Hayden Gore will join the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education after running unopposed for the District C seat on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Superintendent Fabi Bagula announced the news on X on election night, writing that she was "delighted to welcome Hayden Gore to the School Board" and to congratulate Trustee Shana Hazan on her reelection in District B. Both candidates ran without opposition.

Gore, a middle school teacher at High Tech High, replaces outgoing Trustee Cody Petterson in coastal District C. Petterson grew up in La Jolla, attending La Jolla Elementary, Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School, according to his district biography.

The change matters for La Jolla families because each board member typically fields concerns from schools and residents in their sub-district, according to the district's board page.

Who is Hayden Gore?

Gore was an organizer and the first union president for the High Tech Education Collective, the union representing certificated and classified staff at High Tech High, according to SDEA endorsement records. The San Diego Education Association (SDEA), the union representing San Diego Unified teachers, endorsed his candidacy.

As Voice of San Diego first reported in March, Gore was the only candidate who qualified after the primary filing deadline passed. He advanced directly to the November general election.

Hazan secures second term

Hazan, who represents District B, also ran unopposed. She is a fourth-generation San Diego Unified graduate who lives in Kensington, according to her district biography. She also serves as vice chair of California's Children and Families Commission.

Her path to the ballot was not entirely smooth. Voice of San Diego reported in March that the SDEA initially voted down a "friendly endorsement" for Hazan after she voted to eliminate hundreds of classified positions. SDEA President Kyle Weinberg said at the time that the union's endorsement panel would schedule an interview with Hazan and a subsequent vote.

What the new board faces

The incoming board inherits a district projecting a $47 million deficit between expenses and expected revenue for the 2026-27 school year. The district has cited declining enrollment, rising costs and underfunding of special education as drivers.

Bagula said both Gore and Hazan "will play a vital role in advancing our four core goals." The district identified those priorities for 2026-27 as student wellness, literacy, mathematics and college and career readiness, according to an Aug. 6 announcement.

All Nov. 3 election results remain unofficial until the completion of the canvass on or before Dec. 3, according to Times of San Diego.