Maria Leon-Vazquez

Community advocate and educational leader in Santa Monica for over 40 years.

My passion comes from over forty years of involvement in Santa Monica, and working on issues in education and social justice.

I was raised in a working class, union family, which emphasized education as a means of creating opportunities for prosperity.

My Board leadership was vital as part of the SMMUSD Team that pivoted quickly to deliver education and supportive services to all in the safest manner.

The SMMUSD Team is resilient and I am proud to share my SMC experience as the Team learns to pivot their crafts to a distance learning mode and maintain SMMUSD’s distinction.

My leadership is the driver to continue SMMUSD’s strategic shift to a 21st century education guaranteeing that all our graduates are college and career ready, culturally and socially conscious, multi-lingual communicators, global citizens, and life-long learners.

About Maria

Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, I have been a resident of Santa Monica since 1959. I attended K-12 schools in Santa Monica, received an AA degree from Santa Monica College, a BA degree from U.C. San Diego and a JD degree from Hastings College of Law. I worked in a private law firm for 15 years and a housing nonprofit for 11 years. As of December 2007, I have been employed at Santa Monica College as a Project Manager overseeing Career Technical Education Pathways grants. I have served as the only Latinx school board member for the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District since November of 2000, and as past President and Vice President twice.

My personal triumphs in life have been raising and educating our two children, Tony Jr., a graduate from the University of Southern California, and my daughter, Carolina, a graduate of New York University with my husband, Board of Equalization Chairperson Antonio Vazquez. We also raised our niece, Maris, a graduate of U.C. Riverside. And the latest great joys in my life are my grandson, Emilio, 5 years old who will be attending SMMUSD Edison Language Academy in the Fall of 2020 and my daughter-in-law, Christine, graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. We work as a passionate team fighting for social justice in our community.

Accomplishments over the years…

K-12 Social Justice Program
- Restorative Justice training for staff
American Cultures/Ethnic Studies Program
Early Childhood program brought into the District to expand services to more families
Project Based Learning (PBL) pathway and campus established
- Personalized Project Based Learning training to all staff
Parent Engagement Framework adopted
- Inclusion of more parents in their student’s education

2 of 3 High Schools ranked in the top 5% national, state & local best high schools – US News & World Report, April 2020
- Opportunity gap increase, 68% AP Participation
World renowned Visual & Performing Arts
- Diversification with the addition of a Mariachi program
District-wide Equitable Fundraising
- All schools personnel needs are met
Passage of Y/YY & GS/GSH, sales tax measure, ¼% District revenue
Passage of Bond Measures BB, ES, SMS to upgrade our aging schools, technology & safety