By Linda Diamond, author of the Teaching Reading Sourcebook and executive director of the Evidence Advocacy Center
Published by Collaborative Classroom
Stockton Unified School District superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez has a saying: “Change experiences to change beliefs to change expectations.”
A veteran leader with 30+ years of service to high-poverty districts and vulnerable student populations in California, Dr. Rodriguez came to Stockton in July 2023, becoming the 14th superintendent in 20 years.
Today Dr. Rodriguez is leading big change in Stockton, particularly in the area of reading achievement. Just two years into her tenure:
- the percentage of K–2 students reading at grade-level has jumped almost 20 percent
- the percentage of English learners reading at grade-level or above has doubled
In this interview with Linda Diamond, Dr. Rodriguez shares her approach to change management and insights into Stockton’s reading growth, including the district-wide implementation of the accelerative foundational skills program SIPPS.
Read the full interview and watch a video of highlights from the interview.