Mayra E. Cruz has made a commitment to healthy communities and healthy children. Her passion lies in organizing projects, in developing community and in facilitating learning. She currently serves as a fulltime faculty at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. Her responsibilities include the preparation of early childhood professionals, development of curricula and programs focused on inclusion of children with special needs, and involvement in community development projects. At the college level she is currently serving as the coordinator for the Division’s Early Intervention Project, the Child Development/English as a Second Language Project, is a member of the College Curriculum Committee, and supports the De Anza Puente Project as a member and mentor.

Ms. Cruz was the Executive Director of Community Family Services, Inc. (CFS) in San Jose, California for 10 years. CFS is an early childhood program whose services are provided through a network of family childcare homes. For over 15 years, Ms. Cruz has conducted a variety of trainings in English and Spanish in the Bay Area as well as at the State level. The professional development training has included parent education, parent leadership, career development and planning, organizational strategic planning, communication, leadership, and professional providers. Ms. Cruz participates actively in advocacy activities and organizations at the state and levels on children and family issues. She is presently a member of the Santa Clara County Local Planning Council, Co-Chair of the Inclusion Committee; Santa Clara Inclusion Collaborative, Leader of the Initiative; and the Vice President of the Club Cívivo Social Puertorriqueño. Ms. Cruz holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Masters Degree in Special Education completed at San Jose State University in San Jose, California.