Saliyah Cruz Ed.D serves as the Chief Equity Officer for Mastery Schools. She has a deep understanding of what equity can and should mean in schools, the power of equity to transform the educational experience and outcomes for our youth, and how equity can support a healthier and more effective organization.   Saliyah has a history of leading large initiatives in schools and districts around school climate and academics, as well as various experiences with educational leadership and development of educators.

Saliyah began her career as a high school English teacher in the Chester Upland School District, where she helped design a dual enrollment program for students interested in technology fields.  She then went on to become a secondary principal. In her twelve years in the principalship, she led a range of secondary schools and high schools in the School District of Philadelphia and a middle school in the Christina School District in Delaware. Saliyah also served as a regional superintendent for high schools for Baltimore City Schools.

She joined the Mastery Schools network in 2017 as the deputy chief of student development and has worked to set the vision and direction for the student experience at Mastery, which encompasses school climate and culture, cultural competency, disciplinary policies, attendance policies, and other related areas.