Chula Vista, Calif. – Trustee Jessica Tolston, a Democrat appointed to the Chula Vista Elementary School District board in 2025, announced she has resigned from her position with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decision follows scrutiny over an earlier version of her résumé that listed duties involving computer systems used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to track, arrest, detain and deport immigrants.
Resume controversy and party endorsement
When Tolston sought the county Democratic Party’s endorsement in May, a group of Latino activists questioned whether a current DHS employee could fairly represent immigrant families on the board. The activists asked, “Is a current DHS employee the best person to protect our immigrant school children and their families?”
In response, Tolston submitted a résumé that highlighted general administrative and office‑management duties at DHS’s San Diego headquarters, omitting any reference to immigration enforcement. Party leaders accepted the résumé and granted her the endorsement.
Earlier résumé revealed ICE‑related duties
Voice of San Diego obtained an earlier résumé Tolston filed with the school district in January 2025 when she applied to fill a two‑year board vacancy. That document listed six separate duties tied to ICE‑related systems, accounting for roughly half of the responsibilities she described.
Tolston told the outlet she used a different résumé for the endorsement process because it reflected a different point in her career. “The different resumes reflect different points in my career and different purposes,” she said. “That was not an attempt to conceal my employment history or mislead anyone about my work.”
Resignation and statement of principle
In an emailed statement, Tolston said she could no longer serve in an environment that conflicted with her values. “There are moments when your principles are tested, and you have to decide what you are willing to sacrifice for them,” she wrote. “I could no longer continue serving in an environment that conflicted with my values simply because leaving would be difficult.”
She did not specify the exact date she left DHS, and her LinkedIn profile still lists her as a federal program analyst.
Support from union and party leaders
Despite the résumé issue, the teachers union backed Tolston, citing her “student‑centered vision” and frequent collaboration with labor groups. Union President Rosi Martinez said those qualities outweighed the more extensive educational experience of her opponent, former principal Debra McLaren.
Democratic Party Chairman Will Rodriguez‑Kennedy acknowledged that Tolston’s résumé did not give a complete picture of her work, but praised her decision to quit federal service. “When we see such cruelty in our government’s immigration policy, it tests a lot of people,” he said. “I think it tested Jessica Tolston as well. I think she thought it was best to obscure the references to ICE specifically.”
Election implications
The Chula Vista board currently has a three‑member Democratic majority and two Republican members who often question fiscal decisions. If McLaren wins, the balance could shift away from the cooperative relationship the union, superintendent and board majority have cultivated.
Tolston’s campaign emphasizes her personal story: her seven‑year‑old son’s school provided crucial support after her husband, a military veteran, died of cancer in 2023. She expressed deep gratitude for that assistance and reiterated her commitment to serving the community.
What voters should know
Voters in the predominantly Latino district will decide in the upcoming election whether Tolston’s resignation and clarified stance on immigration enforcement are enough to retain her seat. The race highlights the tension between local education priorities and broader immigration policy concerns that affect many families in the area.
Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.
