San Diego Unified Fires Superintendent After Investigation Reveals Misconduct with Female Staff

San Diego Unified’s board has voted unanimously to fire Superintendent Lamont Jackson after an investigation substantiated allegations of misconduct involving female staff. 

According to a summary of the investigation’s findings, Jackson “more likely than not,” “engaged in unwelcome, sex-based behavior,” against two former employees. 

There were other allegations against Jackson that investigators concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to substantiate.  

Those included that Jackson made sexual advances on the two former employees, which they rebuffed, and that the employees were then terminated. The women allege that their firings were in retaliation for rebuffing Jackson’s advances.  

Additional allegations against Jackson included that he promoted women with whom he had sexual relations and that he’d engaged in “offensive and sexually-charged behavior.” 

“Based on the finding, the board and the superintendent mutually agreed that separation is in the best interest of the district,” Board President Shana Hazan read from a pre-written statement. 

“We are grateful to Dr. Lamont Jackson for his leadership,” she continued. 

The move comes months after Voice of San Diego revealed in May that San Diego Unified had hired an outside law firm to investigate the superintendent. Earlier this week, we broke news that the investigation had substantiated allegations of misconduct with female staff. 

When Joe Biden appointed former superintendent Cindy Marten Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education in 2022, San Diego Unified’s board appointed Jackson interim superintendent. The board then hired him as superintendent in March 2022 awarding him a four-year contract. After more recent raises, Jackson was making $433,125 a year salary.  

Ultimately, the board terminated Jackson’s contract without cause. That means San Diego Unified is still on the hook to pay Jackson’s monthly salary and provide him health benefits for the next six months, per his contract. 

Jackson’s second in command, Deputy Superintendent Fabiola Bagula, has been appointed interim superintendent. Bagula worked at the district for a decade, first as principal of Balboa Elementary and then as an area superintendent before moving on to the San Diego County Office of Education where she rose to the role of senior director of the Equity Department. In May 2022, Jackson hired her as deputy superintendent. 

“We are confident Dr. Bagula’s experienced leadership will provide stability and consistency for our students, families, and educators during this transition,” the board’s statement reads. 

Hazan did not clarify whether the district would launch a search for Jackson’s replacement. 

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