Christina Ballesteros Peña, M. Ed.
Christina has built a distinguished 30-year career in education, beginning as a classroom teacher specializing in bilingual education and English as a Second Language. Over the years, she has developed a deep passion for helping students improve their literacy skills, finding the greatest reward in witnessing tangible progress and success in her students’ reading abilities. Her early experience in the classroom laid the foundation for a career dedicated to both teaching and supporting educators.
Transitioning from traditional teaching, Christina moved into educational technology, where she now serves as an Implementation Manager at Beable. In this role, she trains teachers nationwide on literacy products and oversees the administration of a literacy and career development program for students in grades 3 through 12. Her work combines hands-on teacher support with strategic program implementation, ensuring that schools can effectively enhance student learning outcomes. Before joining Beable, Christina spent five years at McGraw-Hill Education in a similar role, further honing her skills in training and educational program management.
Throughout her career, Christina has maintained a focus on empowering both teachers and students, leveraging her classroom experience to make a meaningful impact on literacy education. She continues to travel extensively for work, sharing her expertise with educators across the country, while also balancing life as a mother to two adult children. Christina’s journey reflects a lifelong dedication to learning, growth, and the transformative power of education.
• Teacher Evaluator
• Reading Specialist
• Endorsed in Bilingual Education
• University of Arizona- B.A.
• Arizona State University- Master's
• University of Phoenix- M.A.
• Honored Listee Marquis Who's Who Issued Nov 2025
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to embracing the transition from teaching to EdTech, which fostered both personal growth and professional fulfillment, and to the guidance of mentors like my aunts Irma Bernal and Margret Romero, as well as my first supervisor, Leslie Wells, who played a pivotal role in shaping my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women considering teaching to recognize the divine purpose in the work, and to know that even if they don’t end up in the classroom, they will always carry the heart of an educator.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are fostering growth and success in others, as seen when students make measurable progress, and balancing dedication to my work with personal resilience, exemplified by managing a parallel career in real estate while raising my children.