Gina Potter
Superintendent
San Diego County, California
About Gina Potter
Dr. Gina Acosta Potter is an American educator and school administrator based in San Diego County, California. She has worked in public education since 1992 and has served as Superintendent of the San Ysidro School District since 2018. Her career includes roles across seven California school districts, including Oakland Unified School District, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Chula Vista Elementary School District, Lemon Grove School District, and San Ysidro.
Potter has held positions spanning instruction and operations, including teacher, academic mentor, associate principal, principal, assistant superintendent of business services, deputy superintendent, and superintendent. She is known for work in district leadership, school finance, governance, and student support systems. During her tenure in San Ysidro, the district pursued facilities modernization through multiple general obligation bonds, expanded partnerships with public agencies, and reported gains in English learner reclassification.
She has participated in statewide education efforts in California. Since 2019, she has served on the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence Advisory Council. She also contributed to work connected to the Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control Accountability Plan as a member of the LCFF Task Force. Through the Association of California School Administrators, she served as State Vice President for Legislative Action and chaired its Legislative Policy Committee.
Potter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric (political and legal studies) from the University of California, Berkeley (1993) and a Master of Education from the University of California, Los Angeles (1995). She earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership through a joint doctoral program with UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and California State University San Marcos (2009). She also completed California credentialing and certification programs in administrative services and school business.
Areas of Focus
Career Background
Education
Media
Press
Awards & Recognition
- Chief Business Official of the Year Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and California School Boards Association (CSBA) (2014)
- Woman Leader in the Area of Education California Assembly 79th District (2016)
- State Superintendents’ Advisory Council Service Award California School Boards Association (CSBA) (2021-2023)
- Outstanding Instructional Leader State Award Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) (2022)
- Recognition U.S. House of Representatives (2023)
- Golden Bell District Awards California School Boards Association (CSBA) (2024)
- Golden Bell District Awards California School Boards Association (CSBA) (2025)
- Classroom of the Futures Foundation Superintendent Award (2025)
- Certificate of Recognition for Innovative Superintendent Award Assemblymember David Alvarez (2025)
- Recognition California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber (date unknown)
Licenses & Certifications
- Chief Business Official Certification Program California Department of Education via San Diego County Office of Education (June 2008)
- Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential San Diego State University (December 2003)
- Preliminary Administrative Services Credential San Diego State University (December 2001)
- California Clear Multiple Subject Credential University of California, Los Angeles (August 1995)
- California Language Acquisition Development Certification University of California, Los Angeles (August 1995)
- Cross Cultural Language and Academic Development Emphasis
Boards & Memberships
- California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) Advisory Council Member (2019 - Present)
- Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) State Vice President for Legislative Action
- Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Chair, Legislative Policy Committee
- Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Task Force Member
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gina Potter do?
Gina Potter is Superintendent of the San Ysidro School District, a role she has held since 2018. She has worked in public education since 1992 across seven California school districts.
What is Gina Potter known for?
She is known for work in district leadership, school finance, governance, and student support systems. During her tenure in San Ysidro, the district pursued facilities modernization through general obligation bonds and reported gains in English learner reclassification.
Where is Gina Potter based?
Gina Potter is based in San Diego County, California.
Where did Gina Potter study?
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric from UC Berkeley, a Master of Education from UCLA, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership through a joint doctoral program with UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and California State University San Marcos.
Who does Gina Potter work for?
Gina Potter works for the San Ysidro School District, where she serves as Superintendent.
Last updated July 23, 2026