Dr. Maria Akinyele is a lifelong learner. Reader of philosophy, lover of museums, and author of a chapter in the forthcoming Teaching Black History in Schools, she continues to deepen and share her own knowledge.
Dr. Akinyele specializes in leadership development and literacy instruction within urban schools. For the past fifteen years, she has helped numerous school leaders envision and implement equitable literacy practices that empower youth with cultural competence and critical thinking tools. She continues to collaborate with school and district leaders, designing professional learning experiences that support both teacher and student growth.
Her teaching career began in The Bronx and her deep New York roots afford an understanding of the city’s education network.
Dr. Akinyele holds bachelors degrees in History and Women Studies with a concentration in African American Studies from Williams College; a Ph.D. in Urban Education from the CUNY Graduate Center; a certificate in Organizational Development and Change Leadership from Georgetown University.