Inspiring Quote

“Without respect for the freedom of choice, peace is not possible.” – Miguel Ruiz Jr.