SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education Friday fired Superintendent Lamont Jackson, citing results of an independent investigation into "credible" accounts of inappropriate conduct toward two former district employees.
Deputy Superintendent Fabiola Bagula will immediately become acting superintendent of the district.
"Upon becoming aware of concerns related to inappropriate conduct by the superintendent towards certain employees, the Board of Education engaged an independent third-party investigator with no ties to the San Diego Unified School District to undertake an investigation," read an email from the district sent to all of its students' parents. "That investigation is now complete. The allegation of inappropriate conduct toward two former employees was found to be credible."
"Based on that finding, the board and the superintendent have mutually agreed that separation is in the best interest of the district.
"We are grateful to Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson for his leadership. We are confident Dr. Bagula's experienced leadership will provide stability and consistency for our students, families, and educators during this transition," the email read.
In May, the district opened an investigation into Jackson. The district retained Los Angeles law firm Sanchez & Amador in April to conduct "sensitive internal investigations."
According to the investigation findings, the two women were "district management employees" that Dr. Jackson made sexual advancements toward. The summary of the investigation also indicates the women's contracts with the district were terminated in 2023.
The women did not complain to the district, the summary reads.
"The information came to light in early April 2024 during an informal lunch get-together between one of the women and an SDUSD board member," it reads.
The first woman later identified a second woman who shared a similar experience. As witnesses were interviewed, more allegations against Dr. Jackson came to light.
"Several witnesses alleged he promotes women with whom he has sexual relations and that he has engaged in offensive and sexually-charged behavior," the summary reads.
Here was the outcome of the investigation, according to the investigating party.
- Sufficient evidence to substantiate it is more likely than not that Dr. Jackson engaged in unwelcome, sex-based behavior consistent with a romantic interest in each of the two complainants
- Insufficient evidence to substantiate that the complainants were terminated for refusing Dr. Jackson’s advances.
- Insufficient evidence to substantiate that promotions of specifically named women were based on their having had sexual relations with Dr. Jackson.
The sole agenda item for the board on Friday was for "Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release," with Board President Shana Hazan planning to make a statement in the auditorium following the closed session meeting.
Jackson became the superintendent in 2022 following a year as interim head of the school district. A San Diego native, he was appointed in January of 2021, when ex-Superintendent Cindy Marten was nominated to serve as U.S. Deputy Education Secretary in the Biden administration. Jackson worked within the district in various roles over the course of 30 years.
The San Diego Unified School District is the state's second-largest, with more than 95,000 students and 15,000 employees across more than 200 schools. It also has a budget topping $2 billion.
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