Maria Paz Gatica R. is a Co-Principal and Curriculum Director at The Next Step PCS. Alongside being part of the Instructional Leadership Team, she leads the implementation of the school curriculum and supports Instructional Coaches and Department Chairs in their respective roles for the Day Program. Prior to her current position, she has served as an Instructional Coach and as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Maria Paz holds a M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Universidad Catolica de Chile. She also earned her Certificate in Strategic Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, which has helped her focus on Culturally Responsive Leadership and Learning, as well as Strategic Planning.

With 20 years of teaching experience in Chile and the United States, Maria Paz is an experienced teacher who has primarily focused on teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language and academic courses to international students in the Philadelphia area. She has worked at the Ministry of Education in Chile as a teacher trainer and curriculum designer for the English Program. Her areas of expertise have been in curriculum design, bilingual education, and public policy.

When she is not working, Maria Paz enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends.