Mary Maya - she/her

Ms. Maya

Spanish Teacher

mmaya@sierraacademy.net

Mary Maya resides in Nevada City with her family, having moved there from her hometown of San Francisco before the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 30 years of experience in both formal and informal education, Mary is thrilled to be a CREW member at SAEL, where she brings her passion for language learning through EL’s Core Practices. Her dedication to creating tangible learning experiences outside the classroom aligns perfectly with SAEL’s mission.

Mary was born and raised in San Francisco, the daughter of immigrants from the Basque Country who came to the US after the civil war. At home, she grew up speaking Spanish and was deeply immersed in Basque culture. She regularly attended cultural festivals at the Basque Cultural Center, danced for Zazpiak Bat, participated in Udaleku (Basque Camp), and visited numerous towns and cities in the western United States with historical Basque ties. Her passion for her heritage also led her to make frequent trips to the Basque Country, visiting family in the village of Etxalar.

Mary’s journey with the Spanish language began at home, and in high school, she discovered a love for languages, studying Spanish, French, and Italian. Despite her challenging high school experience, she was determined to become a high school teacher to improve the experience for future students. She earned her BA in Spanish and her MA in Education from SFSU. Recognizing a need to further develop her language skills, she pursued an MA in Spanish Language and Culture at UCSB.

Beyond her professional life, Mary is a dedicated Skate Mom, supporting her son’s skateboarding ventures and believing in the positive impact of his sports ambitions on his academic success. She actively supports Nevada County Skate, Skate MD, and the local skating community. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, baking sourdough, experimenting with new recipes for her family and students, playing with her dogs, visiting the skatepark with her son, spending time with her daughter, and enjoying date nights with her husband.