Meet our Governing Board
Alexia Palacios-Peters
Alexia Palacios-Peters
Alexia Palacios-Peters was born and raised in South Texas. She moved to Coronado in 2017 with her spouse, Josh Peters, who is currently on active service with the United States Navy. Their three children currently attend Coronado schools. Her perspective as a military spouse and parent will ensure that every student and family in our district has their voice represented.
Ms. Palacios-Peters attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with a specialty in Early Childhood Education. She obtained her law degree from California Western School of Law with a specialization in Child, Family, and Elder Law. She then earned her Master of Laws from the George Washington Law School in International and Comparative Law.
She has worked in various legal fields for over 14 years including family law, immigration law, and veteran’s law. She has brought compassion, empathy, and drive to each of these areas. She now seeks to bring these qualities to the CUSD School Board.
Ms. Palacios-Peters currently serves as the Board Clerk. She was elected in 2022 and her current term runs through 2026.
Malachy Sandie
Malachy Sandie
Mal Sandie is originally from Los Altos, CA, and is a retired Navy Captain who served 30-years on active duty as a helicopter pilot. His wife is a nurse anesthetist at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, and he has four sons who are all products of the Coronado public schools.
His educational Background is a B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy, M.A. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Defense Acquisition University Level III qualification in Program Management, and he previously held the Civilian Program Management Professional qualification.
Mal is a progressive thinker who bases decisions on data and proven facts. He maintains the highest standards for honesty, integrity, and transparency. Mal’s goal is to ensure that CUSD remains the premier school district in the State and to serve the students and families of Coronado. He was elected in 2022, with his current term running through 2026.
Dr. Scot Youngblood
Dr. Scot Youngblood
Dr. Youngblood and his wife originally moved to Coronado in 2011, with their three children, who have all attended Coronado public schools full-time.
Scot grew up in North Carolina, and attended Duke University and then Duke University School of Medicine, both on Navy Scholarship. During his 25-year active duty Navy career, he served as a flight surgeon and became an Orthopaedic surgeon, rising to the rank of Captain. He was honored to serve as the Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego for seven years. Of all the awards he received, perhaps the most cherished was the Resident Teaching Award from the housestaff who he was honored to train for 13 years. Captain Youngblood retired from naval service in October 2021. He continues to practice as a locum tenens physician.
Dr. Youngblood currently serves as Board Vice President. His objective is to ensure each CUSD student is provided the best educational opportunity. He is a strong advocate for parents, teachers, and most importantly students. He was elected in 2022, with his current term running through 2026.
Whitney Antrim
Whitney Antrim
Whitney Antrim was born and raised in Coronado. The daughter of a US Navy SEAL and an American Airlines flight attendant, she was raised to embody strength, service, and hard work. Whitney attended Christ Church Elementary, Coronado Middle School, and Coronado High School. (Class of ’97!)
Whitney has dedicated her career to public service. She spent 17 years protecting the constitutional rights of all and representing those who are less fortunate as a Deputy Public Defender for the County of San Diego. There, she focused on serving the veteran and disabled communities. Now, she uses her advocacy skills on behalf of school districts all over the State of California as an attorney in the Special Education and Student Services fields. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara and then pursued her law and business degrees at Vanderbilt University Law School and the Owen School of Business.
Whitney lives in Coronado with her husband and two children. Her kids are future students at Silver Strand Elementary. Her objective is to improve the schools for students, parents, and teachers and ensure that our kids are safe, welcomed, and given a world class education. She was elected in 2020, with her current term running through 2024.
Renee Cavanaugh
Renee Cavanaugh
.Renee Cavanaugh and her husband Dana moved from New York to California in 2001, settling in Coronado in 2002.
Renee was born and raised in Tennessee and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. While working for a NASA subcontractor at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, she received her M.A. degree in Management. Her goal of becoming a classroom teacher was achieved when she earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at San Diego State University and was offered a position at Village Elementary School. She credits the innovative and dynamic teachers combined with the collaborative work environment as being a big part of what makes CUSD special. In 2022, Renee retired from teaching having spent 15 years at Village and Silver Strand Elementary Schools.
Volunteering and community service have always been an important part of her life. Renee has been an active member of several local organizations including Coronado Promenade Concerts Board, Coronado Junior Woman's Club and Woman's Club, Optimist Club of Coronado, and the Coronado Schools Foundation.
Renee currently serves as Board President. Her goal is to ensure that all students receive the best possible education in a setting where they feel safe, respected, and supported. She was elected in 2022 to complete a term that ends in 2024.