Stockton Unified school board extends Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez's contract to 2028

Michelle Rodriguez will remain at the helm of the Stockton Unified School District for another four years.

The Stockton Unified Board of Trustees approved a contract extension for the superintendent through June 30, 2028. Her base pay will be $306,800 per year — $295,000 with a 3% increase for the 2023-2024 school year and a 1% increase for the 2024-2025 school year, which is provided to all district staff members, according to agenda documents.

The school board voted 5-1-1 to extend Rodriguez's contract after a performance evaluation in closed session. Area 2 Trustee AngelAnn Flores was the lone trustee to vote against the multiyear extension. Area 3 Trustee Alicia Rico left Tuesday night's regularly scheduled meeting before the vote.

There was no public discussion on the matter among trustees.

"I want to appreciate the board for the extension of the contract," Rodriguez said from the dais. "We're going to continue to do good work for our students, our families, and our community and staff."

Rodriguez received a round of applause from community members and trustees in attendance. Two district employees and seven parents praised her during the public comment portion of the meeting. None voiced opposition to the contract's extension.

Luis Tito Talamantes, a Mariachi teacher entering his 10th year at Stockton Unified, thanked Rodriguez and the board for their efforts to make the district one that is recognized for its excellence in arts education.

"In all the time at SUSD, whether it be as a student or an educator, I have never experienced such support and appreciation for the arts and music as we have received under Superintendent Rodriguez," Talamantes said.

Talamantes noted that developing equitable access to the arts throughout Stockton Unified is one of Rodriguez's top priorities. He shared that more than 1,100 instruments were recently purchased with Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Block Grant money from the California Department of Education, and the theaters at the district's four comprehensive high schools are getting upgrades.

Talamantes read another comment on behalf of Arthur Coleman Jr., a longtime music teacher at Stockton Unified.

"Our superintendent is a breath of fresh air for our district," Coleman said in his remarks. "She's been able to bring light where there's been darkness, and instilled hope where it felt hopeless. The kind, nurturing leadership model that she possesses is warm and friendly. Compassion is needed these days and on top of that, she takes care of business. She gives people a voice and everyone matters. She has figured out ways to really listen. That is super important."

A comment card was also read for Patricia Mosqueda, a mother of two Stockton Unified students, who thanked Rodriguez for the support she has given to parents.

"Thank you for always listening to us, for being our voice, and treating us with respect. Thank you for taking time to attend our meetings and events. Thank you for motivating our students and impacting them in a positive way so they can be successful in their education," Mosqueda wrote. "You've given us back our faith and confidence."

Rodriguez officially took over the superintendent role on July 1, 2023 at a base salary of $295,000 for the 2023-2024 school year, plus benefits. She came to Stockton from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, where she served as superintendent for seven years in Santa Cruz County.

Rodriguez succeeds Interim Superintendent Traci Miller, who held the position for 10 months after former Superintendent John Ramirez Jr. resigned in June 2022, just over a year on the job. Ramirez was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Stockton two months following his resignation.

In February 2024, Ramirez was selected to be the next superintendent at the Douglas County School District in Nevada, but the school board did not approve his contract after community members voiced concerns regarding possible mismanagement of funds under his leadership at Stockton Unified.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Unified school board extends superintendent's contract to 2028