Gloria Reina O’Neal is running for open seat on Orange County School Board

Gloria Reina O’Neal announced she is running for Orange County School Board District 2 in the August election now that incumbent Maria Salamanca is not seeking re-election.

“As a mom with a child and a graduate of Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), this is personal for me,” O’Neal said in a statement. “Our schools should be focused on what truly matters, strong academics, safe learning environments, and preparing our students for success. I’m running to make sure every student feels supported, every teacher has the resources they need, and every family has a voice in our school system.”

Salamanca, who was elected in 2022, is endorsing O’Neal, according to a press release from O’Neal’s campaign.

“We are at a critical moment where we must defend and strengthen public education. Now more than ever, we need leaders who will stand up as true champions for our public schools and push back against efforts that undermine them,” Salamanca said in a statement. “I’m proud to endorse Gloria Reina because I trust her to be a staunch defender of public education, our teachers, and most importantly, our students.”

Salamanca did not return a message for comment Thursday to elaborate on why she was not running for another term.

So far, the other candidate on the ballot is Marisol Lusol.

Currently, each School Board member is paid $50,000, the same starting salary for OCPS teachers. The District 2 School Board member represents Lake Nona, Colonial and Innovation high schools.

O’Neal, who works as a Principal Associate at Abt Global, has a law degree from the University of Florida with a concentration in poverty research and is completing Leadership Orange through Orange County Public Schools, her campaign said.

O’Neal said her priorities include hiring and retaining teachers, beefing up school safety and making the district more transparent.

“Gloria Reina brings extensive experience managing large-scale public programs, ensuring accountability, and improving how systems serve families. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside local governments and community partners to deliver results, strengthen operations, and ensure public resources are used effectively,” her campaign said in a press release.

Like many School Districts around Florida, Orange County is facing financial challenges and recently approved closing seven schools due to declining enrollment and is planning to eliminate 200 District-level positions.