Overview
Members of the Board of Education are nominated by geographic sub-districts and elected by the entire school district for a term of four years.
Although each board member technically represents the entire school district, schools and members of the public in a particular sub-district commonly address issues to the board member nominated by that sub-district. For this reason, nominating sub-districts, along with schools geographically located within them, are listed below for each board member. However, you may contact any board member for any purpose.
| View sub-district boundary map. |
Shelia Jackson- Board President
- Term Expires: December 2012
- Bio/School Listing Handout
- Email: sjackson@sandi.net
Shelia L. Jackson was elected to the Board of Education in November 2004 and re-elected to her seat in November 2008.
Ms. Jackson was born and raised in Smithfield, North Carolina, and graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School. After graduation, she joined the U.S. Navy and served for 21 years. During her career in the Navy she rose to the rank of Senior Chief and managed Navy Health clinics on overseas assignments and in the U.S. Always a pioneer in her career, she was the first female Advanced Hospital Corpsman to manage a medical unit on an active duty Navy ship. During her military career, Ms. Jackson earned a Bachelor of Health Science from George Washington University. After her retirement from active duty in 1995, Ms. Jackson moved to San Diego to begin her second career in public education. She received her teaching credential from Cal State San Marcos and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from National University.
From 1995 to 2003, Ms. Jackson taught at Bay Park Elementary School and served on various school and neighborhood committees including President of the School Site Council. Shelia Jackson served as Math Team Leader, Instructional Leader, and Institute Coordinator for the San Diego Math Project. She also coordinated the San Diego Math Olympiad for three years.
In 2004, Ms. Jackson made the decision to apply her leadership and management skills learned in her military career and her experience as a teacher to run for a seat on the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education. Since her election, Ms. Jackson has been an outspoken advocate for student achievement and quality educational opportunities for San Diego’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. She has also advocated for stronger science and math programs that will prepare students for the 21st century job environment. As Board President, Ms. Jackson serves on the Board of the National School Boards Association – Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). She is also the executive director of the California Coalition of Black School Board Members. In addition, she serves as a director of the Council of Great City Schools and is a delegate to the California School Boards Association.
Ms. Jackson is active in the community and is a member of Bethel AME Women’s Missionary Society, Clairemont Kiwanis and the Fleet Reserve Association. Ms. Jackson serves on the board of the San Diego Workforce Partnership and the San Diego Blood Bank. Ms. Jackson lives in the Southern San Diego area with her daughter, Kendra, and enjoys reading and walking when time permits.
Schools in Nominating Sub-District E| Elementary | ||
| Audubon | Hamilton | Paradise Hills |
| Bethune | Horton | Penn |
| Boone | Ibarra | Perry |
| Carver | Jackson | Porter |
| Chollas/Mead | Johnson | Rolando Park |
| Encanto | Knox | Rosa Parks |
| Euclid | Lee | Valencia Park |
| Fay | Marshall | Webster |
| Freese | Nye | Zamorano |
| Fulton | Oak Park | |
| Middle & Jr. High | ||
| Bell | Mann Middle School | Monroe Clark |
| Senior High | ||
| Crawford Complex | Lincoln | Morse |
| Atypical/Charter | ||
| ALBA High School | Holly Drive L.A. | Nubia L.A. |
| Arroyo Paseo Charter H.S. | Keiller | SCPA |
| Darnall | Iftin | |
| Gompers | O'Farrell | |
Richard Barrera- Vice President
- Term Expires: December 2012
- Bio/School Listing Handout
- Email: rbarrera1@sandi.net
Richard Barrera was elected to the Board in 2008. A first-generation San Diegan, his father emigrated from Colombia and mother is the daughter of European immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island. After graduating from El Cajon Valley High School, Mr. Barrera received his Bachelors Degree in American History from UCSD, and a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University. Mr. Barrera has a background as a community organizer, working to revitalize low-income neighborhoods and create networks for parents of pre-school aged kids. He served five years as president of the Consensus Organizing Institute and has also worked for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Comer Science and Education Foundation and as a consultant for the City Heights Community Development Corporation. In the field of labor relations, he has served as San Diego regional organizer for both the United Domestic Workers and United Healthcare Workers. Mr. Barrera serves as a board member of the San Diego Cooperative Charter School, the Greater Golden Hill Community Planning Committee, the San Diego League of Conservation Voters, and the San Diego Unity League, and volunteers for the Urban Corps of San Diego County and as a coach for his sons’ North Park Little League teams. Mr. Barrera's two sons are students in the San Diego Unified School District.
