San Diego, CA – Shana Hazan, former public school teacher, nonprofit executive, and parent of an SDUSD student, placed first in the general election for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board of Education District B, toppling her opponent with nearly 60% of the vote.
While there are still votes to be counted and the campaign respects each and every voice, it is not expected to affect the final outcome of this race.
“I am grateful for the overwhelming show of support from voters across our District B communities — from Kensington and Kearny Mesa to Del Cerro and Tierrasanta — and am honored to be entrusted with the awesome responsibility of representing our children, families, and communities on the San Diego Unified School Board,” said Hazan of her victory. “I could not have run this race without the love and support of my family and an incredible community of supporters who gave so much of themselves to propel our campaign to victory.
“Since launching my campaign last year, I’ve had the privilege of listening and learning from students, families, and educators from all corners of the district about how we can build a school district where all kids thrive. From day one, my vision has been clear: to ensure every student in every neighborhood can reach their full potential. With this election result, we are now one step closer to building a better tomorrow for our kids. I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work in partnership with our school communities to support our students,” said Hazan.
San Diego, CA – Shana Hazan, former public school teacher, nonprofit executive, and parent of an SDUSD student, placed first in the general election for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board of Education District B, toppling her opponent with nearly 60% of the vote.
While there are still votes to be counted and the campaign respects each and every voice, it is not expected to affect the final outcome of this race.
“I am grateful for the overwhelming show of support from voters across our District B communities — from Kensington and Kearny Mesa to Del Cerro and Tierrasanta — and am honored to be entrusted with the awesome responsibility of representing our children, families, and communities on the San Diego Unified School Board,” said Hazan of her victory. “I could not have run this race without the love and support of my family and an incredible community of supporters who gave so much of themselves to propel our campaign to victory.
“Since launching my campaign last year, I’ve had the privilege of listening and learning from students, families, and educators from all corners of the district about how we can build a school district where all kids thrive. From day one, my vision has been clear: to ensure every student in every neighborhood can reach their full potential. With this election result, we are now one step closer to building a better tomorrow for our kids. I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work in partnership with our school communities to support our students,” said Hazan.
“As a mom, and fourth generation San Diego Unified graduate, serving on the school board is deeply personal to me. You have my word that I will work around the clock to ensure our kids come first, that parents’ and families’ voices are elevated and respected, and that educators have the resources and support they need. I know that together we can build stronger schools and communities where every child can reach their full potential.”
Hazan, who serves as Vice Chair of California Children & Families Commission (First 5 California) and is the only parent with a child in our schools in her race, had 19,724 votes as of Thursday evening — beating out her opponent by nearly 6,500 votes and showing the overwhelming support for her campaign across the district.
Hazan had also placed first in June’s top-two primary election, defeating two opponents and winning with more than 52% of the total vote.
Hazan’s campaign boasted the support of respected elected leaders across the county, including Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Congressman Scott Peters, former Congresswoman, Assemblywoman, and SDUSD Board Member Susan Davis, Assemblyman Chris Ward, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and San Diego City Councilmembers Raul Campillo, Dr. Jen Campbell, Marni von Wilpert, and Joe LaCava, La Mesa City Councilmember Colin Parent, President of San Diego County School Boards Association and V.P. Poway Unified School Board Darshana Patel, First 5 California Executive Director Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, and former California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, as well as seven members of the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission.
She was also endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party (SDCDP), the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego Education Association, Administrators Association of San Diego City Schools, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, the San Diego Education Association, Carpenters Local 619, the San Diego Young Democrats, the San Diego County Democratic Women’s Club, the San Diego Democratic Education Alliance, the Administrators Association of San Diego City Schools, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, and was named a 2022 Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action and a Gun Violence Prevention Candidate by San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention.
About Shana Hazan
Born and raised in San Diego, Hazan is a fourth-generation San Diego Unified graduate. She started her career as a public elementary school teacher in underserved communities before heading up a program that makes it safer for kids to get to and from school, and designing and launching a statewide school fitness program, an anti-hunger initiative, and a service-learning and leadership program for high school students across San Diego. Hazan also served as Chief Philanthropy Officer for Jewish Family Service of San Diego, where she managed a $28 million annual fundraising program, secured millions in funding for educational programs and social services for seniors, asylum seekers, and low-income families, and earned a reputation for rallying diverse teams and delivering results.
As a parent, Hazan has been engaged in transforming her neighborhood public school, Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School in Midcity. Hazan is Vice Chair of First 5 California, appointed by Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, where she works alongside state leaders to guarantee quality early care and education for California’s youngest children, shape state policy, and make funding decisions about hundreds of millions of dollars annually. She is immediate past Chair of the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission, serves on SDUSD’s Superintendent Search Committee, is the immediate past president of the Friends of Franklin Elementary School Foundation, a member of the Franklin Elementary School Site Council and the San Diego Unified District Advisory Council (D.A.C) on Compensatory Education, and is a board member for Impact Cubed.
Hazan and her husband, Marc, live in Kensington where they’re raising their two daughters, the oldest of whom attends their neighborhood school in San Diego Unified. Hazan will be the only Board Member with a child in San Diego public schools.