Katie Vargas de Chenu Leadership Bio

Katie is a bilingual instructional leader, curriculum specialist, and equity-driven consultant with over 20 years of experience designing and implementing transformative educational practices. As the founder of Maestra Consulting, she partners with schools, districts, and education organizations to build inclusive systems that support multilingual learners, elevate instructional quality, and close equity gaps.

Katie's expertise spans curriculum development, instructional coaching, MTSS, English Learner programs, and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching. Her professional journey includes roles as a Math Specialist, EL Programs Coordinator, Instructional Coach, and Gifted Education Teacher—positions that have shaped her deep understanding of how to support both students and educators in diverse educational contexts.

As the EL Programs Coordinator at SIATech, Katie led the creation and implementation of a network-wide English Learner Master Plan, reclassification systems, and real-time monitoring dashboards. She designed professional development for integrated and designated ELD instruction, supported school leaders with MTSS alignment, and co-facilitated cross-site walkthroughs to improve instructional practice for opportunity youth.

Previously, Katie worked in LAUSD’s Educational Transformation Office, where she supported schools in implementing tiered math instruction, conducted equity-focused instructional rounds, and provided hands-on coaching to teachers. She also led EL compliance and family engagement initiatives as a Targeted Student Population Coordinator, coordinating support services for foster and homeless youth and facilitating parent workshops across Title I schools.

Her impact is demonstrated through projects like the UCLA-sponsored Math Equity Gap Analysis, which resulted in a 12% increase in SBAC math scores for English Learners and African American students. She has presented on ELD implementation, instructional equity, restorative practices, and multilingual family engagement at conferences and within professional networks.

Katie holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from UCLA, a Master’s in Technology and Instructional Design from CSULA, and administrative and multiple subject credentials with a BCLAD (Spanish) authorization. She is a member of CABE, CUE, and the Carnegie Foundation’s Improvement Science Network.

With a leadership style that blends warmth, vision, and deep pedagogical expertise, Katie believes education must be academically rigorous, socially responsive, and culturally affirming. Through Maestra Consulting, she empowers educators to reimagine what’s possible—where culture, learning, and innovation meet.

Outside of her professional work, Katie enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Each summer, she celebrates her husband’s Paraguayan heritage with family asados and passionate South American soccer matches, which deepen her commitment to culturally rooted, globally informed education.