Clarissa Riojas, M.Ed.

Clarissa Riojas, M.Ed., serves as the regional advocacy director for South Texas. Before joining Raise Your Hand Texas, Riojas was a middle school English teacher for 10 years, where she organized teachers, parents, and students in support of safer schools, staff raises, and district transparency.

In 2023, she co-founded and co-directed BLOOM Rio Grande Valley, a youth civic engagement organization. Riojas is passionate about public education advocacy, working with young people, and uplifting the voices of public school employees.

Riojas holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and a Bachelor of Arts in Mexican American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Education Leadership from Harvard University. She lives in McAllen, Texas.