Maria Suttmeier

Professional Profile

Dr. Maria Lagana Suttmeier has been a public educator in New York for over 30 years. She served as the Superintendent of Schools of the Hudson City School District for a decade. Prior to this leadership appointment, she served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and was a Building Administrator for Hudson's Middle School. Besides her leadership experience, she has served in elementary classrooms and has experience managing entitlement grants along with competitive grants such as Title V, McKinney-Vento, 21st Century Afterschool and My Brother's Keeper.

Maria received her doctorate from The Sage Colleges Esteves School of Education and is a graduate of the College of St. Rose with a BS degree in Elementary Education and an MS degree in Reading. During her tenure as an educator, Maria co-founded a not-for-profit, Investments in Youth, the popular Hudson Children's Book Festival and The Bridge alternative high school. She was one of the early founders of the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, served as Chairperson of the CASDA Executive Committee, Chairperson of Questar's Academics Program Subcommittee and served on the Boards of Dollars for Scholars and the Columbia Economic Development Corporation.

Maria continues to contribute to the field of education through her dedicated service as an Executive Coach for school leaders and doctoral candidates and remains passionate about developing and improving school cultures.

How Maria Suttmeier Helps Zeal

Dr. Maria Lagana Suttmeier helps Zeal connect superintendent search, curriculum leadership, executive coaching, and community-centered improvement. Her decade as a superintendent and more than 30 years in New York public education give boards and leadership teams a grounded perspective on the decisions, relationships, and implementation conditions that shape district success. She helps Zeal translate community priorities into practical leadership criteria, strengthen instructional systems, guide leaders through change, and build initiatives that can earn trust and endure beyond a single engagement.

Areas of Expertise

• Grant Management
• Non-Profit Co-Founding
• Alternative High School
• Superintendent Leadership
• Executive Coaching
• Curriculum & Instruction
• Community Development
• Doctoral Candidate Coaching
• Superintendent Searches
• Financial Audits
• Strategic Planning
• Leadership Coaching
• Professional Development
• Family and Community Engagement

Superintendent search · Leadership coaching · Curriculum audits · Community engagement