Maria Vazquez

As the daughter of immigrants, Dr. Vazquez understands the power education has to transform lives. Her parents fled Cuba, leaving everything they owned behind to provide a better life for their family. They instilled in her that education was the most valuable currency she had, and she could not squander it. Through the work of caring adults, school was a safe place where Dr. Vazquez thrived; she succeeded despite her language barrier. It is because of those experiences that she has made it her life’s work to create learning environments where students feel supported and successful. As a teacher, principal, and district administrator, Dr. Vazquez has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has a pathway to success. Dr. Vazquez has served at every level of the education system and has extensive expertise in curriculum and instruction. In 2022, she became Superintendent of the 8th largest school district in the country. During her tenure at OCPS, she has expanded access to advanced coursework for historically underserved students, recruited great teachers to the most vulnerable schools, and reprioritized the district’s budget to support teaching and learning. Under her leadership, OCPS earned an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education for the 2023-24 school year.