President

Crystal Etienne’s journey—from growing up in a small trailer in rural Tennessee to becoming a leading advocate for public education—is a testament to resilience and opportunity. She knows firsthand what it’s like to live without an education and the struggles that come with limited opportunities. After leaving school at 18, she quickly realized the barriers that stood in her way. Determined to create a better future, she earned her GED, pursued higher education while working full-time, and built a career dedicated to empowering others. Now a Miami-Dade educator with over a decade of experience, she is committed to ensuring every child, regardless of background, has the same chance to succeed. Crystal fights against privatization, book bans, and political interference that threaten public schools. She works directly with communities, educators, and policymakers to protect school funding, support teachers, and defend the rights of all students to a quality education. For Crystal, this isn’t just policy—it’s personal. She has lived both without an education and with one, and she knows the difference it makes. Public schools gave her children a future, and she’s determined to ensure they remain a pathway to success for generations to come.

Vice President

Lucia Báez-Geller is an educator, community leader, and lifelong Floridian. The daughter of a Colombian mother, and a Cuban father, Lucia saw the sacrifices her parents made to achieve the American Dream. That’s why Lucia became a teacher for Miami’s public school system, teaching thousands of students English and Language Arts at Miami Beach Senior High from 2005 to 2020. Lucia’s passion for education and helping the community prompted her to run for Miami-Dade County School Board District 3. From 2020-2024, Lucia helped improve Miami-Dade’s public schools, keeping schools safe, protecting all students from extreme attacks, and ensuring students are prepared to level up in the classroom. Lucia graduated from Spring Hill College in 2005 with a degree in English and Secondary Education and later earned a MS in English Education and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida International University. Lucia and her husband David Geller are parents to one daughter.