Talibah Roberts is an educator with over 39 years of experience and currently a PhD candidate at Fordham University, specializing in innovative curriculum development. Her professional journey is driven by a deep commitment to advancing educational equity and fostering meaningful family engagement, particularly among marginalized and underserved communities.
Raised by her mother, Iris Milta Pizarro Cruz, who worked alongside renowned community activist Dr. Evelina Antonetty, Talibah inherited a legacy rooted in social justice and parental advocacy. In the 1970s, her mother’s efforts in organizing Puerto Rican and Black parents in the Bronx helped address systemic issues such as racism, ableism, and bias against Spanish-speaking students. Under Antonetty’s leadership, United Bronx Parents (UBP) championed bilingual education and fought to ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students.
This familial legacy instilled in her the fundamental belief that engaged families are key to student success. Growing up in a Puerto Rican migrant family, she experienced firsthand the transformative power of community advocacy and bilingual education, fueling her lifelong dedication to empowering families, particularly English Language Learners, to actively participate in their children’s education.
Throughout her career, she has held various roles within the education sector, including founding Asthma Mom, a business dedicated to advocating for children with asthma and their families. She holds multiple advanced degrees: a Master of Science in Human Resources and Leadership from Fordham University, a master’s in educational administration from Mercy University, and a Master’s in English Education from Lehman College (CUNY), graduating with honors and distinction.
Inspired by her family’s legacy and her personal experiences, Talibah remains steadfast in her mission to promote family engagement as a cornerstone for student achievement and to build inclusive, equitable learning environments that empower families and communities alike.
