What were the accomplishments of the Mayan priests?

In the hierarchy of the Mayan culture, only the king commanded more power and respect from the people than did the priests. Although the noble class often considered themselves to be above the priests, it was the sacred men who taught the sons of the noblemen.They taught math, science, writing, and religion to the sons of Mayan noblemen.

In Mayan culture, there was a belief the priests were able to speak to the gods, which gave them ultimate power over many aspects of daily life. They imparted wisdom, celebrated religious festivals, and dictated when the crops were planted and harvested according to their communication with the gods. Not only were they teachers, they were scholars who studied math, astronomy, and astrology. They had the ability to track the planets and the stars without telescopes. For this reason, they devised and kept scrupulous calendars. 

The Mayan priests were educators and scholars, they were advisers, and they were responsible for communication between the gods and men. This put them in positions of great influence in the Mayan culture.