Jessica Hubbard, who has worked as a teacher for 20 years, is running for a seat on the Capistrano Unified school board in the Nov. 8 election.
“I am the parent of a CUSD student, and like all other parents, I want to ensure that my children are receiving the best opportunities and experiences possible,” Hubbard, who did not respond to a request to be interviewed for this story, wrote in her campaign statement.
Hubbard is up against two other candidates, journalist Kira Davis, and Michael Parham, a former president of the Irvine Unified School Board.
The seat on the board for Area 2, covering Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, and Coto de Caza. It was left vacant after Pamela Braunstein resigned in March citing disagreements with her colleagues, particularly regarding COVID mask policies.
As a parent and educator, the Ladera Ranch resident said she wants to strengthen partnerships between parents, faculty, and students through community engaging events, such as town halls, according to her campaign website.
“Throughout all of my experience and education, I have always been driven by a desire to improve the health, wellness, safety, and education of children,” Hubbard wrote.
Currently, she is the chief program officer of Girls Inc. in Orange County, a nonprofit where she helps girls navigate education and career choices while avoiding the detriments of drugs, violence, and teen pregnancy.
When Hubbard isn’t working or campaigning, she spends time with her husband and two children, one of whom attends a district school.
Born in Los Angeles, Hubbard was raised in Miami before moving to Orange County in 2011.
Hubbard earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and another master’s degree in Computing in Education from Columbia University.
She took a break from her work as a teacher to study law at Western State College Law in Irvine, receiving her Juris Doctor in 2014.
