The principal of Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista was the unanimous choice to fill a vacancy on the MiraCosta College Board of Trustees.
The Oct. 19 board decision to appoint Anna Pedroza as Area 1 trustee was a slam dunk, however.
“She was really the only one who filed an application,” said Evelyn Crogan, executive assistant to college President Sunita “Sunny” Cooke.
Crogan said the district, which went from at-large to district elections several years ago, had a hard time finding people to serve on the board. (The county Office of Education oversaw the appointment process.)
The district advertised the opening via social media, posted the opening at its several campuses and sent out notices to chambers of commerce and service clubs like Rotary, among other groups, Crogan said Monday.
Pedroza, 52, will serve out the term of Jeanne Shannon, who resigned Sept. 1 because she moved to Escondido. A certified public accountant, Shannon was first elected to the MiraCosta board in November 2010.
A longtime resident of Del Mar, Pedroza will represent the southernmost area of the North County community college district, which also includes Carmel Valley.
“We are excited to welcome an experienced and knowledgeable educator to the Board of Trustees,” said David Broad, president of the seven-member board, which meets once a month but also has has retreats and budget sessions.
“Anna Pedroza embodies the spirit of education. She brings talent, expertise and energy to the table. With the recent voter-approved passage of Measure MM, the leadership of Anna Pedroza will serve the district well.”
Measure MM aims to raise $455 million to upgrade classrooms and career training facilities and provide job training placement to service members and veterans.
Pedroza is the only woman on the board. She’ll collect the state-mandated $400-a-month stipend plus health benefits. (She already makes close to $180,000 a year in pay and benefits as principal, according to Transparent California.)
Her education career began at age 20 as an instructional aide at Torrey Pines High School. From there she taught Spanish, English and English Language Development (ELD).
Before becoming principal at Otay Ranch High School, she was principal of Rancho del Rey Middle School — also in the Sweetwater Union High School District.
“I believe that my educational experience, as well as my knowledge of our community and its stakeholders, provides me with a unique lens to support the MiraCosta College Board in fulfilling its mission,” Pedroza said.
“I look forward to collaborating with the MiraCosta College board to create policy that supports the successful attainment of personal, academic, and professional goals of our students.”
Pedroza has served in several regional, state and national educational groups, including the Secondary Education Council representative for the Association of California School Administrators, Region 18; Association of California School Administrators; Management Association of Sweetwater School District; and MAEGA Scholarship Board.
Pedroza holds a master’s degree in educational administration and bachelor’s from San Diego State University.
Her appointed term concludes in November 2018, when she has the opportunity to run for the elected position.
