4 Questions with Maureena Mark
Policy Analyst, Program Evaluator, Data Specialist, Technologist, and Assistant Principal
Maureena Mark (she/her) is an experienced Policy Analyst, Program Evaluator, Data Specialist, Technologist, and Assistant Principal with a demonstrated history of working in Policy and Education Management for 20+ years. She is the District Instructional Lead at New York City Department of Education and New Leaders APP Cohort ’15, ENSM ‘19.
1. Where’s your hometown?
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.
2. How did you get into STEM?
From ages 11 to 15, I was exposed to Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Computer Science at Bishop Anstey High School. Then, in my years training as a teacher, Math and Technology became my first loves. I excelled at teaching them in my middle school classrooms; my passion was seeing kids questioning, making their thinking visible, and embracing innovation. My private joke is I’ve been in tech ever since “tech” was an overhead projector and a voice recorder!
3. What’s a challenge you’ve faced, and how did you get through it?
I’m the curator of a very large library of digital tools and non-digital resources. My expertise lies in adding value to my collection and my lessons by choosing the right blend of resources. Effective Teaching and Learning needs a drizzle of this and a dash of that before we serve it to our youngsters.
My greatest challenge for 29 years has been persuading every parent, teacher, and administrator to embrace my core belief that the integration of technology in education is important. Technology is the language of kids, and if you’re not using it, you could be screaming at the top of your voice and kids will not hear you — and as a result, not learn.
I’ve overcome this challenge by leading by example. I’ve engaged the students, created prototype lessons, and partnered with entities that supported my own development. I let the changed mindsets and academic results of students persuade others.
4. What’s something you’ve done that you are immensely proud of?
I’ve assembled a design team made up of the best and brightest stakeholders. All of our efforts are mission-oriented and data-driven. Our Champions For Educational Change represent all voices, including students, parents, teachers, school administrators, district administration, and corporate partners.
The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is looking for innovative ideas for academically rigorous, engaging, and equitable new schools to serve as models for the system. We submitted a school design proposal to their Imagine School initiative in November 2019. It was not chosen in cohort 1, but we were encouraged to re-submit in Spring of 2020. We’ve heeded the feedback, strengthened the team with new voices, and are ready to submit our bold idea as soon as circumstances allow.
Our bold idea is: to build a technology-infused school that uses XR (VR/AR/MR) as part of a blended-learning model, to lift engagement and outcomes. We will include entrepreneurial and social emotional learning models to prepare students emotionally and technically for future careers and provide virtual access to programs, allowing implementation in communities without putting additional strain on existing resources. We will leverage technology to create systems, partnerships, and an instructional model that will position our students and their communities for future success.
There is nothing like this currently in NYC; the post-COVID19 educational landscape needs this. I’m confident this school will open in 2020, and that makes me proud.
