Governing Board
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BOARD MEMBER |
BIOGRAPHY |
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Debbie Justeson, Board President; term 2010-2026 Debbie Justeson, who was elected to the Governing Board in 2010, has served as the Board President since 2022. She has been an educator for about 35 years and her teaching experience spans from preschool to post-graduate-level courses. She continues to teach full-time as a math teacher at San Diego Virtual School, and as a lecturer for the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State University. She previously taught math at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges and received the Adjunct Teacher of the Year Award twice. She has presented at several math conferences nationwide and as an adjunct faculty member, was actively involved in campus committees and teachers' associations. Trustee Justeson believes that education is the best pathway out of poverty; thus, she is devoted to promoting higher education to East County youth and their families. |
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Brad Monroe, Board Vice President; term 2018-2026 Brad Monroe, who was elected in 2018, is the 2023 Board Vice President after serving as President in 2021. He has 48 years of experience as a community college educator. He was founding chair of the Ornamental Horticulture program at Cuyamaca College for 32 years, after serving as founding chair of the Southwestern College Ornamental Horticulture program. His focus as a trustee includes providing the students with the highest quality education, maintaining financial stability in the District while working towards salary equity within employment groups, improving District operational functions, and working with District staff on the oversight of construction projects in the District. |
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Elena Adams, Board Clerk; term 2016-2024 Elected in 2016, Elena Adams is the 2023 Board Clerk. She was an educator for 38 years at the San Diego Community College District, retiring in 2018 as well as Grossmont Adult School (1983-1998). She received the Unsung Hero Award two times from the San Diego Community College District and, in her work as a PTA president and secretary, was awarded the State of California PTA Service Award. Trustee Adams has been an East County resident for 47 years and her children attended East County public schools, including Grossmont College. She is committed to student success in college transfer and career technical training programs and assisting students in becoming economically self-sufficient. |
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Julie Schorr, Board Member; term 2020-2024 Julie Schorr, who was elected in 2020, has been a public school teacher for 30 years. She holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling from San Diego State University and a California administrative credential. She is a department chair at Granite Hills High School and teaches World Language classes, as well as Acellus, a credit-recovery teaching platform. Schorr received the American Association of Teachers of French outstanding teacher award in 2018 and was named Teacher of the Year in 2017. She wrote the self-study that allowed Granite Hills High School to become an International Baccalaureate school, the only such school in East County. She is committed to ensuring an equitable teaching and learning environment for all faculty, staff, and students; promoting diversity, equity, cultural awareness, and inclusion at the colleges; and ensuring that community college education remains affordable and accessible for all students. |
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Desiree "Desi" Klaar; Board Member; term 2020-2026 Elected in 2022, Desiree “Desi” Klaar served as a human resources professional in public education for 15 years. She now teaches business and marketing through San Diego Community College District’s California College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) program. Desi enjoys developing processes, establishing goals, and using her analytical skills to achieve results. Once a Grossmont College student, Desi said the education she received changed her life. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business from the University of Phoenix, and a master’s in biology from Miami University of Ohio. Among her priorities are increasing community outreach and engagement to ensure that potential students are aware of the many opportunities available at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges. |
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Cesar Nuñez , Student Trustee; term 2023-2024 Cesar Nuñez was elected Grossmont College Student Trustee in 2023. A Psychology major, Cesar is also the incoming President of the Associated Students of Grossmont College (ASGC). He is a member of the Puente program and previously served on the ASGC Board of Directors and on the college’s Speech and Debate team. Originally from Lakeside, Cesar wants to continue to increase the college’s on-campus social and networking opportunities, and feels passionate about “putting the community back in community college”. He hopes to transfer to San Diego State University, and eventually become a school counselor. |
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Courtney Etnyre, Student Trustee; term 2022-2023 Courtney Etnyre is serving a second term as Cuyamaca College’s Student Trustee. She considers herself a lifelong student, and is seeking both an associate degree in real estate from Cuyamaca College and an associate degree in American Sign Language from Grossmont College. In addition to her service as a Student Trustee, Courtney is a member of the California Community College Women’s Caucus and she is Cuyamaca College’s delegate to the Region X Student Senate for California Community Colleges. She is also the Cuyamaca College student representative on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and Facilities & Sustainability Committee. She served as the student member on the Governing Board’s DEIA Ad Hoc Committee. |