Gloria Martinez is the newly elected President of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA). A longtime special education teacher, Gloria is a passionate advocate for students with disabilities and their families.

Gloria has been a member of UTLA’s bargaining team since 2016 and played a key leadership role in the historic 2019 strike and the 2023 solidarity strike, helping secure significant victories on class size, staffing, salaries, and other working and learning conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also helped lead the fight for strong health and safety protections for educators and students.

Beyond the bargaining table, Gloria has helped build powerful coalitions throughout Los Angeles, fighting for affordable housing, defending public education, and standing with communities during some of the most challenging moments facing public education.