About me
Maria Fernandes is a dedicated and mission-driven educational leader committed to creating equitable pathways to college and career success for all students. As Assistant Executive Director at New Heights Charter School of Brockton, Massachusetts’ first wall-to-wall Early College high school, Maria champions innovative programs that empower first-generation and underrepresented students to thrive in higher education and beyond.As a lifelong Brockton resident and dedicated educator, Maria is entirely committed to the delivery of educational opportunities to non-traditional students. She has 20 years of experience working in and managing college preparation/transition programs within the Brockton region. Her expertise includes the development and implementation of alternative educational pathways, dropout prevention/ intervention programs, and college access and preparation for non-traditional students. She also has significant experience working with multicultural, economically disadvantaged, and youth offender populations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education.
