The
San Diego Unified School District’s
board soon will vote on the permanent
appointment of Fabi Bagula as superintendent.
Bagula has held the interim post since September, days after being named acting superintendent. The deputy superintendent
stepped up after the board fired
Lamont Jackson following an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct toward two former employees.
At the time, the district said Bagula’s “experienced leadership will provide stability and consistency for our students, families, and educators during this transition.”
According to the agenda for the board’s June 18 meeting, it is recommended that trustees “appoint Dr. Fabiola Bagula as permanent Superintendent of Public Education of the San Diego Unified School District, and approve (her) associated employment contract.”
If the board does so, Bagula would become the third woman and first Latina superintendent in the 171-year history of the district.
During her 10 months at the helm, Bagula has tackled a
budget deficit
projected at $176 million while managing community fears in the wake of President Donald Trump’s re-election.
After the December launch of a website focused on equity, civil rights and safety, she said that in San Diego schools educators must “remain steadfast in one essential truth: every student, regardless of how they identify or where they come from, deserves to feel safe, supported and inspired to thrive.”
As recently as last week, following the May 30 immigration raid at a South Park restaurant, which took place near a school, she reiterated that district educators “stand as a collective force for justice.”
Bagula
previously served as adjunct faculty at the University of San Diego and San Jose State University and as a senior director and executive leadership coach for the San Diego County Office of Education.
In her coaching role, Bagula worked with superintendents and their executive staffs across the state, helping them design programs for students. Her classes for future principals included topics such as finance and budgets, ethical decision making, family and community engagement and evaluation and assessment.
Bagula, whose son attended a SDUSD school, served the district as a teacher, principal and area superintendent before becoming deputy and interim superintendent.
Her honors include the 2023 California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) Central Office Administrator of the Year and the 2013 César Chávez Visionary award.
The vote appears headed in her favor – the district already has scheduled a media availability and “community celebration,” with trustees set to attend, following the board’s upcoming meeting.
SDUSD is the state’s second largest district, with more than 95,000 students and 15,000 employees across more than 200 schools.
