On Monday, December 5, two new San Diego Unified Board of Education trustees were sworn into office to replace outgoing Board members Dr. Mike McQuary and Kevin Beiser. Board members serve a term of four years. Dr. Cody Petterson was elected from sub-district C, while Shana Hazan represents sub-district B. Here’s a brief overview of their backgrounds and their visions for San Diego Unified in the future.
Cody Petterson
Question: What is your professional background?
Answer: I’m a lecturer in the UCSD Anthropology Department and Senior Advisor for Land Use, Education, and Environment for San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. I also serve on the La Jolla Town Council, as well as numerous local boards, including the San Diego River Conservancy, San Diego International Sister Cities Association, and Volcan Mountain Foundation. I’m a dedicated environmental advocate and a former member of the Executive Committee of Sierra Club San Diego and the Board of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego.
Question: Why did you want to run for a position on the Board of Education?
Answer: Having spoken to thousands of voters, students, parents, teachers and other staff over the last year and a half of campaigning, I’m acutely aware of the distance that has grown between San Diego Unified and the communities we ultimately serve. I am committed to restoring and reinvigorating that relationship and helping to bring our public schools back into the center of community life.
Question: What are your short-term goals?
Answer: As an anthropologist—and having helped to guide transformative change in a large public agency—I know firsthand the importance of first understanding the organization and building deep, extensive relationships within it. I’m eager to build hundreds of relationships with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other staff. I’m eager to continue to foster an intimate relationship with the communities of the district and to ensure that board governance reflects the interests and values of our constituents.
Question: What priorities would you like to focus on longer term?
Answer: I share many, many priorities with my fellow board members and the students, parents, and employees of the San Diego Unified, including addressing some of the challenges around UTK implementation, increasing Dual Enrollment and Career and Technical Education, addressing the social and economic context of education and learning, expanding our “Grow Your Own” program for teachers and administrators, securing state and federal funding for Safe Routes to Schools, transitioning to 100% renewable energy, and improving climate curriculum and instruction.
Shana Hazan
Question: What is your professional background?
Answer: I am the President of Hazan Strategies where I work with nonprofits to build stronger, healthier communities. I’m also Vice Chair of California’s Children and Families Commission (First 5 CA). I previously served as Chief Philanthropy Officer at Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) where I set strategy for and oversaw the organization’s Development, Institutional Giving and Public Affairs teams, which secured nearly $30 Million annually to help low-income children, families and older adults across San Diego. I envisioned and secured funding for the Linda Vista Kindergarten Readiness Network, the Hunger Advocacy Network, and multiple youth leadership and service-learning programs. I also served as the Safe Routes to School Director for Active Transportation Alliance and as an elementary school teacher in underserved communities.
Question: Why did you want to run for a position on the Board of Education?
Answer: I decided to run for School Board because I believe in the limitless potential of every child. As a district mom and someone actively involved in the community, I saw far too many kids that aren’t reaching their full potential and I know that with clear goals and thoughtful plans centered around kids and families every student in our district can receive the education they need to succeed.
Question: What are your short-term goals?
Answer: I am committed to building strong, trusting relationships with parents, students, educators, and community leaders so we can work together to build a better district. In the coming weeks my goal is to do a lot of listening and learning. I will be holding monthly public office hours to have meaningful conversations with district stakeholders, attending all cluster meetings to hear what’s happening on the ground in our school communities, and collaborating with district leaders and my fellow trustees to synthesize community feedback and best practices to shape our strategic vision and operational plan.
Question: What priorities would you like to focus on longer term?
Answer:
- Close the opportunity and achievement gap with targeted and evidence-informed investments that leverage government funding and community-based resources.
- Utilize meaningful data and systems of accountability to guide investments and evaluate impact.
- Improve transparency, communications, and build partnerships between parents, teachers, and school leaders.
- Address student mental health needs and scale the use of restorative practices in all schools.
- Improve learning outcomes with research-based reading instruction, high-quality visual and performing arts education, and hands-on TK-12 STEM learning.
- Develop Community Schools that address the holistic needs of children and families with access to mental health, housing, nutrition, healthcare, legal services, engaging expanded learning opportunities, and meaningfully engagement of families.
- Develop an exceptional UTK program for our district’s youngest learners and their families.
- Build effective school leadership by recruiting, developing, and retaining strong principals and school leaders.
- Invest in teachers with system-wide evidence-based coaching and professional development.