Schools in Nominating Sub-District D
| Elementary | ||
| Baker | Emerson/Bandini | McKinley |
| Balboa | Florence | North Park |
| Birney | Garfield | Perkins |
| Burbank | Golden Hill | Promise |
| Central | Jefferson | Rodriguez |
| Chavez | Joyner | Rowan |
| Cherokee Point | Kimbrough | Sherman |
| Edison | Logan | |
| Middle & Jr. High | ||
| Roosevelt | Wilson | |
| Senior High | ||
| San Diego Educational Complex | ||
| Atypical/Charter | ||
| Einstein Academy Elementary | King/Chavez | School of Success (William J. McGill) |
| Einstein Academy M.S. | Memorial | San Diego Cooperative |
| Garfield H.S. | Museum | |
John de Beck- Board Member
- Term Expires: December 2010
- Bio/School Listing Handout
- Email: Jdebeck1@san.rr.com
John de Beck was first elected directly from the classroom to the Board to represent District C in 1990. He served as Board President and Vice President during his first term. Reelected in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006, he has been an active delegate to both the San Diego County School Boards Association and the California School Boards Association. At the CSBA, he has served on numerous committees, including the School Safety Committee, the Nominating Committee and the School-to-Work Committee, and chaired the Urban Schools Task Force. He also served on the Governor's School-to-Career Advisory Council. Mr. De Beck is active in the Association of California Urban School Districts. On the national level, Mr. de Beck has served as the Board's representative on the Council of Great City Schools and is active in the National School Board Association. Mr. de Beck attended San Diego City Schools in Point Loma and he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in business from San Diego State University. He holds lifetime multiple teaching and counseling credentials and he taught for more than 36 years. He also served as a counselor, resource teacher and curriculum administrator, and he taught business at San Diego City College for 10 years. Mr. de Beck has served many California school districts as a consultant in vocational education. In the community, Mr. de Beck is a member of the Balboa Kiwanis Club. He has written 10 curriculum guides and a computer applications textbook. He and his wife have seven children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Their Bay Park house was designed and built by Mr. de Beck.
Schools in Nominating Sub-District C
| Elementary | ||
| Barnard | Dewey | Ocean Beach |
| Bayview Terrace | Explorer | Pacific Beach |
| Bird Rock | Grant | Sessions |
| Cabrillo | La Jolla | Silver Gate |
| Carson | Linda Vista> | Sunset View |
| Chesterton | Loma Portal | Torrey Pines |
| Crown Point | Longfellow | Washington |
| Middle & Jr. High | ||
| Correia | High Tech | Muirlands |
| Dana | Montgomery | Pacific Beach |
| Senior High | ||
| Cortez Hill | Kearny Complex | Mission Bay |
| High Tech | La Jolla | Point Loma |
| Atypical/Charter | ||
| Audeo | High Tech High Media Arts | Preuss (UCSD) |
| Charter Sch of S.D. | High Tech Middle Media Arts | Twain, Main & Beach |
| High Tech High International | Kipp Adelante | |
John Lee Evans- Board Member
- Term Expires: December 2012
- Bio/School Listing Handout
- Email: johnleeevans@sandi.net
John Lee Evans, Ph.D., was elected to the Board in 2008. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Pitzer College and a Masters in Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at U.S. International University.
