Meet Christina

Christina Marino decided she wanted to go into education as a highschool student. At that age, she recognized the inequity and divide in her school that impacted overall success. She is a first generation Black Latinx American whose parents instilled the drive to support others.  Christina graduated from Niagara University with a BA in Secondary Education, social studies and special education and a Masters in Literacy instruction and leadership. Christina completed a Educational Policy and leadership fellowship in 2014.

 

Christina has over 15 years experience in education and has worked in schools across Washington, D.C. Christina started her career as a Special Olympics coach and special education teacher working with students with mild to moderate disabilities. Within a year, Christina’s students made between 2-4 grade-levels of growth in the area of reading. 

 

Christina is deeply passionate about developing opportunity and access for all students, and systems to support students from all backgrounds. She was the founding Director of Student Services at a high performing open enrollment Title I public charter school.  She completed an educational policy fellowship which supported her construction of a robust special education program from students with moderate to severe disabilities, which includes several differentiated pathways for students in the inclusion model, self-contained model, etc. Christina develops systems for at-risk students with high trauma and high ACEs to ensure that students have appropriate support to be able to thrive in school. Additionally, Christina expanded the Wellness Team that led school-wide programming and built partnerships with DC area organizations to ensure student access to resources both within and outside school. Christina believes that all students are capable of success and is passionate about building systems and programs that act as a catalyst for our most at risk youth in driving their academics.