Board Members

The five members of the Board of Education are elected by the voters and are committed to providing the best educational programs for all students. The Board is responsible for overall operation of the District. Board of Education meetings are normally held the second Tuesday of each month. All regular meetings are open to the public. Copies of the agenda are posted at each school site, at the Lemon Grove School District Office, and on the District’s website prior to each meeting.


	Mr. Jay Bass President Email: jbass@lemongrovesd.net Term ends: November 2020 Jay and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters who have attended Lemon Grove schools. Their older is now an elementary school teacher, while the younger is serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia. The Bass family has been active in the community since they moved here in 1990. Barbara was a parent involvement coordinator at Golden Avenue Elementary School (Lemon Grove Academy- LGA) and is currently the Executive Director of the American Language Institute at San Diego State University. Jay has served the community as a youth soccer coach and referee, a Lemon Grove Old Time Days committee member and volunteer. He previously served as a member of the school site councils at Golden Avenue School and Lemon Grove Middle School (LGA) and is a former Lemon Grove City Planning Commissioner. He sits on the City / Schools collaboration committee and PTA council. Jay is a Navy veteran and is employed as an Operations Manager by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

	Mr. Larry Loschen Vice President Email: lloschen@lemongrovesd.net Term ends: November 2022 Larry has served on the Lemon Grove School District Governing Board since February 2009. He and his wife, Julie, have lived in Lemon Grove since 1999. Their oldest son, Marc, is currently finishing his Master’s Degree in Computational Science, Mathematics, and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. He attended San Altos Elementary School and Lemon Grove Middle School. Their youngest son, Eric, attends Grossmont Community College pursuing a Music Degree. Eric attended San Altos Elementary School and Lemon Grove Middle School as well as Palm Middle School. Larry has been an active member of the San Altos School Site Council, San Altos PTA (holding various executive board positions), Lemon Grove Middle School PTA (Treasurer), Palm Middle School PTA (Auditor), Lemon Grove PTA Council, Lemon Grove Middle School Music Parents (holding various executive board positions), and Palm Middle School Music Parents (President). He was also involved in the Helix Charter High School PTSA and the Band Parent Booster Club and he served on the Helix Charter Board while Marc and Eric were students there. As a Governing Board Member, Larry has served as the Board Representative to the Lemon Grove PTA Council, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, the District Budget Advisory Committee/Local Control Accountability Plan Committee and the Health and Wellness Committee. Larry’s top priority continues to be the academic achievement and on-going success of all Lemon Grove students.

	Mrs. Blanca Brown Clerk Email: bbrown@lemongrovesd.net Term ends: November 2020 Blanca is a businesswoman, catechist, child advocate, childcare provider, and preschool teacher has been involved as a parent of children who attended Monterey Heights School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and her Masters in Education Degree at National University. Her involvement with the school district has included assisting Excelencia y Justicia en Educacion, a Latino parent involvement organization. She has also served as an English Language Acquisition Committee/District English Language Acquisition Committee (ELAC/DELAC) member as well as a parent representative to the District Oversight and Planning Team for our work on equity. Her core belief is that "All children can learn and be educated." Her most recent accomplishments as a Board member include leading the district through the transition from in-class education to quality distance learning programs for all students due to the COVID19 pandemic; ensuring chromebook devices for all students; supporting online internet connectivity in the home for all LGSD families; ensuring a quality preschool program for all qualifying 3 and 4 year olds; advocating for online preschool programs during distance learning; and middle school rigor in preparation for A-G requirements in high school. Mrs. Brown has a deep commitment to social justice and community collaboration. She gives tirelessly of her time and talents for the betterment of the Lemon Grove Community. Her affiliations include the following: Partnerships with Black San Diego Board of Director Urban League of San Diego Business partnerships with national leading voices for civil rights, including Duane Johnson Educational partner with Broadway Heights Promenade for African American Studies National Association of Elected Latino Leaders California Association of Bilingual Education Friends of the Lemon Grove Library San Diego Educational Mayoral Executive Committee for One San Diego

	Mr. Timothy Shaw Board Member Email: tshaw@lemongrovesd.net Term ends: November 2022 Tim was born in Los Angeles, California and graduated from Garey High School in Pomona, California. Tim received his Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies (1983) and has an elementary credential from San Diego State University. Then in 1993 earned his Master's Degree from San Diego State University (SDSU) in Middle School Instruction and Curriculum. Inspired to serve more students, Tim again returned to school and earned his school counseling degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 2000. Tim and his wife, Toni, have been married for more than thirty years, moved to Lemon Grove more than twenty years ago, and have three daughters: Lisha, Micah, and Kayla, who are all graduates of Lemon Grove Schools. Toni was an active PTA member all during Lisha, Micah, and Kayla's time in school. Tim was desiring to make an impact upon the Lemon Grove Community, when an opening on the Lemon Grove School Board became available. He interviewed and was appointed to the Board in May of 2002, and was elected to serve his first term in November of 2002. Tim was re-elected to continue serving on the Lemon Grove School Board in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Tim is presently a high school counselor for the San Diego Unified School District; Crawford High School. Currently, he serves on the Advisory Board of San Diego State's Enrollment Management Committee, and is an annual presenter at the East County Young Men's Conference. In addition, Tim is a member of the PTA, serves on the Calendar Committee, serves on the DBAC/LCAC Committee for the Lemon Grove School District, is the ministry leader of the Education Department and is an usher at the Bayview Baptist Church in San Diego.

	Mrs. April Leon Board Member Email: aleon@lemongrovesd.net Term ends: November 2020 April Leon is the youngest of 3 children, all graduates of the Lemon Grove School District, of a military family who first transferred to San Diego, CA in 1977 and then returned in 1984 to stay. A graduate of Mount Miguel High School, she attended Southwestern College, and graduated from FCC with an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design. She currently owns and operates 2 Lemon Grove based businesses with her husband and best friend of 23 years. She has worked in the construction industry for over 15 years in management and financial services; she continues to perform financial services for companies other than her own. April has served the Lemon Grove community as PTA President for 2 years at Mount Vernon; Coach/Manager for 4 seasons with the Lemon Grove Little League; Vice Chair of the Independent Community Oversight Committee for the Lemon Grove School District. She is committed to ensuring academic rigor for all students to bring them to above Basic State Standard regardless of their economic or cultural background. As well as encouraging and advocating for more parent engagement in the school community she is a part of.