Dr. Lisa Grillo currently serves as President of her Alma Mater, Elizabeth Seton High School, an all-girls Catholic school located in Bladensburg, Maryland. As a leader, teacher and scholar, Dr. Grillo has over 25 years of experience in education.

Prior to this role, Dr. Grillo was assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the Howard University School of Education. Her research focuses on the experiences of Black and Latina women who lead in educational settings.

As principal, assistant superintendent, and chief human resources officer, Dr. Grillo successfully directed school and district-level initiatives to improve student outcomes for diverse student populations in large urban and suburban school districts across the US. In her tenure-track faculty position at the University of New Mexico, she conducted research in the areas of special education leadership and culturally responsive leadership.

Dr. Grillo earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching degrees from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. She earned her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study and Doctor of Education degree from Howard University in Washington, DC. She has won numerous awards, including the Community Leaders Award from the Women of Prince George’s, the Black Women’s Roundtable SISTAR Women’s Empowerment Local Leadership Award, the Reflective Practitioner award from the Howard University School of Education and Teacher of the Year from the Archdiocese of Washington.

 

Dr. Grillo currently lives in Bowie, Maryland, where she cares for her mother, Juanita, a retired teacher of 40 years, and her son, Austin.

JSM has enjoyed an outstanding partnership with Elizabeth Seton High School since our founding, and Lisa’s addition to our Board will ensure we make continued strides in involving the next generation in a commitment to serving the poor among us here in Washington. We are honored and privileged to have her join our mission.