Maria spent 30 years launching and optimizing global and local businesses with Disney, Sony, Amazon, Starbucks, and as a local business owner.

In 2010 a private tutor transformed one of her children’s literacy skills with instruction unavailable and unknown in her public school district. Appalled that this universally necessary instruction was not freely available to all, Maria initiated one of Washington State’s first efforts to re-train public school teachers and provide core instruction aligned with research-validated methods. Maria planned to replicate that pilot project across the state, starting with underserved communities. She and the district team were surprised to learn the state’s ‘public school pipeline’ did not offer training or guidance for what is now called ‘The Science of Reading,’ nor were they interested. The intrepid district team faced significant obstacles, piecing together a complex program on their own, as well as deep skepticism from teachers and now-retired district leadership. The Seattle Times wrote about the project, minus the drama, here.

In 2021 Maria heard about a Pennslyvania school district systematically implementing Science of Reading instruction, intent on reaching 90% proficiency. This inspired Maria to try again. She began a master’s degree in education, studying Science of Reading implementation across the nation, and thanks to their generosity, focusing on the groundbreaking literacy and equity initiatives in the Bethlehem, Pennslyvania Area School District, some of which are described here. In 2023, Maria established The Reading Equity Project as a nonprofit to be a catalyst for universal literacy and social justice in Washington State.