Solana Beach trustee Debra Schade becomes 2026 president of California School Boards Association statewide group

Statewide school governance group selects new president for 2026

Solana Beach School District trustee Dr. Debra Schade has been chosen as the 2026 president of the California School Boards Association (CSBA), a statewide organization that represents more than 1,000 California school districts and county offices of education and more than 5,000 school trustees.

The selection was made by CSBA’s Delegate Assembly, the body responsible for electing the association’s officers and board leadership. CSBA announced Schade’s election on Jan. 13, 2026.

What the role entails

CSBA serves as a statewide association for local school governance, providing training, policy development support and advocacy on education issues affecting school districts and county offices. The presidency is a leadership position within CSBA’s elected officer structure, with the president working alongside an executive committee.

For 2026, CSBA reported its executive committee leadership as follows:

• President: Dr. Debra Schade (Solana Beach School District)
• President-elect: Sabrena Rodriguez
• Vice president: Jackie Thu-Huong Wong
• Immediate past president: Dr. Bettye Lusk

Schade’s local and regional background

CSBA stated that Schade has served on the Solana Beach School District board for 23 years and held the association’s president-elect position in 2025. CSBA also said she previously served as vice president of the San Diego County School Boards Association.

CSBA described Schade’s professional background as centered on research, technology and entrepreneurship, and said that experience has informed her advocacy for early computer science literacy. The association also reported that Schade serves on the board of The League of Amazing Programmers, a nonprofit focused on providing programming instruction and related skills to underserved youth.

Focus areas highlighted at the start of her term

In remarks released with the announcement, Schade emphasized listening to member districts and described student achievement—particularly math proficiency—as a central concern. She cited statewide math proficiency figures and framed the issue as requiring an urgent, coordinated response.

Schade said CSBA is urging the state to adopt a unified, focused state-level strategy intended to better support districts and county offices of education in efforts to close the achievement gap, including alignment among funding, legislation and accountability.

Education and biography

CSBA reported that Schade attended public schools in multiple locations because of her father’s career as a naval officer and pilot, an experience CSBA said shaped her views on consistent standards and access to a high-quality education. The association also reported that she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Arizona, completed coursework in an education doctoral program at Point Loma Nazarene University, and holds a Ph.D. in public health from the University of Alabama.