In this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond sits down with Maya Nishikawa, a former WCCO-TV reporter who transitioned from broadcast journalism to early childhood special education—and became a passionate cat rescuer along the way.

Maya shares her journey from covering breaking news in the Twin Cities to working as a special education teacher and instructional coach in the Osseo School District. Her career shift was deeply personal: after her daughter was born, Maya discovered the transformative power of early intervention services and decided to become the kind of educator who had helped her family.

Now specializing in birth-to-three early intervention and autism support, Maya works directly with families in their homes, helping caregivers advocate for their children. She also coaches teachers using cognitive coaching techniques—skills that trace back to her days building trust and asking questions as a journalist.

Beyond education, Maya is active in Twin Cities cat rescue, fostering kittens, coordinating trap-neuter-return efforts, and even showing rescue cats at cat shows. She reflects on her Japanese-American heritage, the importance of connection across diverse communities, and how her passion for helping others—whether children, families, or animals—runs through everything she does.

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