As part of the electoral civic education initiative Your Vote is Power, de Enlace Latino NC for elections of November 3, 2026We present a series of profiles of Latino candidates aspiring to different local, state, and county positions in North Carolina.
The goal is to provide our readers with information about who they are, why they decided to run, what their priorities are, and what they propose for the communities they seek to represent.
In this installment we present Maritza Gómez, candidate for the Guilford County Board of Education for District 6.
About Maritza Gómez
Maritza Gomez, a first-generation Cuban-American, wife and mother of three, is a candidate for District 6 of the Guilford County Board of Education.
A resident of the district for over 30 years, she works as a patient referral coordinator and is co-owner and bookkeeper of Vinny's Auto Service in High Point, a business her family has owned for over 26 years.
Gomez graduated summa cum laude She is a graduate of UNC Greensboro and has volunteered in public schools, taught at a homeschool cooperative, and worked as a volunteer assistant teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) through UNCG's Real World English program. She also served on the City of High Point's Human Relations Commission.
Political affiliation: Republican
Campaign website: maritzagomez.com
Enlace Latino NC (ELNC) : Why did you decide to apply for this position, and what are the main experiences or qualities that you believe prepare you to perform in this role?
I decided to run for office because students shouldn't advance to the next grade without having learned the skills they need. When our oldest daughter failed her sixth-grade end-of-grade exam (EOG), the school promoted her to seventh grade anyway. That was a turning point for our family. I withdrew her from school and homeschooled her. When she returned to public high school, she graduated with honors and ahead of schedule. That experience taught me how important it is for schools to keep parents informed, maintain open communication throughout the school year, identify academic problems early, and help children before they fall further behind.
I want schools to work in partnership with parents in their children's education. As a first-generation bilingual Cuban-American, I can communicate directly with parents who are more comfortable speaking Spanish and ensure their questions and concerns are heard and not lost in translation. All families deserve a voice and a seat at the table, regardless of the language they speak at home.
By raising a family, homeschooling, volunteering in public schools, working in the health sector, and running a small business, I've learned to ask tough questions, manage money responsibly, and advocate for what's best for students, families, and taxpayers.
ELNC : What do you consider to be the three main issues or challenges you will have to address in this position, and why?
The three pillars of my campaign —Students, Families, and Accountability— guide how I would address the major challenges currently facing Guilford County schools.
Students: We must ensure they are academically prepared before moving on to the next grade. My family experienced this firsthand when our oldest daughter failed her sixth-grade end-of-grade exam (EOG), and the school promoted her to seventh grade anyway.
Schools must identify learning gaps early, communicate regularly with parents, and provide intervention before students fall further behind. Teachers also need the freedom to teach, and students need safe and orderly classrooms where learning is the priority.
Families: We need to strengthen collaboration between schools and parents.
Families must receive clear and timely information and have a meaningful role in decisions that affect their children. Establishing strong, two-way communication ensures that parents from all backgrounds have a voice in our school system.
Accountability: Taxpayers deserve full transparency about how their money is being spent and whether programs are producing results. I support clear reports that detail how money is being spent, establish measurable goals, and allocate as much funding as possible to classrooms, teachers, and student resources.
ELNC If elected, what do you hope to achieve during your term and how would you evaluate whether your administration was successful?
If elected, my priority is to refocus our school system on its core mission: educating students. That means identifying learning gaps early, giving teachers the support and freedom to teach, keeping classrooms safe and orderly, and treating parents as true partners in education.
We also need an honest review of how money is being spent. Teachers deserve better salaries, and we can make this a priority by cutting waste, phasing out programs that don't produce results, and reducing central administrative spending. A more efficient budget would allow more money to go directly to classrooms and teachers' salaries, without constantly asking taxpayers for more.
I will measure student growth in reading and math in a variety of ways, while also reviewing data on school safety and discipline and listening directly to parents and teachers. I will analyze whether teacher salaries have improved, whether more funding has reached classrooms, and whether the public can easily understand the budget. Ultimately, I will consider my term successful if more students graduate having mastered fundamental reading and math skills, families feel heard, teachers feel valued and better compensated, and taxpayers have clear evidence that their money is being used responsibly.
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ELNC: The Latino population continues to grow in North Carolina. Given the specific responsibilities of the position you are seeking, how do you plan to address the needs and concerns of Latino communities, including those who face language barriers or difficulties accessing public institutions?
I would begin by listening to Latino parents and students instead of assuming that all families have the same needs or concerns. As a first-generation bilingual Cuban-American who has volunteered as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching assistant and worked as an interpreter for health department maternal health programs, I understand the importance of clear communication when navigating public systems and staying involved in a child's education.
As a board member, I would support the ongoing efforts of Guilford County Schools to provide Spanish-language information and qualified translation to Latino families in need. I would also like to know if families are aware of these resources and if the services are functioning effectively. The same standard of linguistic access should be applied to families who speak other languages.
She would also be available as a language bridge for Spanish-speaking parents throughout Guilford County. When needed, she could help them express their concerns and connect them with their district representative or the appropriate school staff. This would give families another way to be heard, while still respecting the responsibilities of each board member.
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