Toni Mejias
Maryland State Education Association (MSEA)
Heritage, Purpose, & Collective Impact
My Puerto Rican heritage has deeply shaped my sense of purpose and the way I lead and serve. I grew up understanding that community means sharing what you have, helping when you can, and making sure others do not have to navigate challenges alone.
My mother migrated from Puerto Rico to New York during the Puerto Rican diaspora of the late 1940s. She learned English, raised me as a single mother, and became a resource for neighbors who needed help with translation, benefits, and navigating unfamiliar systems. From her, I learned integrity, respect, service, and the responsibility to use what you know to help others.
I carry those lessons into my work with Prince George’s County Public Schools and through my local, state, and national union involvement. I have served in leadership roles, volunteered across county lines, and worked with colleagues to support staff, students, families, and communities. Those experiences reinforced for me that leadership is about sharing what you learn so others can benefit.
Most of the workshops I create are bilingual, and I have facilitated instructional and support staff from across Maryland and around the country. My first workshop at the NEA Education Support Professionals Conference was titled “SOMOS, We Are,” and that title later inspired the name of our PGCPS Latino affinity group, SOMOS.
To me, UNIDOS, SOMOS MÁS. TOGETHER, WE ARE MORE is a reminder that we are never moving through this world alone. Every decision, every hello, every smile, and every act of kindness can affect someone else. When we share our knowledge, experiences, cultures, and strengths, our collective impact becomes greater than anything we could accomplish alone.
United in Action & Impact
For many years, our school district provided new employee orientation virtually. While information was being shared, I felt something important was missing: human connection. As a Latina, welcoming people has always meant more to me than simply giving them information. It means making them feel seen, supported, and that they belong.
I had the opportunity to work alongside a colleague and friend who shared that vision, and together we helped build PGCPS New Employee Induction (NEI), an in-person orientation for new and temporary employees. Employees learned together, built connections, and received guidance on policies, payroll, benefits, technology, and more. We also partnered with other offices and our unions to provide the support they needed.
Each Monday, I arrived by 7:00 a.m. to make sure the coffee and tea were ready, materials were prepared, and the room was welcoming. At the entrance was a sign that read, “Welcome to Prince George’s County Public Schools. We have been waiting for you.” I wanted every employee to feel that message from the moment they arrived.
That commitment was especially important for employees who were not fluent in English. We took the extra time to make sure they understood what was being presented, helped them navigate unfamiliar processes, and remained available after orientation as they transitioned into their new roles.
That experience reinforced the way I continue to lead and serve today. Bringing people together means creating spaces where people feel valued, included, and prepared to succeed. When we share our knowledge, make ourselves available, and intentionally support others, we strengthen the entire community.
United in Purpose, Stronger Together
The impact I hope to have on future generations is simple: I want Latino students, families, and emerging leaders to know that they belong, that their voices matter, and that there is space for them to lead.
Throughout my career, I have benefited from people who shared their knowledge, opened doors, encouraged me, and trusted me with opportunities. Because of that, I believe leadership comes with a responsibility to do the same for others. I want the next generation to have access to information, mentorship, representation, and opportunities that help them move forward with confidence.
For me, lasting impact is not about being remembered for a title or position. It is about what continues after you leave the room. Did you help someone see a possibility they had not seen before? Did you make a process easier to navigate? Did you create a space where someone felt included? Did you share what you knew instead of holding it for yourself?
As a united community, we become stronger when we recognize that each of us brings something valuable—our culture, language, lived experiences, professional knowledge, relationships, and different ways of seeing the world. When we intentionally share those strengths and create opportunities for one another, we build pathways that are wider for those coming behind us.
My hope is that future Latino leaders will not simply enter spaces that were once difficult for us to access. I hope they will enter knowing they belong there, bring others with them, and continue creating opportunities for the generations that follow.
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