#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.