The Coronado Unified School District has announced that Shauna Malone will join Village Elementary as its first Dean of Students beginning with the 2026–27 school year.
In this newly created leadership role, Malone will work closely with staff, students, and families to foster a school culture rooted in high expectations, accountability, and student agency. She will help design and implement systems, processes, and practices that support a safe, positive, and learning-centered environment for every student.
Malone joins the Village Elementary leadership team led by Principal Peter Kuhns, alongside Assistant Principal Julia Braga and Program Specialist Alison Keehan.
A veteran educator entering her 22nd year in education, Malone brings extensive experience as a teacher, instructional coach, English Language Development (ELD) leader, literacy coach, and elementary administrator. She has served students and educators in both the San Diego Unified School District and Cajon Valley Union School District, building expertise in instructional leadership, student support, and school culture.
While Malone is looking forward to collaborating with staff and families and developing systems, she says she’s most excited about the simple moments that mark the beginning of a new school year.
“I am very excited about the energy that comes with the first days of a new school year and making kids feel welcome with smiles, laughs, and high-fives,” she said. “At the beginning of the year, I will focus on building positive relationships with students, getting to know families, and connecting with the Village staff.”
Malone earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Art from San Diego State University, where she later earned her teaching credential and master’s degree in education. Later, she continued her educational journey, receiving her Administrative Credential from National University and a credentialed Reading Specialist from Point Loma Nazarene University.
She believes her diverse professional experiences have prepared her well for this new position. “All the pieces I’ve built during my career I will use for this job,” she said.
As a professional development leader, Malone has worked to create systems and learning experiences that build capacity for multilingual learners while promoting culturally responsive instructional practices that strengthen language and literacy development.
“I believe that we cannot build academic achievement unless we have a strong social-emotional foundation,” Malone said. “Getting to know the whole child, not just focusing on performance, leads to academic growth. Building positive relationships among staff, families, and students helps develop the personal skills students need to succeed.”
Although this will be Malone’s first position in Coronado, her family has longstanding ties to the community. Her husband, Sean, grew up in Coronado and attended Central School in Coronado Unified. The family lives in North Park with their two children, 8-year-old Kai and 5-year-old Hana, and frequently visits Coronado to spend time with Sean’s parents. Sean’s father is a retired Navy pilot.
Originally from Camarillo, California, Malone chose to remain in San Diego after graduating from San Diego State University. Outside of education, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and being active. In addition, she also taught yoga to both children and adults for 16 years.
“I’m passionate about the ocean, the beach, and nature,” she said. “It’s always been a big part of my life, and we go to Kauai every year. I also enjoy art, music, culture, spending time with family, and taking the kids to Disneyland.”
Malone says she was drawn to the Dean of Students role because of its strong alignment with Coronado Unified’s vision for student success.
“I believe the strongest schools are built on relationships, high expectations, and consistent support,” she said. “Every student deserves to feel safe, valued, connected, and held accountable for their choices.”
VOL. 116, NO. 30 – July 29, 2026