Celebrating a Powerhouse Latina Leader: Honoring Maritsa Alger’s First Year on the Newport News School Board
- Virginia LULAC
- Feb 6
- 3 min read
In the heart of Hampton Roads in one of Virginia’s most vibrant, diverse, and culturally enriched communities we are privileged to celebrate a remarkable public servant, educator, and trailblazing Latina leader: Maritsa Alger. Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) proudly honors Ms. Alger for her first year serving on the Newport News School Board, where her passion, resilience, and commitment to educational excellence have already made a meaningful impact.
A Latina with deep Cuban and Puerto Rican roots, Maritsa Alger represents the very best of our community, a leader who has shown up with heart, grit, and dedication to students and families across the South District. After a distinguished 32-year career in public education as a teacher, specialist, assistant principal and principal, she brought her extraordinary experience and insight to the school board upon her election in November 2023.
In her decades in education helping teach students with disabilities and leading schools as a principal, Ms. Alger helped raise academic achievement significantly and guided educators and teams toward collective success. Her career reflects a lifelong devotion to not only improving educational outcomes, but uplifting the whole child and whole community.
What makes her leadership truly exceptional goes beyond accomplishments in test scores or school rankings, it is her unwavering belief that every student deserves opportunity, support, and encouragement to thrive. As a resident of Newport News for nearly four decades, she helped raise a family deeply rooted in community service and education: her daughter serves as a public defender, her son is a secondary math teacher, and both are graduates of Newport News Public Schools.
In her first year on the board, Ms. Alger has been a steadfast voice for:
Academic success that equips students with the skills to flourish in future careers
School safety and well-being that builds secure, supportive learning environments
Empowering educators through resources, respect, and opportunities to grow
Expanding early childhood education and strengthening learning pipelines for families
Modernizing and improving school facilities to reflect the vision of a 21st-century education for all
These priorities are more than policy goals, they reflect a deep commitment to building a school system where every child can see their potential and pursue it with confidence. Her leadership reminds us that education is not just about the next test or grade, but about equipping young people with the tools, courage, and inspiration to dream big and achieve even more.
To our students, Ms. Alger’s work stands as both a promise and an invitation: Your education matters. Your voice matters. Your future matters. She encourages students to stay engaged, remain curious, and embrace every opportunity to grow, not only as scholars but as leaders, creators, and contributors to the world beyond our classrooms. These are the skills that build strong communities, vibrant economies, and enduring hope for generations to come.
Today, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Maritsa Alger for showing up, for showing out, and for serving with intelligence, empathy, and integrity. In a world that often asks so much of our leaders, she gives back even more through her experience, her wisdom, and her belief in what education can do for us all.
As Virginia LULAC celebrates this powerhouse Latina in educational leadership, we also reaffirm our collective commitment to empowering every student in Newport News to reach their fullest potential. With leaders like Ms. Alger at the helm, the future of our schools and our shared community shines brighter every day.
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About Virginia LULAC
Virginia LULAC is the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
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