Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) has appointed Dr. Michelle Rodriguez as the district's next Superintendent of Schools, as announced by the Stockton Unified Board of Education on Tuesday.
Rodriguez will be stepping into her new role on July 1, just in time for the upcoming fall semester.
This appointment comes after a period for the district which began the year with the resignation of a superintendent and was subsequently scrutinized in a grand jury report.
Rodriguez is set to be the fourteenth superintendent in just 17 years, indicating the district's recent history of leadership turnover.
Dr. Rodriguez, however, brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having served as the superintendent for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District for seven years prior to her appointment at SUSD.
She was chosen after a thorough selection process from a pool of 25 potential candidates. The district's Superintendent Search Committee, comprising of community members, teachers, unions, and parents, interviewed Rodriguez and were clearly convinced by her vision and leadership credentials.
SUSD Board President AngelAnn Flores expressed her optimism about the appointment, saying, "I am excited and optimistic about the change and good work to come."
As Dr. Rodriguez prepares to step into her new role, the Stockton community is undoubtedly hopeful that her leadership will bring stability and continued progress to the district.