As a Research Assistant for the Innovation Studies program at WestEd, Miriam Maya focuses on promising practices in schools nationwide.

Maya develops content and assists in dissemination tasks for Doing What Works (DWW), an online library of research-based instructional practices.

She also conducts field research and has contributed to various publications, including the Successful Magnet High Schools Guide, which is part of a series of widely disseminated guides produced for the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement. Maya also assisted in the production of the Evaluation Toolkit for Magnet School Programs.

In addition, Maya provides educators, policymakers, and foundation officers with a compilation of evidence-based information from the latest research on various issues including: K-12 best practices, college readiness, and community college reform.

Maya co-led the Supplemental Educational Services and Faith-Based & Community Organizations (FBCO) project, which helps establish partnerships between FBCOs and Supplemental Educational Services providers to improve student recruitment, retention, and achievement outcomes. Efforts to disseminate information about Supplemental Educational Services and to develop a bridge between key community providers and local faith community representatives led to the development of new education coalitions and the organization of numerous resourceful events.

Prior to joining WestEd in 2007, Maya was Regional Director for a Supplemental Educational Services provider in Southern California. She was responsible for organizing and implementing tutoring and enrichment programs to students who attended Program Improvement schools. She implemented initiatives that improved the flow of information to clients, designed informational literature, recruited and trained staff, and presented at parent meetings. As a result of Maya’s work, hundreds of students increased their English literacy skills. In 2007, Maya was the first recipient of the SES (Supplemental Educational Services) Provider of the Year Award from the San Diego County Title I Parents' Association.

Maya received a BA in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MA in primary education from the Institute of Education, University of London. She also completed the University of California's Leadership Certification Program.