While in college he helped found and direct a community preschool and elementary tutoring center. He gained international experience by studying for one year at the University of Madrid and serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras for three years.
Once in San Diego, Dr. Evans taught Spanish at a language institute where he later became director. He was an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor in the San Diego Community College District Continuing Education Division for more than eight years and also taught psychology at Southwestern College. He has a lifetime credential to teach at the community college level in California.
Dr. Evans is currently a clinical psychologist in private practice, working with children, adolescents and adults. He is a member of the San Diego, California, and American Psychological Associations. As a parent, Dr. Evans has been a member of the Fletcher Elementary School Site Council, a classroom and PTA volunteer at Spreckels Elementary, a group leader for seminar parents at Standley Middle School and a member of the University City High School Governance Team. He and his wife live in University City. Their three grown children all attended San Diego Unified schools.
Schools in Nominating Sub-District A
| Elementary | ||
| Alcott | Hage | Ross |
| Bay Park | Hawthorne | Sandburg |
| Cadman | Hickman | Sequoia |
| Curie | Holmes | Spreckels |
| Doyle | Lafayette | Toler |
| Ericson | Lindbergh/Schweitzer | Walker |
| Field | Mason | Whitman |
| Middle & Jr. High | ||
| Challenger | Marston | Wangenheim |
| Innovation | Standley | |
| Senior High | ||
| Clairemont | Mira Mesa | |
| Madison | University City | |
| Atypical/Charter | ||
| ALBA Elementary | Mt. Everest Academy | San Diego Metropolitan Regional & Technical (MET) |
| ALBA Middle | Muir | Twain, Mesa |
| CPMA | New Dawn | |
| Del Sol Academy | Riley | |
Katherine Nakamura- Board Member
- Term Expires: December 2010
- Bio/School Listing Handout
- Email: board@sandi.net
Katherine Nakamura was elected to the Board in 2002 and 2006. She holds a bachelor's degree from SDSU in Linguistics and English Literature, as well as a certificate in applied Linguistics for teaching English as a Second Language. She received her law degree from the University of San Diego, where she worked as a member of the administration. She has been a member of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, Police Use of Force Task Force and served as Vice Chair of the Union of Pan Asian Communities, as well as serving on boards of other community organizations. In 1999, working with other parents and community members, Mrs. Nakamura started a foundation at her children's school, Hearst Elementary. In August 2002, five acres of grass playing fields were opened at Hearst, the result of a four-year collaboration with San Diego City Schools and the city's Department of Park & Recreation. It was the parents of this organization and other community members who asked Mrs. Nakamura to run for the Board of Education. She and her husband, Kotaro Nakamura, have two sons, one who attends school in the San Diego Unified School District. They have lived in the College Area for 25 years.
Schools in Nominating Sub-District B
| Elementary | ||
| Adams | Franklin | Kumeyaay |
| Angier | Gage | Marvin |
| Benchley/Weinberger | Green | Miller |
| Clay | Hancock | Miramar Ranch |
| Cubberley | Hardy | Normal Heights |
| Dailard | Hearst | Scripps, E.B. |
| Dingeman | Jerabek | Tierrasanta |
| Fletcher | Jones | Vista Grande |
| Foster | Juarez | Wegeforth |
| Middle & Jr. High | ||
| De Portola | Lewis | Taft |
| Farb | Pershing | Thurgood Marshall |
| Senior High | ||
| Henry | Scripps Ranch | |
| Hoover | Serra | |
| Atypical/Charter | ||
| Health Sciences H.S. | Language Acad. of S.D. | Learning Choice Academy |
| Momentum M.S. | Tubman Village | |
Contact Information
Board of Education Office
San Diego Unified School District
4100 Normal Street, Room 2231
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 725-5550
Email: board@sandi.net
Key Contacts
- Melissa Hudson, Confidential Admin Assistant II
- Josefina Viorato, Confidential Admin Assistant II
