Meralis Hood is an education thought leader whose mission is to reshape the way we invest in the professionals who work with young people every day. Meralis currently serves as market president for City Year, Inc. where she supports in driving impact and translating City Year’s strategic vision into strong operational systems that build community and efficiencies for 10 City Year sites and headquarters. Most recently heading City Year Milwaukee as its executive director and vice president, she maintains and reinforces strong and strategic relationships with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), City Year Milwaukee’s Board of Trustees, corporate and philanthropic partners, and the wider community. A strong believer that all students can succeed, she gives her time to the National Executive Leadership Group and Senior Leadership Team for City Year, Inc., working to accelerate and advance the mission of building a more equitable future for our youngest citizens. Meralis was named to Milwaukee Business Journal's “40 under 40” in 2020. She serves as the Governor's appointee on the Wisconsin Humanities Council and is a member of the board of trustees for the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Before joining City Year Milwaukee, Meralis was a veteran educator. She was the assistant principal at Bay View High School in MPS, a City Year partner school. Meralis was a bilingual teacher for nine years at MPS before moving into instructional coaching and administrative roles in the district. Meralis was born and raised in Milwaukee after her mother was recruited from Puerto Rico to serve as a bilingual educator in the city. She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations from Marquette University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an Education Specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from National Louis University. Meralis is a proud resident of Tampa, FL where she lives with Nakia, her husband of 17 years, and their daughters Salma Esther and Sadie Isabel. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, and traveling with her family.