Lisa Belcastro. a former member of the Maryland State House of Delegates, also taught middle school adaptive physical education. Photo credit: Slippery Rock University

Many excellent educators go on to successful careers in politics. One of these is Lisa Belcastro, who has served her community in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Lisa was born on Sept. 24, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois. As a young woman, she attended Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. there she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Science Health and Physical Education in 2012. After earning her degree, Lisa taught Adapted Physical Education at Buck Lodge Middle School in Prince George County Public Schools. From 2012 to 2017, she also worked as an assistant field hockey coach at Goucher College.

As a PE teacher, Lisa discovered a passion for helping students with disabilities—a passion she communicates to other educators. “The important thing to know is that any student, regardless of their disability, is able to do anything, it’s just going to look a little different,” Lisa declares. “You have to be willing as a teacher to think outside the box and find those creative ways to allow your students to participate in that activity,” she continued. To that end, Lisa began creating her own adaptive PE equipment that would could be adapted for use by her students. The equipment was so invaluable that it attracted attention from the US Department of State and countries around the world looking to make a similar impact for athletes with physical disabilities.

Lisa inaugurated her career in politics in 2017 when she worked as a volunteer coordinator for candidate Izzy Patoka, who was running for Baltimore County. Once he was elected, she became an aide to Patoka. Later, Lisa was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 11 in the Maryland House of Delegates. Once her term expired, she accepted a position as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, where she has served since 2023.