INDIO – Today, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) released the following statement on the recipient of this year’s Assembly District 36 Woman of the Year Award:
“I am honored to announce Carissa Carrera as our district’s 2025 Woman of the Year. As President of the Coachella Valley Teachers Association (CVTA), Carissa has dedicated herself to advocating for educators, students, and our community.
With 28 years in education, Carissa has always been passionate about justice, fairness, and empowerment. She learned the importance of advocacy from her parents, who taught her to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Throughout her career, Carissa has created supportive environments for her students, encouraging them to help one another and celebrate each other’s growth.
Since becoming CVTA President, Carissa has worked tirelessly to improve working conditions for teachers and learning environments for students. She has also led efforts to address corruption in the eastern Coachella Valley, knowing that it will create better opportunities for the entire community.
Carissa’s leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to advocating for what is right make her a true inspiration. I am proud to recognize her as Woman of the Year.”
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