Johanna López

Johanna López (born February 18,1972, in Aguadilla Puerto Rico) is an American politician, serving as the Florida State House Representative of District 43. She is a Boricua, leader, educator, advocate, a single mother of four, and a proud grandmother; whose remarkable journey from public housing, surviving domestic violence, on to the Florida House of Representatives embodies resilience and perseverance.

She was raised in a public housing project in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Studies from [https://www.uprm.edu/portales/en/ The University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus]. She later obtained a Master’s in Higher Education from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. After moving to Orlando in 1998, López worked at a fast-food restaurant and a car wash. Before entering public service, she dedicated 20 years to teaching in Colonial High School, earning a reputation for excellence and compassion. In 2017, she made history as the first Latina to receive the Orange County Public School Teacher of the Year award and the National Queen Smith Award for Commitment to Urban Public Education. That same year, she participated in the Superintendent's Public Education Leadership Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

In 2018, López became [https://www.yahoo.com/news/meet-johanna-lopez-first-latina-113011856.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAC2GuI-BXMFbPHKgkC7aN4D34sciUdKOIRi3hn1kZSCcPjH90jquOX6h1hBPm7vyT2Z2NTUm__-Bk7z0V5Fn9s_zViAtU7kp9Gtvts7acU1tXmaLb2T9J7AdnwWM9yYG8U5KRPmxyNOOZJqSonbCO8kbWLHCY2Pu7yctH1MhxHGe the first Latina to serve on the Orange County School Board, elected through a groundbreaking student-led campaign]. After four impactful years on the board, she was elected to represent [https://www.votejohannalopez.com/vote District 43] in the Florida State House of Representatives. Re-elected to the State House in 2024 with strong youth support, López continues to inspire as an Afro-Latina. Her journey is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the power of education to transform lives.

Her professional experience includes significant leadership roles, such as serving on t[https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ he Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council] and the Executive Committee of the [https://nhcsl.org/members/biography/rep_johanna_lopez/ National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.] López has held positions in profit and non-profit organizations as an Executive Director, Diversity Strategist, and Policy Director, focusing on cultural preservation and promoting diversity and inclusion. She also founded a consultancy that specializes in Latino engagement, providing strategic planning and consulting services.

López’ commitment to her community and education has earned her numerous awards, including the Governor’s Shine Award, [https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/ Coca-Cola’s Educator of Distinction Award], and the [https://www.lifechangeroftheyear.com/20162017/johanna-lopez Life Changer of the Year award]. In 2021, Lopez was recognized as the Elected Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Florida Central Unit, and in 2023 the [https://nfwm.org/farm-workers/farmworker-partners/farmworker-association-of-florida/ Farmworker Association of Florida’s Recognition Award], amongst many others. Provided by Wikipedia