Maria Paredes

Overview

Maria Paredes is a national expert in family and community engagement with a focus on advancing the quality and impact of partnerships among families, educators, and the community to support student achievement and school improvement. In 2010, Paredes developed Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT), a data-driven model of family engagement, to go beyond traditional parent-teacher conferences and enable teachers and families to network, cultivate bonds, and work collaboratively to advance student learning needs. 

In 2011, Paredes joined WestEd to build on her research and practice by serving schools, districts, and community organizations nationally. Paredes provides professional development, coaching, and technical assistance to state agencies, school and district leaders, teachers, and school staff in states coast to coast, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The APTT model has been adopted by more than 2,500 schools in 26 states and has been the subject of multiple studies that have found positive outcomes for students, families, and schools. 

Before joining WestEd, Paredes served as a middle school teacher, community education teacher, school administrator, and as district director of family and community engagement in Phoenix, Arizona. Her experience serving students of color in economically disadvantaged communities fueled her passion, transforming the way families participate and contribute to the educational experience of their children. 

Education

• EdD in leadership and innovation, Arizona State University
• MA in curriculum and instruction, Arizona State University
• BA in comparative literature, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Select Publications

Paredes, M. (2024). Building on family and community strengths. In Perks, K. (Ed.), Transformational leadership for rapid school improvement (pp. 164-178). WestEd. https://www.wested.org/resources/transformational-leadership-for-rapid-school-improvement/  

Paredes, M. (2022). A systems approach to planning a rewarding family engagement experience. WestEd. 

Paredes, M. (2022). Strengthening home and school connections in the middle school years. WestEd. 

Paredes, M., & Martinez, S., (2021). Academic parent-teacher teams readiness and implementation roadmap. WestEd. 

Paredes, M. (2021). Tips, strategies, and resources to engage families. WestEd. 

Paredes, M., & Groth, L., (2020). Planning for family engagement in the charter school life cycle: A toolkit for school leaders.