Family.

Crystal Czubernat lives in Sierra Madre with her wife Candice and their girl-boy twins, Dylan and Deacon, who will enter first grade this fall at Sierra Madre Elementary School. In her free time, Crystal and her active family love to snow and water ski, take advantage of the local hiking trails, and cruise around Sierra Madre on their bikes. As a mom of two kids who will be PUSD students throughout their primary and secondary education, Crystal is dedicated to making sure our schools not only succeed, but are prepared to meet the challenges of an uncertain future.

Education.

Crystal has spent nearly twenty years working in education, both as a teacher and then an administrator. She has a Bachelors in Secondary Education, Masters in Counseling, another Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and is working toward completing a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership. 

Leadership and Growth.

Crystal spent several years on the executive leadership team at Pasadena’s Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School. When Crystal joined Pacific Oaks College in 2011, they were operating at a $4.5 million deficit, and by 2013-14 the college showed a $1.2 million surplus. During this time she was responsible for bringing in the largest enrollment numbers in the institution's history, three years in a row. As the Vice President of Enrollment Management, she led the school through troubled times into a renewed and thriving college--adding an online school and second campus in San Jose. She also spent several years at a local charter school, Opportunity for Learning and Options for Youth, building a struggling online school into a successful program.

Collaboration.

At Pacific Oaks College, Crystal was responsible for enrollment, marketing, and student services for the Pasadena campus, the online school and the San Jose location. In order to do this, she worked collaboratively with the Pasadena community and leaders from within the college. Rebuilding a school quickly requires the ability to think strategically, understand the long and short term benefits of choices, and make decisions quickly to ensure quality and growth. This type of work is Crystal’s greatest strength. Crystal is an action-oriented visionary thinker, but she knows that education is a team sport, and deeply values the importance of collaboration and relationships.