Holly McClurg, Jessica Morales, Shelley Petersen | Unrelenting Pursuit of the Extraordinary School Experience

LearningSCAPES Edition

January 6, 2023

The Del Mar Union School District in San Diego, California is a district of thinking, inspiration, and impact. Their students experience a high-quality instructional core defined by strong academics and superb instructional practice. They chart the course through high standards, top-performing staff, and meaningful learning experiences. Engaging, flexible learning environments are alive with critical thinking, real-world applications to solving problems, and curiosity that is encouraged via creativity and innovation.

Dr. Holly McClurg is the Superintendent of Del Mar Union School District, a San Diego elementary school district with a mission to ignite genius and empower students to change the world. Dr. McClurg believes in the unrelenting pursuit of the extraordinary school experience and that we must seize opportunities to revolutionize the traditional school system. She embraces doing things differently and better for students to help prepare them to meet the needs of today’s world. Dr. McClurg is proud to be in DMUSD, a dynamic and forward-thinking district. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside, Master of Arts from Point Loma Nazarene University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Dakota. She served as a teacher, principal, director and assistant superintendent before becoming the Superintendent at DMUSD.

Jessica Morales is an educator with 21 years of experience in education. After spending 12 years in the classroom refining her instructional practices, she has continued to serve students and educators as an Assistant Principal, Principal, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. She is passionate about innovative practices that shape the school experience to be one of relevancy, rigor, and joy. Mrs. Morales redesigns learning spaces to increase agility, enhance comfort and propel learning. She has modernized over 80 learning spaces across eight Del Mar Union School District school campuses and designed the interior spaces of Pacific Sky School.

Shelley Petersen is the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services that oversees professional learning and district initiatives related to teaching and learning. She has been an educator for more than 30 years and has been in the Del Mar Union School District since 2005 and her current position since 2012. Shelley is passionate about redesigning educational structures to meet the needs of today’s students. She takes a child-centered approach to ensuring educators are equipped with skills and insights allowing them to be responsive to what students want and need.