ABOUT NIKKI RIVERA

A Vision for the Future

Nikki Rivera for PA envisions a future where equity meets opportunity. By prioritizing inclusivity and empowerment, Nikki is dedicated to creating a platform where every voice is valued and heard. Her mission is to bridge the gap and ensure that all constituents have access to the resources and representation they deserve.

"Never underestimate a public school teacher!"

Those words, spoken by Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz during the Democratic National Convention, ring true about Nikki Rivera. Her curiosity, drive, and determination to positively impact her family, her students, and her community inspire others to strive for roll-up-your-sleeves leadership. Nikki is a 1994 University of Pittsburgh graduate, where she majored in Spanish and completed a certificate program in Latin American Studies. After graduation, she went on to earn her teaching certificate at Shippensburg University. In 1995, Nikki married her husband Ramón and moved to Lancaster City, where he was a science teacher at Wheatland Middle School. They are parents to 5 wonderful children ranging in ages from 17 to 28. She is beginning her 30th year of teaching high school Spanish at Warwick School District, where she also serves as a GSA club advisor for the LGBTQ school community, the Spanish Honor Society advisor for students who excel in their linguistic studies, and as a SAP team member, a program that assists students by connecting them with mental and physical health resources to ensure better school success. Nikki has lived in Manheim Township since 1995. She is an avid soccer fan and coached her kids’ recreation league teams Nikki and Ramón love attending live music events, traveling, and spending time with their large family and their two dogs. Nikki’s life experience as a mother, a teacher, and a school board director have set the stage for her to take her advocacy and representation to the next level: PA State House for the 96th District!

Nikki truly believes that familiarity among people and places leads to clarity and profound connections. This belief is the beacon that has guided her professionally throughout her three decades as a public school high school Spanish teacher. Nikki has led students on enriching, service-learning trips abroad to Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic and Jinotega, Nicaragua. She recently guided students on a trip to Northern Costa Rica, where the focus was not only on linguistic growth in the Spanish language, but also on sustainability practices. She has accompanied colleagues and their students on trips to Cuernavaca, Mexico and Quebec, Canada. In addition to international experiences, she has organized numerous local field trips to restaurants and Spanish language events in Lancaster County and Philadelphia, exposing her students to the rich, Latino diversity within their own state. Through these experiences, Nikki provides valuable opportunities that foster an appreciation for varied cultures, which helps students learn from and understand each other better. By cultivating familiarity and making meaningful connections, these experiences strengthen our community and encourage a more inclusive and connected society.

Experience and Leadership:

Nikki’s drive, determination, and preparedness have paved the way for her to become an advocate for House District 96.

Since 2013, Nikki has attended Manheim Township School Board meetings regularly. Nikki’s successful request to review board policy #913 regarding safety of our students and visitors in our schools showed her that, just by showing up, positive changes can be made in her school district. Also in 2013, she and many other community members and alumni of Manheim Township School District successfully convinced the school board not to eliminate the Spanish Immersion Program.

In 2015, Nikki ran to serve on the school board, but lost. She continued to attend board meetings regularly because of her belief that it’s not about the individual win, it’s about the individual’s continuous contributions.

In 2016, a sudden school board vacancy prompted Nikki to submit her application to the board for consideration of the appointment to the seat. A known Democrat, Nikki was appointed to the board by a majority of registered Republican board members.

After the 2017 election, Nikki won a seat and her fellow board members nominated her as board president each of the next four years of her term.

In 2021, Nikki won her seat at the school board table again. In 2023, she was again nominated and selected to serve as board president. She continues to serve in that role.

Nikki serves as the Manheim Township School District school board representative on the larger, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 board of directors, which is composed of one school board director from each of the public school entities that form the LL-IU13. Nikki has served as its vice president since 2019. She continues to serve in that role.

Nikki began teaching high school Spanish at Warwick in 1995.

In 1999, she led the separation of the English Language Arts department and the World Language teachers, arguing that the WL department needed to be its own entity with its own collaboration time in order to foster growth within the courses and to increase interest and enrollment. The school district agreed, and Nikki became the first Head Teacher of the newly-formed World Language department.

Nikki has led students on service trips to many Spanish-language countries such as Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. On these trips, students not only enhanced their linguistic skills but also taught English to elementary students and learned about farming and sustainability practices.

Based on data about declining behavior among students in school between Thanksgiving and Winter break, possibly due to the financial stress of the season, Nikki led a building-wide initiative to create the Warrior Giving Tree, a program that allowed students without means to give a gift to their family members during the holiday season. All students had the opportunity to anonymously request a specific gift for a family member. Other students (our Warwick Warriors) chose gift tags to provide and fulfill fellow Warriors’ requests. Many staff members stepped up to volunteer their time and efforts to make this program successful and many holiday seasons were a bit brighter, thanks to the joy of giving.

Since 2016, Nikki has served as a GSA club advisor. LGBTQ+ students and allies have come together over the years to bring cheer, happiness, awareness, advocacy, support, and visibility to a group of people who deserve the utmost respect among their peers and their community. The adult role models in the community have contributed immensely to the growth of the club. Warwick’s GSA developed and hosted two Lancaster County-wide dances (2022 and 2024) known as the GAYLA. Opportunities for students with shared life experiences to meet each other and know that they’re not alone is crucial in personal growth.