OUR CHAIR

Karla Hernández-Mats is a widely respected voice for public education who brings a deep understanding of the education system, from inside the classroom to executive leadership. Before dedicating herself to education leadership, she spent over a decade as a classroom teacher, where she earned recognition as Teacher of the Year at Hialeah Middle School in 2010. Her teaching experience grounds her work and fuels her commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.

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Hernández-Mats has served on the Florida Education Association Governance Board and Executive Cabinet, the United Way Board of Miami, the Florida AFL-CIO’s executive board, the Children’s Trust executive board, and the Education Fund executive board. She also chairs the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) Women’s Rights Committee, where she championed policies that prioritize students’ learning environments and well-being.

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From 2016 to 2025, Hernández-Mats served as President of United Teachers of Dade (UTD), the largest teachers’ union in the southeastern United States. In 2022, she was selected as the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida, reflecting her stature as a leader who could speak to the needs of students, families, and educators statewide.

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Hernández-Mats has been recognized nationally for her leadership, including being honored by Miami Today’s Achiever Series in 2019 for advancing public education throughout Miami-Dade County. She has addressed national organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Miami Women’s March, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference.

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Born and raised in Miami, Hernández-Mats is a first-generation American of Honduran descent and the first Hispanic officer elected to lead UTD. She holds a bachelor’s degree in emotionally handicapped education from Florida International University and a master’s degree in business management from St. Thomas University. Her lifelong commitment to students, advocacy, and community service continues to inspire those working for a brighter future. Hernández-Mats is happily married and the mother of two children.