Coaches

Maria Tope Akinyele is a literacy consultant specializing in designing culturally relevant and constructivist approaches to literacy instruction within upper elementary, middle and high schools. Throughout the Northeast, she has helped many schools in urban districts successfully achieve desired instructional results and overall gains in student reading and writing outcomes.

Maria also serves as a Leadership Equity Coach for Agiri Learning Consultants, working with school leaders to design strategic professional learning experiences for teachers utilizing research-based adult learning principles.

Maria is also faculty at Teacher’s College Summer Principals Academy, where she teaches courses on adult development, school leadership and race and equity within schools.  

Maria has a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College, a Master in Social Studies Education from Lehman College and a Masters of Philosophy from the CUNY Graduate Center where she is presently completing her doctoral degree in Urban Education. Most recently, Maria attained a certificate from Georgetown University in Organizational Development.