Del Mar school trustees last night unanimously voted to hire the head of the Hermosa Beach City School District as superintendent.

Sharon McClain beat out 20 other candidates from around the nation.

Trustee Janet Lamborghini called McClain “an exemplary educator” and “great collaborator” whose love for music and languages will fit well in Del Mar.

“She is a great match for this district because of her interests, because of her energy, because of her consensus building,” Lamborghini said. “I could go on and on.”

Board President Annette Easton said McClain was an extremely likable person who reaches out to community members and makes a point of eating lunch with children in her district. “Her personality is going to be just a great fit,” Easton said.

McClain will visit schools on the first day of school on Monday, but she is expected to shuttle between Hermosa Beach and Del Mar for a few weeks so she can conclude business up north, Easton said.

The details of her contract are still being worked out, and trustees are expected to vote on the agreement within the next two weeks, Easton said.

McClain last night said she was thrilled with the board's decision. “I really am happy,” she said. “Del Mar is such a wonderful school district.” McClain called Del Mar a “beautiful community” with strong parent involvement and “a great staff” among teachers, administrators and other school employees.

McClain, an educator for 30 years, has worked as an elementary school teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent.

She is a graduate of San Diego State University, where she majored in Spanish, and the University of La Verne, where she earned her doctorate in education.

Her husband, Joe Condon, is superintendent of the Lawndale Elementary School District near Los Angeles International Airport.

McClain and her husband have six children, all grown.

McClain's district in Hermosa Beach is among the highest performing in California, with an Academic Performance Index – the state's key measure of overall school performance – of 905 in 2007. Del Mar Union had a higher API score in 2007 – 947 – and with about 3,800 students, it's more than three times bigger than the district in Hermosa Beach.

Del Mar school trustees were particularly impressed by McClain's efforts to introduce foreign languages to elementary school students. McClain established a Spanish language program in Hermosa Beach and also launched a program in Mandarin.