Amy Maisterra

Assistant Superintendent of Special Education

Dr. Amy Maisterra is the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education.  In her current position, Dr. Maisterra supports the Division in its efforts to develop state-level systems that support education reform within the District of Columbia.

Dr. Maisterra’s background includes professional experience in both education and behavioral health. She gained her initial education experience as an instructor in two alternative education programs for teens with emotional challenges.  After several years of clinical experience treating individuals, children, and families, she returned to the education field as the Assistant Director of a school-linked mental health program serving schools in Philadelphia. She subsequently held several positions within the central administration office of the School District of Philadelphia, during which time she supported the expansion of the District’s behavioral health model, improved the District’s student support process, and created an electronic data system to document school interventions and student outcomes. Dr. Maisterra was also instrumental in developing a training model for a new intervention initiative, designed to improve early intervention services.  While in Philadelphia, she additionally served on the Mayor’s Children’s Summit Taskforce and worked as a co-chair of the “All Children” subcommittee on the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission for Children’s Mental Health. 

Dr. Maisterra received her Master’s in clinical social work (MSW) from Smith College School for Social Work and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. She has presented at local and national conferences on prevention and intervention planning, school climate, school-linked behavioral health, and early intervention services.