SAN YSIDRO –
The son of a San Ysidro School District board member has been appointed acting principal of an elementary school even though he does not have an administrative credential.
This month, Jason Romero became Sunset Elementary School's third principal of the school year. He is the son of longtime board member Jean Romero.
Superintendent Manuel Paul said the move was his idea, and the Romeros confirmed that. In fact, Jean Romero said she argued against her son's appointment to avoid a public perception of nepotism. The appointment was not subject to board approval.
Jason Romero has worked for San Ysidro schools for 11 years as a special ed teacher and on special projects for the pupil services department. He attended Sunset Elementary for six years. He said his best friend was Omarr Hernandez, an 11-year-old boy who died in the 1984 McDonald's massacre. Omarr's mother still works and volunteers at the school.
Romero has an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley. He has two master's degrees and is pursuing a doctorate. Romero expects to complete work on an administrative credential in June. The state-issued credential is required for principals and other school administrators.
Romero praised the Sunset staff for its resiliency and competency.
“The only thing I had to do to make sure that this ship sailed straight was to not mess it up,” Romero said. “They're a family. They pull together.”
Because he has no administrative credential, Romero is still classified as a teacher on special assignment. He will continue to draw his teacher's salary of $67,340, compared with his predecessor's salary of $105,329.
In January, Paul reassigned several principals as part of reform efforts to improve test scores. As part of that shuffle, Fred Cruz became Sunset's principal. Cruz was recently removed from Sunset for reasons neither the superintendent nor Cruz would discuss, then assigned to work on curriculum in the district office.
Cruz said he plans to retire at the end of the school year.
Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637; chris.moran@uniontrib.com
