The Abridged version:
- Educators and school staff from across Twin Rivers Unified gathered Wednesday for a back-to-school rally, the first large public appearance of the school district’s new superintendent.
- Coming out of a record-breaking strike last spring, teachers said they are optimistic about the new administration.
- Some issues remain in the district, according to educators, including support staff vacancies and larger class sizes.
As the student drum line thrummed and dancers in blue, black and gold performed, the stands at Grant Union High School filled with school staff from across Twin Rivers Unified School District Thursday.
The back-to-school rally in North Sacramento brought together contingents from each campus, many identifiable by T-shirts or banners in their school colors. Clumps of Foothill High School black and orange or Frontier Elementary School blue coalesced in the bleachers for what was billed as a chance for employees to reconnect and hear from top-level administrators.
Twin Rivers students return to class Tuesday.
The gathering this week comes months after the district set a Sacramento County record for the longest teacher strike, at 12 days.
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Though some tensions still linger, teachers said they are optimistic for a fresh start heading into the 2026-27 school year.
Especially, they said, with a new superintendent, Tu Moua Carroz, now in office.
“It got a little bit better last year,” said Charlotte Godinez, a transitional kindergarten teacher. “We’re hoping this year it’s even better.”
Hard feelings persist
Brittoni Ward, president of Twin Rivers Unified Educators, said Wednesday she and the union have not yet had much interaction with Moua Carroz.
Formerly the assistant superintendent of education services at Roseville’s high school district, Moua Carroz began her position at Twin Rivers in July. She took over from former Superintendent Steve Martinez, a target of resentment for many in the teachers union.
Martinez stepped down after 13 years in the role. Other leaders who were present during the March strike, though, remain in office, including school board President Christine Jefferson.
As Jefferson came to the microphone during Wednesday’s event, some in the crowd grumbled.
‘Still, here we are’
Many educators feel better, though, with this new administration, Godinez said.
“With the new superintendent, we’re all hopeful that she has the understanding that we did what we did for the students,” the Woodbridge Elementary School teacher said.
Moua Carroz, in laying out her vision for the year ahead, touched briefly on the past.
“It is not lost on me that Twin Rivers has endured one of the most challenging chapters in its history with the work stoppage,” she said.
“Still, here we are, together, working extremely hard, preparing to receive our children next Tuesday,” she continued. “That, Twin Rivers, is resiliency.”
Ongoing support needs
Some issues remain, Godinez said, including vacancies in positions like teaching aides or behavior interventionists. A widespread problem among school districts, many of these jobs go unfilled in part because of uncompetitive compensation, Godinez said.
“We have a lot of children with high needs, so we just want to make sure that we’re going to get the support we need,” she said.
Also, class sizes continue to be a concern. Kimberly Gunter, a second grade teacher at Garden Valley Elementary, is starting out with 28 students. The contract between the district and teachers union sets a limit of 26 kids for TK-3 classes.
Still, Gunter said she remains upbeat.
“We’re going to start the year off good,” she said, “and see how it goes.”
