Florida Rep. Johanna López
Johanna López, the daughter of a World War II veteran and a housekeeper, was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She moved to Orlando, Florida in 1998, where she began working at a car wash and a fast- food restaurant.
In 2018, López made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the Orange County School Board, following a fully student-run campaign. She prioritized student well-being and safety during the pandemic, advocated for the most vulnerable students, campaigned for improved benefits and pay for teachers and school staff, and successfully led the renaming of Stonewall Jackson Middle School to Roberto Clemente Middle School.
In 2022, López furthered her public service by being elected to represent District 43, encompassing parts of East Orlando, in the Florida House of Representatives. In the legislature, López successfully co-led bipartisan efforts to expand access to high school diplomas and educational opportunities for K-12 students, supported funding initiatives totaling $711 million for affordable housing, and introduced legislation to increase retirement benefits in line with cost-of-living adjustments. Additionally, López has staunchly opposed extremist laws endangering children through gun violence, criminalizing immigrants, restricting abortion access, penalizing workers and targeting LGBTQ youth.
López holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Arts in Higher Education from the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. Her accolades include the 2017 OCPS Teacher of the Year Award, Gov. Rick Scott’s Shine Award for Inspirational Teachers, the national Queen Smith Award for Commitment to Urban Public Education, Macy’s Magic of Leadership Award, the Wings of Inspiration Award, Coca-Cola’s Educator of Distinction Award, and the Life Changer of the Year award.