Faculty and Staff

Maria Sylvia was born in an atmosphere of festivity and rejoicing in anticipation of New Year’s Day on December 31 in a beautiful country, the Philippines. Loving parents instilled in Maria and her three older siblings the importance of values and a love for education.

She graduated from St. Scholastica’s College in the Philippines with a B.A. in Psychology. When she came to the United States in 1988, Maria Sylvia began working with the Catholic Charities of New York, where she stayed for eleven years as a Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten teacher. While there, Maria obtained her New York City Pubic Schools License, her Public School Teacher Certificate, and earned her M.S. in Early Childhood Education with honors from the City College of New York.

Her interest in knowing more about children and their rights around the globe led Maria to work with the United Nations and UNICEF. Despite the valuable learning that she found in these organizations, Maria desperately missed working with children in a classroom setting. When her family relocated to Virginia, she began working with preschoolers at Hoya Kids Learning Center, Georgetown University, where she stayed for nearly 5 years.

When she learned about Two Rivers Public Charter School, its mission resonated with her own values and approach to education. She is enthusiastic to work with the TR team of staff and parents to provide a quality education. She believes that a strong partnership between the school and parents is a critical part of student success.

Maria is also has a son who loves reading, enjoys acting, participates in Tae Kwon Do, and plays the violin and piano. Whenever she finds the time, Maria Sylvia enjoys traveling, reading, and listening to a wide array of music.