Dr. Gina Acosta Potter grew up in San Diego surrounded by a family of educators. Teaching was not just a profession in her family. It was a way of life. As a third-generation educator, she learned early that schools are the heart of a community.
She began her career in 1992 after earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Soon after, she completed her teaching credential and master’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles and started teaching in Santa Monica–Malibu. Those early classroom years shaped her belief that strong systems matter just as much as strong instruction.
Over time, Potter took on leadership roles across California. She served as a classified academic mentor, teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and chief business official. With more than a decade in school finance, she developed a rare balance of instructional and operational expertise.
In 2018, she became Superintendent of the San Ysidro School District. There, she focused first on trust and stability. Under her leadership, the district restored fiscal health, passed five general obligation bonds, modernized campuses, doubled English learner reclassification rates, and won two CSBA Golden Bell Awards for building a robust ecosystem of support with community partners and for English learner success. During the pandemic, her district became a lifeline, serving more than one million meals per year to families throughout the community.
As the first female Filipina/White, biracial Superintendent in California, Potter brings both pride and purpose to her work. Guided by compassion, clarity, and consistency, she continues to lead with the belief that when systems work well, students can focus on learning—and dreaming.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day starts early. I usually begin with quiet time before emails and meetings. I review priorities, not my entire to-do list. Just the few things that truly matter. During the day, I move between school visits, meeting with team members, and community partnerships. I try to end each day by asking one question: How did we help students today?
How do you bring ideas to life?
I listen to the ideas of our team, students, parents, and community members.. Then I support those who have a plan to make a great idea come to life. The best student success comes from supporting the great ideas of those within our learning community.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m excited by schools becoming community hubs. When districts partner with health, food, and housing services, students learn better. Education does not happen in isolation.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Daily reflection. Each day I find time to quietly think, strategize, and imagine.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Go slow to go fast. Listen to those on your team and build trust and buy-in for the ideas you hope to make come alive.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Less is more. I believe fewer initiatives lead to better results. Focus and simplicity leads to greater success.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Listen and let people know that you need time to think about it. Give yourself time to think, reflect, sleep, and then respond with clarity, focus, and purpose.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I walk. Walking brings me peace and allows me to take care of my physical and mental health.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Learning school finance deeply. Understanding budgets gave me credibility and a unique skill set for leading school districts.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early on, I went too fast and tried to fix everything at once. It burned people out. I learned that pacing builds trust.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Create regular team meetings with various groups throughout the organization. Meeting in person with teams and listening and collaborating with them naturally compounds the rate of success.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Canva.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. It inspires educators to help students dream big and go after a magical and exciting future.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Hidden Figures. It reminds me how unseen, humanitarian leadership changes history.
Key learnings
- Sustainable leadership focuses on trust before transformation.
- Small, consistent habits outperform large, complex initiatives.
- Deep system knowledge creates lasting influence and credibility.
- Listening is a leadership skill, not a soft trait.
- Real progress happens when schools serve whole communities.