Events

Dr. Ana DeGenna’s path into education wasn’t one she expected. With an undergraduate degree in economics, she originally imagined a future in public policy. But a substitute teaching job led her to the classroom, where she discovered a deeper purpose. What started as a temporary role quickly became the foundation of a career in public education.

Through those early classroom experiences, she recognized the broader impact of public schools — not just on students, but on the communities they serve. She saw how thriving schools contribute to thriving neighborhoods, and how education is deeply intertwined with opportunity. Teaching led to school leadership, and over time, she became a principal and eventually superintendent.

Her journey represents a full-circle experience. Dr. DeGenna arrived in the United States from Ecuador as a young English learner and was once a student in the very district she now leads. The support she received as a newcomer shaped her path, and over the years, she has served Oxnard students as a teacher and principal. Now, as superintendent, she works to ensure that the same opportunities that shaped her are available to every student who walks through the district’s doors.

Oxnard, she says, is a district with a strong sense of identity. Cultural and linguistic diversity are not just present, they are celebrated. Even through political shifts, Oxnard has remained committed to biliteracy and multilingualism, a value upheld not only by educators but by the families and communities they serve.

With over 30 years of experience training leaders and teams, Deborah brings a rare combination of deep leadership expertise, academic rigor, and real-world application to the challenge of AI adoption.

President Cynthia appoints nominating committee for 2027-28 club officers.

Club officers and Avenues of Service chairpersons prepare for District Governor’s visit.

Margarida Eidson is a member of the Rotary Club of Ventura East, joining in May of 2017. She served as Club President in 2020-2021 and again for the last Quarter of 2023. Margarida served District 5240 as Youth Services Director in 2021-22, as Assistant Governor in 2022-23, and as Chief of Staff in 2023-24. She was selected as the District Governor for 2026-27.

Margarida is the president of Eidson Management, Inc., which provides bookkeeping, financial analysis, marketing, and human resource services to multiple clients. In addition, Margarida’s company manages the Poinsettia Pavilion, a non-profit event center in Ventura that hosts around 80 events monthly. Margarida enjoys volunteering in her community, holding many different positions throughout the years. She lives in Camarillo, California and has four wonderful boys.

5 fun facts about District Governor Margarida:

1. She is from Portugal.

2. She was a professional Ballet dancer.

3. Every year she swam around the Ventura pier with all her boys at the end of Jr. Lifeguards summer training camp.

4. To relax she loves to knit and crochet.

5. While her boys were Boy Scouts, she attended many Boy Scouts summer camps.