Lamont Jackson: Firing, Lawsuits, and Misconduct Allegations

Lamont Jackson, the former superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, was fired on August 30, 2024, after an independent investigation found it “more likely than not” that he had sexually harassed two female district employees. He denies the allegations. Both women sued him, the district, and acting superintendent Fabiola Bagula in December 2024.

What the Investigation Found

San Diego Unified hired the Los Angeles law firm Sanchez & Amador in April 2024 under a contract estimated at $100,000 to conduct what the district called “sensitive internal investigations.”¹ The district did not say publicly who was being investigated or why. Voice of San Diego first reported the inquiry’s existence on May 20, 2024.²

The full report has never been released. A one-page public summary described the key finding: attorney Maria Guadalupe Valencia concluded it was “more likely than not” that Jackson had engaged in “unwelcome, sex-based behavior consistent with romantic interest” toward two female former management employees.³ Both women said they had rebuffed his advances and were fired from the district in 2023.

Other claims drew different conclusions. The investigator examined allegations that Jackson promoted women with whom he had sexual relations and found insufficient evidence. The investigator also found insufficient evidence that the two women were terminated specifically for refusing his advances. Additional allegations of “offensive and sexually charged behavior” were referenced in the summary without detailed findings.¹

How the Firing Was Structured

The board reviewed the findings in a closed session on August 27, 2024, then called a special meeting three days later with a single agenda item: “Public employee discipline/dismissal/release.”⁴ On August 30, trustees voted unanimously to fire Jackson effective immediately.⁵

The termination was officially “without cause” under the terms of his contract. That entitled Jackson to six months of severance pay. His annual salary at the time was $433,175, putting the payout at roughly $216,562.³⁶ In exchange, Jackson agreed to give up any contractual claims against the district.

The San Diego Unified teachers union and the administrators’ association both issued statements supporting the board’s action.⁷

Jackson’s Denial

Jackson spent more than three decades at the district, working his way from classroom teacher to the top job in February 2022.⁸ In a September 2024 interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, he said he “emphatically denies the narrative that’s being put forward” and would “never act in the ways that are being alleged.” He specifically denied making sexual advances toward the two accusers, denied any sexual relationship with a district employee during his tenure, and denied that any promotion was tied to a sexual relationship.⁹

In a letter to the San Diego Unified community, Jackson wrote that the information made available to the media was “hardly an accurate reflection of my interactions with these former employees” and called the characterization of him “completely inaccurate.” He also acknowledged that his continued presence would be “an unnecessary and unwarranted distraction” for the district. He and his attorney said he did not intend to sue the district but expected further litigation from the women.⁹

The Two Lawsuits

In December 2024, both women filed suit in San Diego Superior Court, naming Jackson, the district, and acting superintendent Fabiola Bagula.

Monika Hazel

Monika Hazel, a former SDUSD area superintendent who later led the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, alleged Jackson subjected her to sexual harassment, including non-consensual touching, requests for sex, and conditioning professional opportunities on compliance with his advances. According to her complaint, she was demoted to a classroom teaching position with a significant pay cut about a month after refusing an advance in late 2022. The complaint alleges Jackson later acknowledged the demotion was retaliatory, telling her, “You made your choice, I had to make a choice. I couldn’t have two work wives.”⁸

Hazel’s suit also accuses Bagula of “hostile and discriminatory behavior,” alleging Bagula reprimanded her in front of colleagues and instructed her to “cower,” “bow her head,” and use a “baby girl voice” when raising concerns.¹⁰

Tavga Bustani

Tavga Bustani, formerly SDUSD’s Chief of Leadership and Learning, alleged in a separate complaint that Jackson expressed interest in a sexual relationship with her, repeatedly manufactured reasons for private meetings, and showed up uninvited at her home on at least two occasions. During one visit, she alleged, he tried to push her door open. Bustani says she was demoted to a teaching role after these encounters.¹⁰¹¹

Both suits seek general and special damages including medical expenses, lost earnings, and attorney’s fees. As of early December 2024, a district spokesperson said SDUSD had not yet been formally served and that counsel would review the complaints to take “appropriate actions.”¹⁰

Who Runs the District Now

Deputy Superintendent Fabiola Bagula was named interim superintendent the day Jackson was fired.⁵ The same investigation that ended Jackson’s tenure also substantiated that Bagula had used the term “White-womaned” in a way that contributed to an employee feeling singled out based on race. Bagula said the remark was made in response to a “racist incident with a vendor” and was taken out of context; she apologized and accepted responsibility. The district said the matter had been “thoroughly investigated and resolved.”¹¹

On June 18, 2025, the board unanimously made Bagula the permanent superintendent on a four-year contract with a $440,000 annual salary and a $1,250 monthly car allowance.¹² Board member Richard Barrera said investigations had determined Bagula was unaware of Jackson’s interactions with the two employees, adding, “If anyone actually had to deal with the fallout from what happened with Lamont, it was Fabi.”¹³ Bagula remains a named defendant in Hazel’s lawsuit.

1
San Diego Union-Tribune. Special Meeting to Discuss Investigation Findings About San Diego Unified Superintendent
2
Voice of San Diego. Morning Report: District Superintendent Is Under Investigation
3
San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego Unified Trustees Explain Their Decision to Fire Superintendent
4
Voice of San Diego. Investigation Into San Diego Unified Superintendent Substantiates Allegations of Misconduct Involving Staff
5
Voice of San Diego. San Diego Unified Fires Superintendent After Investigation Reveals Misconduct With Female Staff
6
Voice of San Diego. Lamont Jackson Is Out as San Diego Unified Supe: What’s Next
7
Los Angeles Times. San Diego Unified Superintendent Terminated After Investigation Found Sexual Misconduct
8
NBC San Diego. Ex-San Diego Unified Official Sues District, the Superintendent the Board Fired
9
Axios San Diego. San Diego Unified Superintendent Denies Sexual Misconduct Claims
10
KPBS. Former SDUSD Employee Sues District and Ex-Superintendent Jackson
11
NBC San Diego. San Diego Unified Board Sexual Misconduct Claims Former Superintendent
12
Voice of San Diego. San Diego Unified Has a New Permanent Superintendent
13
San Diego Union-Tribune. Nine Months After Taking Helm, Fabiola Bagula Named Permanent San Diego Unified Superintendent