About me
Maria Ceja serves as the Director of the Multilingual Department in the Sunnyside School District. With over 24 years of experience in education, she has dedicated her career to supporting multilingual learners in a variety of instructional settings. Maria taught for 20 years and spent two years as a multilingual specialist supporting educators in the Yakima School District. In addition, she has served as adjunct faculty at Yakima Valley Community College, teaching English as a Second Language to adult learners.Maria holds a Master’s degree in Teaching with a specialization in English as a Second Language/Foreign Language, along with both an English Learner (EL) and a Bilingual Endorsement. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in English as a New Language for Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood and holds administrative credentials. Maria has provided professional development for educators in grades K-12 and has presented to educational leaders at the ESD 105 Leadership Summit 2024. Currently, she leads the Dual Language Task Force, collaborating with district and community stakeholders to implement a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program in 2026-2027.Maria immigrated to the United States from México at the age of five. She understands firsthand the challenges English learners face. Through education, Maria was able to turn her dreams into reality. She is passionate and committed to ensuring multilingual students receive equitable educational opportunities that empower them with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century.
