Maria Paredes

Dr. Maria Paredes is a Senior Engagement Manager at WestEd with a focus on family engagement. Paredes works collaboratively with schools, districts, and state agencies to help build readiness and capacity for implementation of the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) model of family engagement. For 25 years, Paredes has been a teacher, district administrator, researcher and a parent educator focused on transforming the way families participate as partners in education. The APTT model she developed in 2009 has provided a system and opened doors for parents and teachers to work as a team to impact student learning and achievement. Paredes has dedicated her lifework to increasing equity in education and improve opportunities for students and families in underserved communities. The APTT model is currently being used in 26 states and over 1,500 schools across the US, offering systemic solutions and empowering educators and families to work hand in hand to improve academic outcomes for students.