The Twin Rivers Unified School District announced that Superintendent Steve Martinez will step down in October 2026.

SACRAMENTO, Calif — Twin Rivers Unified School District Superintendent Steve Martinez is stepping down from his role later this year, officials announced Thursday. 

Martinez’s decision to step down will take effect Oct. 31, 2026, ending 13 years with the district, according to officials.  

Martinez’s tenure is coming to an end after the district’s teachers union, Twin Rivers Educators, overwhelmingly voted to authorize after 11 months of labor negotiations. 

In January, the Twin Rivers school board voted to revoke Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools following a months-long review process triggered by an ABC10 investigation and state audit.   

He assumed his role in 2013 when the district was facing $169 million in debt and the possibility of the state taking over. The district’s graduation rate increase during his tenure. 

When he took the position, the graduation rate stood at 76% and just 19% of students were considered college-ready. The graduation rate increased to 92% and 46% of college readiness, according to the district. 

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

“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.” 

The district’s board of trustees will begin to search for Martinez’s successor will begin and details will be shared with the community in the coming weeks. 

As he remains in his role, Martinez will work alongside district leadership to ensure a seamless transitions, the district said. 

WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | Twin Rivers Unified revokes charter of Highlands Community Charter School

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