6-12-2026 10:17pm

Maria Serka Selected as Principal of Lake Forest Park Elementary School

Chris Clasen Editor

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."