Maria Serka Selected as Principal of Lake Forest Park Elementary School

Maria Serka has been selected to serve as principal at Lake Forest Park Elementary School beginning in the 2026-27 school year, pending School Board approval, Superintendent Susana Reyes announced. She will join Lake Forest Park from Einstein Middle School, where she currently serves as an assistant principal.

Originally from Ecuador, Maria grew up primarily in Washington State and has called Shoreline home for the past 15 years. She holds a bachelor's degree, a master's in teaching, and her Residency Principal Certification all from the University of Washington's Danforth Educational Leadership Program. She began her career in the Edmonds School District, teaching Spanish for 15 years at Meadowdale High School, including developing and teaching a Spanish for Heritage Speakers course that celebrated students' Latinx roots and equipped them with bilingual seals on their high school diplomas.

At Einstein, Maria has supported teachers and paraprofessionals, overseen LIFE Skills special education classrooms, led professional development in Universal Design for Learning, and been a driving force behind culturally affirming community events, including the annual Día de los Muertos celebration and La Chispa, a leadership workshop for Latinx middle and high school students. She has also served as Athletic Director and has collaborated across Shoreline schools to create the Latinx graduation ceremony.

"Maria's experience with and commitment to equity and inclusion align with the values and vision of our district,” shared Superintendent Reyes. “She has consistently demonstrated her ability to bring together students, families, staff, and community around a shared vision of belonging and high expectations. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Lake Forest Park Elementary School community."