Candidate for
Board Member; San Juan Unified School District

My name is Pam Costa, and I was born in Sacramento. My father was a first generation American of Italian immigrants. He was a Colonel in the United States Air Force. We moved every two to three years so I experienced a school career that spanned many different countries and states. It allowed me to learn about diversity and other cultures. My father and mother instilled the importance of education to my brother and me, and both of us have had careers in education.

When my father retired during the middle of my junior year of high school, we returned to Sacramento. I was fortunate to attend Encina High School.

After graduating from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a California teaching credential, I was hired as a classroom teacher. I taught second through sixth grade from 1972 until 1984 at Cambridge Heights, Howe Avenue, Sunrise Year Round, and Trajan Elementary Schools in the San Juan District. I was also active in the PTA, School Site Council, writing curriculum, and providing professional development to other teachers. I completed a Masters in Education Leadership at California State University, Sacramento and earned an Administrative Services Credential.

In 1985, I was hired as the principal of Littlejohn Elementary School in the San Juan District. I also served as the principal of Northridge and Ottomon Elementary Schools. I was also the coordinator for the District's elementary summer school programs for eight years when my schools were on summer break.

In 1998, I was selected as the Director of Early Childhood Education and was responsible for the District's infant/toddler, preschool, and after school programs at 56 different sites. I managed a fifteen million dollar budget and programs across the District. Later in the year, elementary schools were added to my responsibilities.

When I retired in 2008, I was responsible for twenty-one elementary schools and several programs including the nationally recognized BTSA/PAR Program. During those years as a Director of Schools and Programs, I have served as the staff liaison to the Budget Action Team, the 3280 Committee, the negotiating team for negotiations with CSEA, SJTA, and SJPEC, the community and employee forums, and the Community Commission.

Since retiring, I was appointed to the Board committee, Curriculum and Standards. I volunteer in classrooms and schools. I also coach principals and the facilitators of an equity and diversity program that I created.

My son, Josh, attended San Juan schools from kindergarten through graduation. He is beginning his ninth year of teaching. He taught second and third grade at Sierra Oaks K-8. He is now a Title 1 teacher and literacy coach at Kingswood K-8.

Education is my life's work.