Laura Peynado Castro

Dr. Laura Peynado Castro migrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 12. She attended public schools in New York City and Massachusetts and has been proudly serving as the principal of University Neighborhood Middle School, a small public middle school in New York City, since 2008. Laura’s commitment to educational equity is rooted in her belief that education plays a crucial and transformative role in the academic, emotional, and physical development of every child. Throughout her leadership journey, she has worked tirelessly to establish strong partnerships with community organizations and institutions like NYU. These collaborations have brought significant resources to create and maintain a safe learning environment where every child is cared for and valued, including recent immigrants and students of Dominican descent.

Her dissertation explores the fluid and complex interconnectedness between the literacy practices, experiences, and perceptions of transnational and bilingual Dominican youth who navigate various cultural, social, physical, and linguistic spaces. Laura’s research interests include critical literacies and pedagogy, transnational feminism, student-based inquiry methodologies, and Dominican diaspora studies. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and earned a Master of Education and a Master of Arts at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also served as an adjunct instructor. Laura received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology with a concentration in Latin American Studies and Deaf Studies from the College of the Holy Cross.

Laura is a lifelong learner committed to self-improvement and dedicated to helping others pursue their goals and develop their authentic selves.

In her personal life, Laura enjoys reading, traveling, and running, especially when it involves raising awareness and funds for a cause. She particularly enjoys visiting her family and friends in the Dominican Republic at least once a year. Laura loves being the mother of Lila and William, her two active, curious, and loving children who inspire her to be the best human she can be. Laura lives in New Jersey with her husband Angelo, their two children, and her father William.