Chula Vista board approves new principals and operations director; hires confirmed unanimously

The Chula Vista School District Board of Education on Monday confirmed three administrator hires, approving school-site leadership and a new director of operations during its open session.

In separate motions, the board approved “TS Tucker” as principal at Liberty School, Crista/Crysta Cárdenas as director at Hell Crest (referenced in the agenda as Health/“Hell Crest”), and Jovany/Jovanin (Giovanni) Martínez as director of operations. Each appointment was moved and seconded on the record and passed unanimously by the members present; the board president, Ugarte, was absent for the votes.

The superintendent introduced the new administrators and invited them to speak. Crysta Cárdenas told the board she is “honrada” and described returning to a school where she once attended kindergarten through sixth grade. Elizabeth Díaz Tucker (introduced as the new Liberty principal) said she was “aquí con mucha gratitud” for the opportunity and referenced the school’s high performance and community support. The board also provided a new seat at the dais for the operations director, who introduced himself and outlined priorities for facilities, transportation and nutrition services.

Board procedure: each appointment was announced under Government Code section references in the closed-session notice earlier in the meeting; the public open session then reflected the outcome after the closed work. The motions on the floor were recorded as passing unanimously among voting members in attendance.

Next steps: the new hires will assume their duties as described during the introductions; the board did not discuss employment contract details in open session.