Last month, we published a story discussing Lizcett Porras, a principal of a troubled South Bay school. It was titled, “Principal at Troubled School Had Little Experience, Key Connections.”
Prior to publication, we sought comment from Jason Romero, Chula Vista Elementary School District’s former Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. He did not respond. After the story was published, we received an email from Romero’s attorney complaining about several aspects of the story and providing additional information. Romero’s attorney sent further emails complaining about summaries of the story contained in our Morning Report and South County Report. Additionally, the district issued a statement.
In light of those communications, we are correcting and clarifying certain points.
First, we correct the statements that Romero was fired from the district. He was not fired; he resigned. District trustees at their Dec. 17 school board meeting unanimously approved a resignation agreement with Romero that awarded him an undisclosed severance payment. The board did not specify the reason for Romero’s resignation.
Second, regarding the circumstances preceding Romero’s resignation, the investigation the district conducted in the autumn of 2025 in fact dealt with the after-hours use of a football field by a nonprofit youth flag football league in which Romero volunteers as a coach. The investigation did not relate to Porras, to hiring practices, or to financial, operational, or procedural issues in the district’s human resources department.
Third, we clarify that the story did not intend to imply that the district made findings of wrongdoing against Romero. The district made no finding that Romero engaged in any illegal, unethical, or improper conduct.
Fourth, the story stated that the district placed Romero on administrative leave following the release of an audit of the district’s human resources department that found numerous problems with the department’s hiring and record-keeping processes. That is correct, but we clarify that the story did not intend to imply that Romero’s leave was based on the audit. Rather, Romero was placed on leave to preserve the integrity of the investigation regarding the football field.
Fifth, the story stated that Porras was hired to be a principal even though she did not possess the minimum qualifications for the job. It also described Porras’s connection with Romero’s wife. And it described the multi-step interview process that Porras went through. This is all correct, but we clarify that the story did not intend to imply that Romero improperly influenced Porras’s selection. In his email following publication of the story, Romero’s attorney stated that Romero did not manipulate or interfere in the hiring process.
The story, the Morning Report, and the South County Report were updated in light of the above. We regret the errors and any lack of clarity.
They may have not meant to imply that porras’ hiring was improperly influenced by Romero, but I’ll say it right now, if she wasn’t given preference by Romero, then why was she even hired at all. She was the worst principal in my 15 years at Roger’s.
My understanding is that the hiring requirements were changed after she was hired, to allow applicants with no in school experience. The question should be who made the change to those requirements. If it wasn’t Romero, then who else at the district was responsible.
Yes She was my kids went there and the principal put a form in that held my daughter back when we left the school for a Year and half and lied I signed it . She was the worst principal I ever ment very evil
That school never held anyone back. The process for holding any student back has to go through so many people, including the school psychologist and the teacher. Don’t lie.
Marcel, staff at that school were also on a panel that interviewed her. There were 6 of us from the school on that panel. I’m not saying she wasn’t given preferential treatment by the district office, but she was also our choice (at the time) as well from the candidates we interviewed.
How was she your choice of it was so evident she was not qualified?! I have a VERY hard time believing that qualified teachers would approve this kind of person with ZERO teaching experience. Do not insult the teachers at Rodgers.
The panel was the AP at the time and 5 teachers (3 gen Ed, 2 SpEd). She interviewed very well, and as I recall she held something of an admin position in Sweetwater. Our panel interviewed four or five candidates and we gave HR our picks in rank order.
I’m not saying none of us regretted our decision or that we didn’t have buyers remorse. I’m simply stating that there was a process to this and, for our part, we were sold on the hype at first. Sadly that fell apart pretty quickly
I was also on the panel, and I think you are forgetting exactly what happened. Yes, she held a position as a school psychologist in Sweetwater, but had zero experience in elementary education, and no prior school admin experience, which is what the job description called for. There were parts of her interview that came across strong with respect to her experience, tied to special ed, but in the end, she actually ranked near the bottom. Then, during deliberation, Jason Romero came into the room and questioned the team’s ranking of the candidates. He began to talk to the group and through a series of questions was able to convince the panel that she was actually the strongest candidate. In fact, his exact words were, “I’m surprised she’s ranked so low because she screamed the highest of all the potential candidates. I’m surprised you don’t remember this!
It is so evident that the VOSD was back door threatened by the district and Romero to publish this. This publication is a joke and I am disappointed the publication even printed this. The public who is involved and aware – and the Chula Vista staff- know the truth.
Good riddance to a corrupt man. There are many more that still need to go. Maybe Reyes will resign next. One can hope…
Y’all have been making accusations and ruining peoples reputations. Especially for staff at the CVESD. Why? It aint right.
You obviously attended this school, that is clear, judging by your grammar ” it isn’t right” or “it is not right” would be the correct choice.
Your lack of proper punctuation, making your comment a run-on sentence, doesn’t help your argument.
Well not only there hiring principals with out experience. Romero and martinez (resign) also created positions at the district so they could run the district how ever they wanted that’s why cvesd is in the hole supposedly 16 millions or more
We all know it’s common to be given the opportunity to resign instead of be fired and for people to “move on to other opportunities.”. Outright firings are avoided at all costs due to litigation. Word games are common but nobody is fooled by them.
Why was he given severance? Unusual when someone voluntarily resigns.
I know nothing about anyone or anything in this article and will comment no further as advised by my attorney.
I’m so sick of the lack of transparency and accountability in our schools. School boards and district policies are just a facade. All of the problems fall on our good teachers and students. Administrators are disgustingly over paid and are given too much power. The public should have the power to fire without pay those who don’t do their job.
CVESD is shady.
So much money in taxes and often so poorly spent. From experience with children who went to these schools, being involved on school committees and going to board meetings, i can say it’s not the teachers or support staff at the actual schools causing the chaos. These people who are elected need to do their job and clean up the district office. And the teachers need to clean up their union members leadership.
Other that that, this is the new CVESD- a Corrupt Vision for Every Student Demanded.
And a well paid district staff.
Chula Vista elementary has had a long running administrative problem for a long time, you should look into the director of transportation and how many of his friends and family he’s put in staff positions and how he abuses long time employees even forced some out, I worked there for almost 10 years before finally leaving and I wish I’d left ages ago, he gets away with whatever he wants because he kisses up to hr and is drinking buddies with the union president that pretends to represent people. It’s a mess over there and in my opinion a matter of time before something bad happens.
Maybe on next week’s board meeting someone can make the superintendent that question… I
don’t believe he is not aware also on the positions that Mr martinez who also resigned Mr Romero and the maintenance manager created to have the control and run the district how ever they wanted..