Jessica Gomez is an award-winning educational leader who currently serves as Menifee Union School District’s Director of Continuous Improvement and Accountability. Her 24 years in education has been serving Title I communities; 14 of those as an elementary school principal. Her experiences as an educator, second language learner, and child who experienced poverty inspire her passion to intentionally embed people-first practices into the work we do. Jessica is the 2023 Region VI Site Administrator of the Year, 2021 Association of California Superintendents and Administrators (ACSA) Region 12 Elementary Principal of the Year, is a Fellow for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Center for Women in Leadership, has served as a Mentor for NAESP’s Aspiring Principals Academy, served as the ACSA/NAESP State Representative, and is an Associate for Dr. Douglas Reeve’s company, Creative Leadership Solutions. Jessica is an author of the newly released book Lead with Collaboration: A Complete Guide for Transforming Staff Meetings and is a national presenter. She has led workshops focused on school culture and climate transformation, Educational Leadership development, 21st Century learning and leading, data reflection processes, Professional Learning Communities, telling your site and district story, leading with resilience and emotional intelligence, using technology to enhance and accelerate student learning, leading through a pandemic and many more. She prides herself in being a learner who embraces the power of being a connected educator by building Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) across the country. Her drive and passion with leadership work has led her to thrive in transforming school cultures and climates. Jessica is a transformational leader who inspires educators and educational leaders across the nation to develop as leaders, risk-takers, innovators, and champions in breaking down barriers of poverty and inequity through standards, instruction and assessment alignment work. She is passionate about equity and closing opportunity gaps for historically underserved students.
