Liza Cardona

I attribute my success to staying curious, learning from the people around me, and being willing to take risks. None of it would be possible without the unwavering support of my mom and my spouse, who continue to believe in me every step of the way.

The best career advice I've ever received is to never give up. Sometimes society puts pressure on us that there's a very linear way to achieve success, like you have to go straight from high school to college and finish your bachelor's by your early 20s, and if you don't do it by then, that's it, give up. But I've learned that you should never give up no matter what, because there will be challenges along the way. You may have to pause and revisit your goals when the time is right. I myself went to school, stopped, joined the military, and paused when life happened. But no matter what, I've continued to pursue my interests and what I wanted to do. Being aware that challenges and sometimes even failure is part of the equation, but getting past that is part of your growth.

My biggest piece of advice would be to not chase the salary. Go after what you are truly passionate about and what will make you feel right, whether that's driving change, supporting others, or making society better as a whole. They always say that if you combine something that you love with something that you do, then it doesn't just become a job, it's something more. So I would say that's the biggest thing: find something that connects to your values and to your beliefs, and then chase it. Everything else will kind of come along with that.

A major challenge in education today is meeting the increasingly complex needs of students—ranging from trauma to disabilities and language development—while ensuring families from diverse communities feel genuinely engaged, heard, and supported. Educators are often balancing academic expectations with the social, emotional, and developmental needs that many children bring into the classroom. At the same time, there is a meaningful opportunity to strengthen instructional leadership in schools and to build clearer systems of intervention and support that help teachers respond more effectively when students need additional help. When schools combine strong leadership with thoughtful, data-informed decision making, they are better positioned to support both educators and the diverse students and families they serve.

The values most important to me are integrity, which guides how I approach both my work and my relationships. I’m also deeply driven by a passion for meaningful change and by supporting systems that help educators and students grow. Equity is central to everything I do because I believe all students deserve an education that truly prepares them for success, regardless of their background or circumstances. In my personal life, I also value balance and strive to model that for my children by showing them the importance of working hard, standing by your values, and making time for the people who matter most.