Mission Bay High parent Lily Higman was named “Volunteer of the Year” for San Diego Unified School District’s Area C.
The mother of three MBHS students — Jayden (Class of 2022), Justyne (Class of 2024) and Jevyn (Class of 2026) — was honored during the school’s March 4 staff meeting. The announcement was made by Principal Eric Brown.
“This is her last as a parent of an SDUSD student,” Brown said. “This is a wonderful time to acknowledge how grateful Mission Bay staff and I are … for her dedication and support. The … award is truly well-deserved.”
After the presentation, Higman said “It has truly been a privilege and an honor to receive this award.”
Six district winners, along with all site nominees, will also be recognized on May 20 during the San Diego Unified Stars in Education Celebration at Patrick Henry High School.
The district winners were to be announced after PB Monthly’s press deadline.
In his nomination letter, Brown praised Higman for her more than 13 years of service.
“It is clear from the warm, sincere and heartfelt comments Lily has made huge contributions — not just at Mission Bay High School — but throughout the Mission Bay Cluster of schools,” Brown wrote.
Several staff members at MBHS supported Higman’s nomination.
“Over the years, Lily has supported me in my role as senior adviser — even though none of her children were on the senior council,” said Lauren Filamor, MBHS dean of students. “She stepped up without hesitation, becoming someone I could count on for every event, every challenge and every unexpected need.
“Each of her students’ senior years she has taken on the enormous responsibility of organizing the non-sponsored Disneyland Grad Nite, a massive undertaking that she manages with professionalism and care,” Filamor said. “Her dedication ensures our seniors have the unforgettable experience they look forward to.”
Track Coach Danny Perez also praised Higman for her support of Mission Bay High’s athletics department.
“Lily has been an extraordinary presence at Mission Bay for many years, and her impact on our campus — both academically and athletically — cannot be overstated,” Perez said. “She played a major role in helping establish our Track & Field Booster Club, providing essential structure and support that has directly benefited our student-athletes.
“Beyond that, she has been a constant fixture in our school community, always willing to step in and assist any program in need,” Perez said. “Her involvement extends far beyond her own children. … Lily consistently supports multiple sports teams, helps organize parent involvement and is a focal point in ensuring our teachers and staff feel supported during events.”
Higman’s impact as a voice on academic committees resulted in important changes inside the classroom.
“Lily Higman has continually participated in the BLT (Buc Leadership Team, schoolwide academic committee that focuses on school governance) and brought balanced perspectives to staff discussions since the beginning,” said MBHS social studies teacher John Keast.
“She implored us to focus on real-world skills in instruction and asked the question ‘Why don’t our kids know how to do basic stuff? Where is Home Ec (economics) in the continuum? Are students prepared to practice basic economic reasoning across subjects?’
“These discussions prompted a re- evaluation of learning targets in my classroom, and I assume others too,” Keast said. “Her messaging was delivered in a way that revealed deep caring and understanding of the challenges facing teachers and students in a rapidly shifting educational environment.”
Higman has also helped with the fundraising efforts that benefited many of the high school’s departments.
“Lily Higman has always been an absolute pleasure to work with,” said art teacher Dee Parrish. “She has been extremely helpful with helping me get funding for special projects in my visual art classroom for years. I am consistently impressed by her dedication to our school, our students, staff and our programs, and I believe she has played a big role in all our efforts to secure funding for unique projects.”
Math teacher Kris Auer added, “Every year I apply for small grants … in support of a statistical lab that I do which requires reimbursement. Lily is in charge of these (Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools) funds and her communication and punctuality are always professional and punctual. She makes getting reimbursed so easy so that I can get back to teaching.”
English and International Baccalaureate film teacher Mariana Balestreri-Rodriguez, called Higman “incredibly supportive” by providing her students with the resources they need to succeed. In English, it was in helping to secure more books to replace missing copies. In the film class, it was continuously advocating for the funding of editing software.
As impactful as Higman has been on campus, her presence in the larger community on behalf of Pacific Beach schools has been just as impactful and meaningful.
Filamor called Higman’s community efforts “a vital link between Mission Bay and the larger community. In every group, committee or council she serves on, she finds meaningful ways to bring support back to our school.”
A recent example is the completion of an on-campus Student Wellness Center. From coordinating painting, flooring and cabinet removal to troubleshooting daily obstacles during the summer, Higman answered every call, provided solutions and never hesitated to step in, according to Filamor. With Higman’s help, the space was fully furnished and was established as a gold standard
“As a board member of the Pacific Beach Women’s Club, she connected our wellness team with their organization — leading to a $5,000 grant that directly supported our students,” Filamor said. “She has also brought a number of community scholarships for graduating seniors through her relationships with community groups.”
Other efforts included supporting Mission Bay High’s school pantry, assisting in efforts to secure new golf carts and repeatedly stepping up anytime the school or community needed a leader, Filamor said.
“When I need volunteers, community partners or creative problem-solving, Lily is always the first person I call — and she always shows up. Her dedication, compassion and deep commitment to our students have shaped Mission Bay in countless ways,” Filamor said. “Truly, without Lily, I am not sure Mission Bay would be as strong, connected or successful as it is today.”
Higman said she spent all these years volunteering because she wanted to make her children’s time in their schools “as memorable as possible.
“I am a big public school advocate … and public schools are as good as any other school,” she said. “I think our successful work within the Mission Bay Cluster is obvious … high quality, rigorous programs, the longest wait list to choice into the cluster and students continuing to attend colleges and universities in record numbers.”