Maria Graciela Alcid

Student-centered, equity-forward leader with 20+ years of experience in culturally sustaining pedagogy, curriculum design, and inclusive educational leadership. Proven ability to cultivate joyful learning communities, develop teacher capacity, and lead mission-aligned programs that center on cultural identity, skill development, and reflective practice.

School-Age Children’s Program Teacher, Curriculum Committee, and Board Member Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP), Watertown, MA | 2018–Present

• Co-taught Buhay Pinoy and Filipino American Experience courses for Bonifacio and Rizal classes.
• Contributed to IP Strategic Planning and Curriculum Committees and Board.

Founder & Lead Facilitator, FADE (Filipina/x/o American Decolonization Experience) National Conferences (NAIS PoCC, AsEA) | 2018–Present

• Created and led the first-ever national professional development cohort for Filipina/x/o educators in independent schools.
• Designed and facilitated culturally sustaining workshops on critical kapwa pedagogy and Pilipina/x/o identity through dance, storytelling, and critical consciousness for healing and solidarity.
• Basking in the Sun: The People and Power of Kapwa. (National Association Independent Schools (NAIS), People of Color Conference (PoCC) 2023, St. Louis, MO, Asian Educator Alliance (AsEA) National Conference 2023, San Juan Capistrano, CA). Alcid, Alegre, Bautista King, Lawlor, Montenegro, Reodica, Siasoco, Young.
• Savage Return To Power: Centering Liberation, Justice and Peace in Our Narratives. (Conference Opening, AsEA 2022, Newport Coast, CA). Alcid, Alegre, Ang Fonte, Bautista King, Young.
• Savage Return To Kalayaan, Hustisya, Kapayapaan: Re-/Indigenizing, Decolonizing, and Humanizing Pilipinx Narratives (NAIS PoCC 2021)
• Island Womxn Rise Walang Makakatigil Collectivist Cultural Approach for Healing, Sustaining, Inspiring (NAIS PoCC 2020) Alcid, Ang-Fonte, Alegre, Bautista, Reodica, Young.
• FADE (Filipina/x/o American Decolonization Experience) to Freedom: Journey of Power, Actualization, and Solidarity. (NAIS PoCC 2019, Seattle, WA). Alcid, Alegre, Bautista King, Reodica, Talusan, Young.

Lead Facilitator, AAPI Affinity Group (700+ participants) National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference (PoCC), various U.S. cities | 2018–2024

• Designed inclusive, intersectional affinity spaces centered on empowerment, healing, and equity for AANHPI educators and leaders.

Co-Facilitator, QTBIPOC Healing and Leadership Space NAIS PoCC, San Antonio, TX | 2022–2023

• Cultivated space for radical joy, cultural resilience, and LGBTQ+ leadership grounded in non-Western identity frameworks.

• Lakbayan(AI): Pilipina/x/o Futurism, Kapwa Storytelling + AI. Hands-on, kapwa-centered workshop exploring AI as a tool for ancestral storytelling, future world-building. (AsEA 2025, Atlanta, GA)
• SPAM, Journey Beyond the Can: Unleashing Joy, Pedagogical Power, and Positive Identity Development. Workshop centering AANHPI voices, critical analysis of SPAM as a vehicle for food justice, identity-conscious education, and anti-colonial pedagogy to explore cultural memory, racial identity development, and belonging in learning communities. Alcid, Ishii, and Young. (NAIS PoCC 2023, St. Louis, MO, NAIS Annual Conference 2024, AsEA 2024, Atlanta, GA)
• Manifesting P.E.Ai.C.E.: SEL/AI-integrated resilience building for educators. (AsEA 2025, Atlanta, GA)
• Mirror Mirror on the Wall: K-Pop fandom, identity, and media analysis. (AsEA 2025, Atlanta, GA)
• The Masked Practitioner: Exploring racial dynamics in interracial partnerships. (AsEA 2024, Atlanta, GA; NAIS PoCC 2023, St. Louis, MO)
• BTS & Cultural Belonging: Korean wave and inclusive education. (NAIS PoCC 2022, San Antonio, TX; AsEA 2022, San Juan Capistrano, CA)
• Mastery Learning Journey For Culturally Responsive White Leaders: Measuring Position, Orientation, Rate of Change. Alcid, Cai, Leschorrn (NAIS Annual Conference 2020, Philadelphia, PA)
• National Anti-Racist Teach In Closing Speaker (NARTI 2020-2021, Boston, MA)
• Culturally Responsive Redesign and Global Education. (Buckingham Browne & Nichols 2019, Cambridge, MA)
• Strategic Self-Advocacy for Faculty of Color: Deeper Learning Through Application of Thinking Routines (NAIS PoCC 2018, Nashville, TN)
• Working with Neurodiverse Learners: Faculty Professional Development (Gann Academy 2017-2019, Waltham, MA)

• Making DEIG Visible (2022)
• DEIG: Student and Faculty (2023)
• Service Learning Curriculum (2025)

• SEED New Leaders Training, 01/01/18
• Project Zero (HGSE): Thinking Routines & Slow Looking, 01/01/18
• Teaching for Mastery, Global Online Academy, 01/01/18
• Learning Disabilities & Executive Functioning, Curry College, 01/01/20
• CPR/First Aid Certified, 01/01/25

• Asian Educator Alliance
• Boston Educators of Color
• Inspired Women of Color Leadership Institute (2018-2019)
• NAIS PoCC Presenter and Facilitator

• US Women's Lacrosse Collegiate All-American
• Lax.com first Pilipina/x/o reporter and photographer to cover Mens and Women's Division I, II, III, Major League Lacrosse, World Cup Lacrosse
• College and High School Varsity Lacrosse Coach produced five Academic All-Americans, NEPSAC, All-ISL, Division I and III recruited athletes
• Faculty Advisor to Independent School League ISL Changemakers BB&N, group of nominated scholar-athlete leaders committed to advancing equity and justice in athletics (2023-2025)