Maria Burgos

Ms.Burgos is a seasoned educational leader with over two decades of experience serving students, families, and school communities across Illinois. She currently serves as the Director of Human Resources, where she leads district-wide recruitment, retention, onboarding, employee relations, and talent development initiatives. Her work centers on building sustainable systems, strengthening leadership pipelines, and supporting long-term staffing goals while ensuring compliance and equity across all human resource practices.

Previously, Ms. Burgos served in multiple district- and school-level leadership roles, including Executive Director of Educational Services (PreK–5), Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Executive Director of Curriculum, Director of English Learners, Principal, and Assistant Principal. Across these roles, she supervised and coached principals and directors, led district-wide professional learning, oversaw curriculum and instructional systems, implemented innovative instructional programs, and supported strategic planning efforts aligned to improving student outcomes.

Throughout her career, Ms. Burgos has optimized students’ learning experiences by spearheading the transition from a Transitional Bilingual Program Model to One-Way and Two-Way Dual Language programs to support all language learners in their academic, social emotional and cultural education through the development of bilingualism, biculturalism, and biliteracy. She is committed to promoting learning in all ways possible and creating positive changes in education to better serve students and communities.

Ms. Burgos’ leadership is grounded in collaboration, capacity-building, and service. She has cultivated strong partnerships with families and community stakeholders through programs that center culture, engagement, and shared responsibility. As a principal and director mentor, coach, and evaluator, she believes in creating environments where individuals feel safe to grow, lead, and contribute their strengths in service of student success.

Ms. Burgos is currently completing her Doctor of Education at National Louis University, with an anticipated completion in December 2027. Her dissertation focuses on the impact of biliteracy programs on student learning. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from DePaul University, earned through the Star School Leadership Project Fellowship, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Northern Illinois University. She also holds a Superintendent Endorsement, endorsements in Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language, and is fluent in Spanish.

Nationally recognized by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) as Hispanic Serving School District Latino Administrator of the Year, Ms. Burgos currently serves as President of the Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (IALAS). In this role, she remains committed to unifying and cultivating educational leaders who serve Latinx communities, promoting equity, and empowering all students.