Zaida McGinley

Zaida McGinley is an Education and Workforce Development Specialist with FSU InSPIRE. She holds a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in English Education from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Florida State University. In her current role, she facilitates professional learning for K-12 educators on co-designing standards-aligned resources that integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital tools.

Zaida also serves as the Literacy Integration Specialist for the FCR-STEM CPALMS team at FSU’s Learning Systems Institute. In this role, she develops e-learning materials, supports resource alignment, and contributes to statewide STEM and Career and Technical Education initiatives. Her recent work includes co-leading implementation of the Civics Seal of Excellence Course for over 3,000 educators across Florida.

With more than 20 years in education, Zaida has served in roles spanning classroom instruction, state-level policy development, and instructional leadership. Her career includes positions as a classroom teacher in Miami-Dade County and as Director of Policy and District Support in the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Educator Certification. She has presented at numerous state and regional conferences, including the Florida Council for the Social Studies annual conference, and has led professional development on AI-powered instruction, civics integration, and CTE curriculum design.

Through her work, Zaida is committed to empowering teachers to create learning environments that foster innovation and prepare students for the future of work.