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A Word from Our Superintendent

SUSD Stands with Stockton

A Message from Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez

We are deeply saddened to share that one of the victims of Saturday November 29, 2025 night's tragic mass shooting was a Stockton Unified School District student. We hold this student’s family in our hearts as we grieve alongside them and our entire community.

We have been in contact with the victim’s family to provide support for them as well as staff and students at the victim’s school. We will continue to support both our students and staff through our District Crisis Team.

This tragedy has impacted our entire community. To help ensure our students and staff receive the care they need, SUSD has Counselors, School Psychologists and Mental Health Clinicians at every one of our schools. If you have any concerns about your child’s reaction to this loss, please reach out to your child’s teacher or any member of our administrative team. To assist you in speaking with your child, attached are some tips for parents and teachers.

For additional support, SUSD has partnered with Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential service that helps students, staff and their families find mental health care matched to their needs. Care Solace is a service provided to students, staff, and their families by SUSD.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
Call 888-515-0595 — available 24/7/365 in any language.
Visit Care Solace and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

We care deeply about our SUSD family. We will navigate this loss together by supporting our students and upholding a compassionate, caring environment for all. We stand with Stockton and we remain committed to supporting our community during this heartbreaking time.

Thank you,
Dr. Michelle Rodriguez
Superintendent of Schools
Stockton Unified School District

"Be the one who nurtures and builds, be the one who has an understanding and forgiving heart, be the one who looks for the best in people" — Marvin J. Ashton

Superintendent’s Message

Portrait of Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Michelle Rodriguez

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year!

SUSD continues to prioritize nurturing relationships and creating meaningful, rich opportunities to grow and learn with students, families, and staff. Built on joy, trust, and belief in our collective commitment, this year, our theme is Rising Stronger Together. We have inspiring growth, are achieving excellence, and are embracing change.

We believe that every person in our educational ecosystem—students, families, staff, and the community—contributes to developing vibrant, confident students on the pathway to fulfilling their individual aspirations. Alongside dedicated staff, community partners, and families, we have mobilized and will continue efforts to bridge the gap between our collective vision for the future and the implementation of equitable, culturally and linguistically relevant learning.

Our commitment remains focused on the Whole Child, Whole Family, and Whole Community while preparing all students for college, career, and life.

Highlights of our systemic transformation efforts include:

  • Highest graduation rate in the history of SUSD and a 10% decrease in chronic absenteeism
  • Expansion of Community Schools to all 55 SUSD sites
  • Investment in safety: visitor systems, entry access control, and security cameras
  • Enhanced curriculum: CTE, VAPA, and Ethnic Studies
  • Upgraded facilities using ESSER III and bond funding
  • Expanded support staff: mental health clinicians, BCBAs, CSMs, intervention teachers
  • Launch of ParentSquare to enhance communication

We pledge to collaborate with all stakeholders, listen actively, and innovate to accelerate student success. Together, we are Rising Stronger Together: Inspiring Growth, Achieving Excellence, Embracing Change.

Thank you,

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez
Superintendent of Schools


¡Bienvenidos al año escolar 2025–2026!

SUSD continúa dando prioridad al fortalecimiento de relaciones y a la creación de oportunidades significativas y enriquecedoras para crecer y aprender junto a los estudiantes, las familias y el personal. Basado en la alegría, la confianza y la fe en nuestro compromiso colectivo, este año nuestro lema es Levantándonos Más Fuertes Juntos. Estamos experimentando un crecimiento inspirador, alcanzando la excelencia y abrazando el cambio.

Creemos que cada persona en nuestro ecosistema educativo —estudiantes, familias, personal y comunidad— contribuye al desarrollo de estudiantes vibrantes y seguros de sí mismos en el camino hacia el cumplimiento de sus aspiraciones individuales. Junto a nuestro personal dedicado, socios comunitarios y familias, hemos movilizado y continuaremos los esfuerzos para cerrar la brecha entre nuestra visión colectiva del futuro y la implementación de un aprendizaje equitativo, cultural y lingüísticamente relevante.

Nuestro compromiso sigue enfocado en el Niño Integral, la Familia Integral y la Comunidad Integral, mientras preparamos a todos los estudiantes para la universidad, la carrera profesional y la vida.

Algunos aspectos destacados de nuestros esfuerzos de transformación sistémica incluyen:

  • La tasa de graduación más alta en la historia de SUSD y una disminución del 10% en el ausentismo crónico
  • Expansión de las Escuelas Comunitarias a los 55 sitios de SUSD
  • Inversión en seguridad: sistemas para visitantes, control de acceso en entradas y cámaras de seguridad
  • Mejora del currículo: CTE, VAPA y Estudios Étnicos
  • Modernización de instalaciones utilizando fondos ESSER III y bonos escolares
  • Expansión del personal de apoyo: profesionales de salud mental, BCBAs, CSMs, maestros de intervención
  • Lanzamiento de ParentSquare para mejorar la comunicación

Nos comprometemos a colaborar con todas las partes interesadas, escuchar activamente e innovar para acelerar el éxito estudiantil. Juntos, nos estamos Levantando Más Fuertes: Inspirando Crecimiento, Alcanzando la Excelencia, Abrazando el Cambio.

Gracias,

Dra. Michelle Rodríguez
Superintendente de Escuelas

Vertical blue lines against a black background create a striped pattern.

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