#19 Guest: Dr. Maria Navarro on Where High Quality & Diverse Teachers Drive Student Success (Blueprint Pillar 2)

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

My conversation with Dr. Maria Navarro, Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, reveals a powerful blueprint for educational transformation in action.

Dr. Navarro's district has increased teacher diversity from 37.8% to 43.2% while dramatically expanding National Board Certification candidates from 8 to 117 teachers - showing how strategic leadership creates real change.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟑 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
• 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬: Piloting the 60/40 model (60% teaching, 40% teacher leadership) enables peer coaching and faster improvement.
• 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬: Naming the idea that moving to high-needs schools can feel like a “demotion” opened honest, equity-centered conversations—and change.
• 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐧: Charles, Calvert, & St. Mary’s are partnering with higher ed to build sustainable teacher pathways.

The Blueprint reforms aren't just policy—they're changing how educators work together while keeping excellent teachers in classrooms through meaningful career advancement.