Shana Hazan is a proud mom of two San Diego Unified students, a former public school teacher, and a fourth-generation graduate of our school district. Her journey — from classroom to boardroom — is guided by one core belief: every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Shana’s roots are generations deep in San Diego. Her great-grandmother grew up in Mid City in the early 1900s where she attended public schools. Shana’s grandmother attended Franklin Elementary, the same school Shana’s daughter attends today. Shana’s a fourth-generation San Diego Unified graduate who earned her diploma from Scripps Ranch High School.

Shana studied political science at the University of Wisconsin. She earned a master’s degree in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. Her unyielding belief in the transformative power of a high-quality education launched Shana on a career that started as a public elementary school teacher in under-resourced communities and evolved as she took on roles leading a statewide school fitness program, a program to make it safer for children to walk and bike to school, an award-winning service learning and leadership development program for high school students, and designing and launching an anti-hunger initiative, and a kindergarten-readiness project. As a visionary leader, in all her professional endeavors Shana has demonstrated her unique ability to set lofty goals, develop clear and measurable plans, and bring stakeholders together to achieve measurable results.

As a mom, Shana was deeply engaged in strengthening her daughter’s public school where she brought together parents, educators, and community leaders to boost enrollment and strengthen STEAM learning opportunities. She was president of the Friends of Franklin Elementary School Foundation and served on the Franklin Elementary School Site Council and the SDUSD District Advisory Council (D.A.C) on Compensatory Education. She promoted respect and inclusion and fought for more opportunities for all as Chair of the city’s Human Relations Commission. Shana was Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins’ choice to serve on the California Children and Families Commission (First 5 California), where she serves as Vice Chair, works to guarantee high-quality early care and education for every California child, and oversees hundreds of millions of dollars in spending. 

For over 20 years, Shana has worked to make that belief a reality — as a teacher, nonprofit executive, and trusted voice in education policy and community leadership. Since her election to the School Board in 2022, she’s been all in: showing up, speaking out, and doing the hard work to improve our schools.

As a School Board Trustee — and Board President — Shana has:

• Expanded access to full-day Transitional Kindergarten and free afterschool care
• Restored arts education in every elementary school
• Launched a new governance model focused on measurable student outcomes
• Raised teacher and staff pay and led bold efforts to create workforce housing
• Brought middle school athletics to every campus
• Improved student outcomes, including higher literacy and math achievement, graduation rates, and attendance
• Balanced the district’s budget, protecting core programs in the face of deficits

Shana’s leadership is defined by collaboration, transparency, and a deep commitment to ensuring all children reach their full potential. She listens closely to families, educators, and community members — and makes decisions that reflect their voices and values.

Above all, Shana is driven by love: for our students, for public education, and for a future where every child — in every neighborhood — has what they need to succeed.