Pictured is Dr. Steve Martinez. Photo courtesy of Twin Rivers Unified School District

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Twin Rivers Unified School District announced Feb. 19 that Superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez will step down from his role effective Oct. 31, 2026, concluding more than thirteen years of leadership defined by historic academic gains, fiscal recovery and expanded opportunities for students across the district. 

Dr. Martinez assumed leadership of Twin Rivers at a pivotal moment. Formed through the merger of four separate school systems, each with its own culture, bargaining history and community identity, the district in 2013 faced $169 million in debt and was approaching the threshold of state receivership. The graduation rate stood at 76 percent, and just 19 percent of students were considered college ready. 

Under his leadership, Twin Rivers has undergone one of the most significant district turnarounds in California public education. Today, the district reports a 92 percent graduation rate – higher than both state and county averages, and 46 percent college-readiness. The district eliminated $169 million in debt by 2020 without a single layoff, invested hundreds of millions of dollars in facility modernization and expanded student pathways through dual-enrollment, Career Technical Education and dual-immersion programs. 

Beyond academics and fiscal recovery, Dr. Martinez’s tenure was marked by the intentional creation of programs and experiences designed to transform the student and family experience across the district. Twin Rivers built visual and performing arts programs, after-school athletics and extracurricular opportunities from the ground up, and these investments gave students and families in a high-need community moments of pride, belonging and joy connected to their schools. 

“I came to Twin Rivers with a commitment to help transform a district that many had written off, and together, we have accomplished exactly that,” said Dr. Martinez. “But the transformation I’m most proud of isn’t captured in a graduation rate or a balance sheet. It’s a parent watching their child perform on a stage that didn’t exist before we built it. It’s a student finding belonging on an athletic field or in a classroom where someone believed in them. Every program we created over thirteen years was intentionally designed to give our families moments they would carry with them for a lifetime.” 

Board of Trustees President Christine Jefferson praised Dr. Martinez’s leadership and lasting contributions to the district.

“Dr. Martinez has been a steady and visionary leader whose impact on Twin Rivers Unified cannot be overstated,” said Jefferson. “He guided this district through financial recovery, strengthened academic outcomes, expanded student opportunities and helped build the foundation for long-term success. On behalf of the Board, we are deeply grateful for his service and commitment to our students, staff and community.” 

Trustee Rebecca Sandoval echoed those remarks. “Dr. Martinez has led with integrity, purpose and an unwavering focus on students. Because of his leadership, Twin Rivers is stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future than at any point in its history.” 

Dr. Martinez emphasized that he will remain fully engaged through Oct. 31, working alongside his leadership team to ensure a seamless and stable transition. 

“The challenges and milestones before us will be resolved during my tenure,” he said. “I owe that to our students, our staff and our community. The next superintendent will inherit a district positioned on stable ground with strong relationships, institutional knowledge and the strategic runway to succeed from day one.” 

Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Martinez underscored that the district’s transformation has been the result of collective effort. 

“None of this work happened because of one individual,” he said. “It is the product of staff who kept our schools running with pride and purpose, families who trusted us with their children, teachers who refused to accept limits for their students, and a Board willing to make student-centered decisions even when they were difficult. Serving this district and our incredible students has been the honor of a lifetime.” 

Dr. Martinez noted that this year holds particular personal significance. In an era when the average superintendent tenure nationally is fewer than four years, Dr. Martinez served Twin Rivers for thirteen. The students who entered the district in kindergarten in 2013, his first year as Superintendent, are now graduating seniors. 

“I have had the privilege of watching this class grow from wide-eyed learners taking their first steps into school to confident young adults ready for the next chapter of their lives,” he said. “Their journey mirrors the growth of our district, and their success is one of the most meaningful measures of the work we have done together.” 

The Board of Trustees will initiate a comprehensive search process to identify the district’s next superintendent and will share details with the community in the coming weeks. 

Twin Rivers Unified School District serves approximately 25,000 students across 52 schools in the north Sacramento region.