Coronado Unified School District - Meet our Governing Board

Board of Trustees

Meet our Governing Board

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 President. She was elected in 2022 and her current term runs through 2026.

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. Mal currenlty serves as Board Vice-President. He was elected in 2022, with his current term running through 2026.

Dr. Scot Youngblood

Picture of 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 Clerk. 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.

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.

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 2028.

Fitzhugh Lee

Retired Navy Captain Fitzhugh Lee served for 24 years in the United States Navy as an F/A-18 pilot. He and his wife, along with their three sons, moved to Coronado from Atsugi, Japan, in February 2011. All of his sons have attended Coronado public schools.

Fitz is a combat veteran and former Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 27—the Royal Maces—and was honored with the Navy’s prestigious 2006 Michael G. Hoff "Attack Aviator of the Year" award. During his distinguished military career, Fitz also served as an Assistant Naval Attaché in Paris, France; an F/A-18 instructor pilot and solo F/A-18 flight demonstration pilot; and a Legislative Assistant for Senator John McCain. He currently flies the Boeing 777 for a major airline.

Fitz’s academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego, a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College (where he was recognized as a Mahon Scholar), and a certificate in Government Affairs from Georgetown University.

Since moving to Coronado, Fitz has been deeply engaged in the Coronado community, coaching, mentoring, and inspiring young people and adults. He has served on various church boards and leadership teams throughout his life and is a former board member of Coronado YoungLife. He currently serves on the board of the Britt Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering young people to face and overcome challenges through high-adventure outdoor activities while providing mentorship to help them develop into tomorrow’s leaders.

Fitz was elected in 2024 to complete a term that ends in 2028.