Mara Zapata

Mara Zapata has been teaching for over 25 years. She holds a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education, an MS in Educational Leadership and a PhD in Science Education. She began her career teaching in the public school system and then in higher education where she has dedicated her efforts to the preparation of teachers and students.

Awards

• Chairman’s Award, Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe (2017)
• Service Award as Chair of the Miami Dade County Commission for Women (2016)
• Recognition Award as Keynote - SECME Stars Character Education Event (2008)
• MDCPS -Paul Hansen Award for support of K-12 Social Science Education (2004)

Research Areas

• Science education and teacher preparation viewed through the lens of equity, identity and perceptions of gender, as understood through the socio-cultural beliefs that both teachers and students bring to the learning environment
• Social Justice in teaching and teacher education for the sake of understanding and impacting the issues contributing to social in/equity rooted in both systemic practices and individual beliefs