Maria Derrick

Maria Derrick has been an active school volunteer since the oldest of her two children (both currently students at Paly) started Kindergarten at El Carmelo. In addition to volunteering in the classroom and working on many school events, she has also served in many roles on PTA/PTSA Executive Boards at El Carmelo, JLS, Paly, and Palo Alto PTA Council, including a year as President at El Carmelo and Treasurer for many years at both El Carmelo and JLS.

Maria earned a B.A. in Chemistry from Carleton College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Biochemistry) from the University of Colorado. She taught chemistry and biochemistry for several years at Colorado College in Colorado Springs and then at Berry College outside of Rome, Georgia. After moving to the Bay Area with her family in 2003, she was a proud stay-at-home mom for a few years before becoming a classroom aide at El Carmelo where she has worked since 2013.