Cristy Dawson, a fifth-generation Californian, has dedicated her career to education and community service. She taught in Los Angeles, where she was named Teacher of the Year for alternative education in 1996, before spending two decades leading programs for at-risk students in the Mountain View–Los Altos District, earning Administrator of the Year honors. Since retiring to Pebble Beach in 2014, Cristy has continued her commitment to service through leadership roles with the Pacific Grove School Board, Community Human Services Board, and the Carmel Foundation Board.