Gloria Mercado-Fortine

CEO/President of Global Education Solutions, Inc. & Fomer William S. Hart Board Member

 

Gloria Mercado-Fortine is CEO/President of Global Education Solutions, Inc., an educational leadership consultancy.  GES works with school organizations undertaking leadership and cultural transformations. Gloria has extensive experience as an educational and community leader.  She has been a powerful advocate for education and a role model for thousands of young people and women in both her professional and personal life.  During her 37-year career in education she has served as teacher, counselor, principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent/President in large urban school districts.

Gloria served four terms (16 years) as a publicly elected official on the Governing Board of the William S. Hart High School District. Prior to serving on the Hart District Board, she served ten years on the Castaic Union Elementary School District Governing Board.

Gloria was raised in the Santa Clarita Valley and attended local schools and graduated from Hart High School.  She has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to public service and volunteerism.  Gloria was honored as the 2018 SCV Woman of the Year, she was named SCV Top 51 Most Influential by the Signal Newspaper for 10 consecutive years, named Single Mothers Outreach Empowering Hearts Honoree, SCV Latino Chamber of Commerce Community Leader of the Year, SCV Chamber of Commerce Business Alliance Community Leader and Elite Magazine Community Leader of the Year.   Gloria devotes her personal time serving on several nonprofit boards.  She is currently Chairwoman, Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, President, SCV Sheriff’s Foundation Board, Past President, and Board member, SCV Boys & Girls Club, Governing board member, Child & Family Center, President, SCV Man & Woman of the Year Organization, Co-Chair Zonta Club of SCV Young Women in Public Affairs Scholarships, Co-Chair Fourth of July Parade Committee Announcers, to name a few.

Gloria holds the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge; Master of Science, School Administration and Management, Pepperdine University and a Master of Science, LaVerne University, Educational Psychology.  She also holds a Master of Governance from the California School Boards Association.

Gloria enjoys spending time with her family.  She lives in Valencia with her husband Bruce and their border collie, Woody.