By: Edith Suárez Torres, Aspiring Latino Leaders Fellowship Alum

It was in my 4th-grade classroom where I first realized I was different. Growing up in Long Beach, CA, my neighborhood was a vibrant mix of Latino and Cambodian families. But each morning, I boarded a bus to a school across town — one where most of my classmates were white. 

That’s where I first recall feeling out of place and began to hide parts of myself. I avoided mentioning where I lived, and, once, even lied about my favorite singer — claiming it was Kid Rock when in truth, I was singing along to Selena and Thalia at home. Throughout my schooling I continued to hide parts of my story. It wasn’t until college that I finally started to understand why — and I met other Black and Latino students who had felt the same. Unlike during my childhood years, I understood then that our experiences weren’t natural conditions, but a result of systemic challenges and a history that has so often excluded us from education and other institutions.  

But just as important, was the realization that our experiences are shaped by the efforts of powerful women who fought to change that reality. There is beauty in finding teachers, professors, and mentors, within these systems who have positively impact our journeys. And when we dig a little more, beyond the educators in our personal journeys, we find extraordinary women have paved the way for us with their commitment to education. For example, it is thanks to people like Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez, and their daughter Dr. Sylvia Mendez, who successfully ended school segregation, that I was even allowed in a classroom with white students.  

This is why, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, I want to honor five extraordinary Latinas who paved the way in Education. While not an exhaustive list, I wanted to focus on women leaders that are less known in the wider community, but whose dedication and activism have left a lasting impact on education and can continue to inspire generations.

1. Dr. Marta Moreno Vega (1942-Present)

Dr. Marta Moreno Vega is a pioneering Afro-Puerto Rican educator and advocate dedicated to cultural equity and the use of art as a tool for education and social change. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in New York City and has since worked tirelessly to ensure that the contributions of African and Afro-descendant communities are recognized. 

As the founder of the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Dr. Moreno Vega developed educational programs that empower students and educators to explore Afro-Caribbean history and identity. Her work inspires educators, students, and policymakers to embrace inclusive learning spaces that honor the African diaspora’s legacy.

2. Maria de la Luz Reyes (1942-Present)

María de la Luz Reyes is an award-winning author, researcher, and educator whose work has deeply impacted bilingual education and equity in higher education. A former teacher and Associate Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, her research focused on Spanish/English biliteracy development and equity issues in higher education. Her book, The Best for Our Children: Critical Perspectives on Literacy for Latino Students, won the Critics’ Choice Award from the American Educational Studies Association in 2004. Reyes was also a founding faculty member at California State University, Monterey Bay, which was established to serve its predominantly Latino community. 

3. Dr. Sylvia Mendez ( 1936-Present) 

At just nine years old, Dr. Sylvia Mendez became a key figure in the historic fight against school segregation. Her parents, Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez, led the fight in Mendez v. Westminster, a landmark 1947 court case that ended school segregation in California, eight years before Brown v. Board of Education. 

Now at 86 years old, Dr. Sylvia Mendez continues to speak to students in Orange County and beyond, ensuring that future generations understand the power of perseverance, advocacy, and education. 

4. Dr. Maria Torres Guzman ( 1951-2018) 

María Torres-Guzmán, a trailblazer in bilingual and multicultural education, dedicated her life to advocating for linguistically marginalized communities. As a professor at Teachers College, she was the heart of the Bilingual/Bicultural Education program, shaping generations of educators committed to social justice. 

Born in Puerto Rico and raised between the U.S. and her homeland, Torres-Guzmán championed bilingualism not just for marginalized groups but as a resource for all. Her impact spanned pioneering bilingual education programs in the U.S. to co-authoring influential works on multilingual education. 

5. Dr. Antonia Pantoja (1922-2002) 

Dr. Antonia Pantoja was a visionary leader who dedicated her life to advancing educational opportunities for Puerto Ricans and Latinos in the United States. In 1961, she founded ASPIRA, an organization committed to nurturing leadership among Puerto Rican youth and encouraging them to pursue higher education. ASPIRA played a pivotal role in shaping bilingual education in New York City, leading to a landmark federal case that secured language rights for Latino students. 

Her relentless efforts in education and civil rights earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, making her the first Puerto Rican woman to receive this honor. 

These extraordinary mujeres inspire us and remind us of the importance of ensuring that our voices and leadership become part of education conversations. Education is about access and quality that centers our identity, culture, and community. 

I encourage you to learn more about these remarkable leaders and reflect on how their work has shaped your own educational journey. As we celebrate them, let’s remember that their fight for educational equity is far from over — and it’s up to us to carry the torch forward.  

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Edith Suárez Torres is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur committed to exploring identity, belonging, and culture through narratives that transform lives. For over a decade, she has worked to reconnect with her roots—collecting family stories, conducting research, and writing from a place of strength and self-discovery. Her debut children’s book, Two Homes, Dos Casas, is a reflection of Edith’s love of using storytelling as a way to learn and deepen our connections with those around us, while also becoming proud of who we are and where we come from. Edith is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and she earned her dual master’s degrees (MBA & MPP) from the Heller School at Brandeis University.