Maika Watanabe

Maika Watanabe is a Professor at San Francisco State University's Department of Secondary Education (SED), specializing in equity-focused pedagogy and teacher training. She has taught courses like Teaching for Equity in Secondary Schools since joining SF State in 2003 and supervises student teachers in Bay Area schools.

• Ph.D. and M.A. in Education from UC Berkeley
• B.A. in History from Swarthmore College
• Teaching Credential from Swarthmore College

Her research focuses on tracking/detracking, high-stakes accountability policies, and Complex Instruction to promote equity in math/science classrooms. Recent work explores supporting teachers during Common Core transitions in heterogeneous settings.

Key themes in her 15+ publications (2006-2015) include:

• Equity-driven assessment strategies
• Impact of accountability policies on classroom practices
• Collaborative teacher inquiry groups
• Curriculum reform in tracked/detracked systems
• Student-centered pedagogy in STEM
• Policy-practice tensions in education

She received the Spencer Foundation Small Grant (2007-2008) for research on educational equity. Her work bridges classroom practice, teacher development, and systemic reform.