Twin Rivers Superintendent to Step Down After 13 Years

Steve Martinez will leave his role in October 2026 after leading the district through major changes.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Twin Rivers Unified School District announced that Superintendent Steve Martinez will step down from his position in October 2026, ending his 13-year tenure with the district. Martinez's departure comes after the district's teachers union voted to authorize a labor dispute following 11 months of negotiations.

Why it matters

Martinez's leadership has been credited with helping to transform the district, which was facing $169 million in debt and the possibility of state takeover when he started in 2013. Under his tenure, the district's graduation rate increased from 76% to 92% and college readiness improved from 19% to 46%.

The details

During Martinez's time as superintendent, the district made significant improvements, including building new programs and facilities to better serve students. However, his departure also comes after the district's teachers union voted to authorize a labor dispute following 11 months of negotiations.

  • Martinez will step down from his role on October 31, 2026.
  • He assumed the superintendent position in 2013.

The players

Steve Martinez

The outgoing superintendent of the Twin Rivers Unified School District, who has led the district for the past 13 years.

Twin Rivers Educators

The teachers union for the Twin Rivers Unified School District, which recently voted to authorize a labor dispute following 11 months of negotiations.

Twin Rivers Unified School District

A school district serving approximately 25,000 students across 52 schools in the Sacramento region.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Steve Martinez, Outgoing Superintendent (abc10.com)

What’s next

The district's board of trustees will begin the search for Martinez's successor in the coming weeks and share details with the community.

The takeaway

Martinez's departure marks the end of an era for the Twin Rivers Unified School District, which has seen significant improvements under his leadership over the past 13 years. The district now faces the challenge of finding a new superintendent who can build on this progress and continue to serve the needs of its diverse student population.