Two school teachers and Lake Nona locals have announced their candidacies to represent District 2 on the Orange County School Board. Johanna López has been a Spanish teacher at Colonial High School since 1999 and is 2017 OCPS Teacher of the Year. David Grimm is a Lake Nona High School and Innovation Middle School teacher and Orange County school teacher for the past 20 years.  

López makes great impact in the lives of her students each and every day, not only in academia but also in extracurriculars and sports. López is known for her students’ consistent perfect passing scores in the national AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature exams. She also has served as Colonial’s Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Coach and Hispanic Honor Society Sponsor.

Grimm has his own list of incredible scholastic accomplishments, including coaching several sports teams at all levels and serving as an administrative dean. Grimm also has worked as an assistant athletic director on the high school level and an athletic director for middle school, while additionally representing a high school as the District Math Professional Learning Community Facilitator. And he has served as the senior class sponsor at our very own Lake Nona High School. “I was a student at Liberty MS and graduated from Colonial HS.  I have been an OCPS employee since 1998. My wife has been an OCPS teacher since 2001. My one daughter graduated from central Florida schools, and another is a 3rd grader at Sun Blaze. My mom is a retired OCPS bookkeeper. I am Orange County Public Schools,” said Grimm.

López made Orange County School history in 2017 by becoming the first Latina to be awarded Teacher of the Year, and this recognition comes with her notable work in the local community. She is the founder of the online space Familias Presentes: Estudiantes Excelentes, a place where parents can be informed on different educational issues and opportunities. She also is a member of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association (CTA), Maestros Puertorriqueños en Acción, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Teachers Advisory Council. “At first, I was really hesitant about entering this race because of how polarized our political system has become. However, after many conversations in which my students and former students encouraged me to run, I realized how this candidacy could potentially empower our community. Without a doubt, this will be a people-powered campaign, primarily led by my former and current students!” said López.

Grimm has called Central Florida home since birth and Orange County home since 1988. He has been constantly inspired by his local community to enact change and volunteer in local efforts. Grimm was recently able to work on the Pig Run, benefiting the BACON foundation at the Central Florida Children’s Home, and the Hurricane Maria 5k to raise money for Puerto Rico. In the past, he also has worked with Homes for Our Troops, which helped fundraise more than $2,500 to build a home in Lake Nona for a wounded veteran.

While serving as senior class sponsor, Grimm helped with the collection of formal dresses for students that did not have any for their prom, homecoming, or quinceaneras. They successfully collected more than 100 dresses, which allowed students to create some very unforgettable memories. “We need school board members who are passionate about the students but also the teachers and communities they serve.  Members who are not using these positions as a stepping-stone in the political process but who are professional educators. I will stay up to date with educational trends while always remembering the successes of the educational past. I will use my passion to do what is best for students, teachers and our communities. I will bring back the heart of education!” said Grimm.

For more information and/or press inquiries, contact Johanna López at Johanna@votejohannalopez.com.

For more information and/or press inquiries, contact David Grimm at vote4grimm@gmail.com.