Edwin Gomez, Riverside County superintendent of schools and an alumnus of Cal State San Bernardino, has been named the Superintendent of the Year by the California Association of Latino Superintendents & Administrators (CALSA).

Gomez, who has a master’s degree in education administration (2012) and Doctorate in Educational Leadership (2013) from CSUSB, will be among the group of educators who are recipients of CALSA’s 2023-24 Honoring Our Own Award and will be recognized at the organization’s June 28 gala that is part of its Summer Institute, taking place in San Diego June 27-29.

Gomez was a member of the fourth cohort of the Ed.D. program, which is housed in the James R. Watson & Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education.

The Honoring Our Own Award is given to “exceptional educators (who) have demonstrated outstanding dedication to serving students and families through an equity lens, consistently going above and beyond the call of duty, and leaving an indelible mark on the educational landscape,” according to CALSA.

As the superintendent for the Riverside County Office of Education, Gomez serves as both the chief executive officer for the office and as superintendent for the county’s preschool through 12th grade schools.

He is the county’s 13th superintendent of schools, an elected post to which he was selected by voters in 2022 to a four-year term. He was appointed to the post in 2020 to succeed Judy White, who had retired – a promotion from the job of county deputy superintendent of schools.

Gomez began his educational career teaching in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, then was appointed superintendent of the Adelanto Elementary School District in 2014, followed by the Coachella Valley Unified School District in 2017 before joining the county office of education.

CALSA is a community of diverse educational leaders skilled in addressing the needs of Latino/a students and dedicated to increasing the number of highly effective Latino/a administrators. It advocates for the continuing development and placement of Latino/a educational leaders who are committed to quality public education.