Mary Lopez

Workforce Enhancement Workgroup Chair

Program Coordinator at Long Beach Unified School District

Mary Lopez is currently a Program Coordinator for the Office of Child Development Centers – Long Beach Unified School District. For over 20 years, Mary has advocated for, supported, and elevated the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE). She holds a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in ECE. As part of her efforts to bring highlight to the importance of early education, she conducts educational research and has co-authored two research articles published in the Early Childhood Education Journal. Understanding the value of early childhood education, Mary spends her time mentoring individuals entering the ECE workforce, supporting family-oriented community events, and collaborating with other educators on ways to bring more recognition to the field of ECE. As a member of the Long Beach Early Childhood Committee since 2020 and a board member since 2021, Mary is part of the Workforce Enhancement Workgroup, which organizes the Long Beach Early Childhood Symposium – An all day, high quality professional development event for early childhood educators. In her free time, Mary loves to travel the world, spend hours on arts and crafts, and host fun game nights with her friends!