Taquita Aguilar

Taquita Aguilar is honored to join the Aspire Los Angeles team as the Managing Director of Schools. A proud native of both Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, Taquita earned her B.A. in Liberal Studies and M.A. in School Administration from Loyola Marymount University, where she deepened her commitment to social justice and educational equity. As a first-generation college student, Taquita witnessed firsthand the impact of limited access to opportunity on her family and community.  Her experiences at LMU continue to shape her unwavering belief that schools must be spaces where the identities, voices, and brilliance of all students are seen, valued, and uplifted.

From 2010 to 2018, Taquita taught in classrooms across Watts, South Los Angeles, and Huntington Park. These years solidified her passion for creating student-centered, equity-driven classrooms, particularly in the area of mathematics, where she reconnected with her love of numbers and her belief that math is not meant to be silent. Her approach celebrates the diverse ways students think, communicate, and engage with complex ideas. She believes deeply that every student is brilliant and that learning environments should reflect and affirm their lived experiences.

In 2018, Taquita became the school leader at Aspire Tate Academy, where she had the privilege of leading a talented team committed to equity, inclusion, and continuous growth. Under her leadership, the school prioritized educator coaching, reflection, and collaboration as essential tools to disrupt inequities and improve student outcomes. Her time at Tate reinforced her belief that equity work begins with adults—creating school cultures that challenge deficit narratives and foster high expectations grounded in love and justice.

Most recently, Taquita supported Aspire Los Angeles’s residency program, focusing on cultivating the next generation of equity-minded educators. In this role, she was reminded of the transformative power of learning alongside teachers and building their capacity to create classrooms that affirm and celebrate every student.

Family and community are central to Taquita’s purpose. As a mother of two, she is deeply driven by a desire to ensure all children—especially those from historically marginalized communities—receive the education they deserve. She believes that strong, values-driven leadership in schools is one of the most powerful levers for creating just, inclusive, and high-quality educational experiences for all students.