Shortly before the board of trustees unanimously approved her employment agreement, Julianna Stocking acknowledged the Merced City School District’s past challenges and committed to keeping students central to her work moving forward.
Stocking confidently spoke to the board and attendees during Tuesday’s school board meeting, sharing more about her personal and professional background and what Merced County’s largest school district can expect from her leadership.
“I want to be very visible and very active, as we know that the heart of our work is happening at our school sites and in our communities. For me to best serve you, I will be there,” Stocking said.
Feels like coming home
Stocking comes to Merced from Tracy Unified, where she was the associate superintendent of educational services. She grew up in Merced County and graduated from Livingston High School. She also previously worked for Delhi Unified School District.
Merced City School District feels like coming home, Stocking said. Her grandfather’s name was “Merced,” along with her father Merced II, while her brother is Merced Steven III.
Said Stocking: “Some might say (it’s) ironic. I might say ‘meant to be.’”
Her introduction served as a positive juxtaposition to the district’s turbulent journey to get here. It took the board more than a year and two different search firms to find the school district’s next leader after abruptly firing the previous superintendent.
Stocking will be the district’s fifth leader in four years, but she said she’s committed to staying with the district long term and enduring the challenges.
“I do have a very long-term commitment and vision to being here in Merced City. So my goal is to continue to not only foster, but sustain, those relationships – through the good times and through the challenging times,” she said.
Warm welcome extended
Stocking correctly noted that Merced City School District is not alone in its struggle to retain a long-term superintendent. Turnover of school superintendents statewide has grown over the last five years, citing polarizing politics and fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Merced City’s trustees, administrators, teachers union president and community members all expressed excitement and extended their welcome to Stocking, who was accompanied by a number of family members.
Stocking, who starts July 1, will earn a salary of $255,000 annually and receive the same benefits offered to the district’s other certificated management employees. The three-year contract ends in June 2027 with the option to renew annually for four years, pending a satisfactory evaluation.
The district will pay membership dues to two professional associations and two community service organizations for the superintendent, under the contract. Stocking will also be reimbursed for the costs of pre-approved professional development and continuing education.
Revolving door of leaders
The board contracted with the Cosca Group for the superintendent search after terminating the contract with the first firm it hired, McPherson & Jacobsen. The board parted ways with McPherson & Jacobsen after the firm’s consultants warned a report it assembled included potentially liable information gathered from community members. The report was meant to inform and assist the next superintendent.
Anonymous respondents submitted survey responses and comments in focus groups alleging a district administrator was carrying out an extramarital affair with a subordinate. It also accused district officials of bullying and retaliation and criticized the school board for micromanaging and not knowing its role.
Board President Allen Brooks told The Merced FOCUS that the board had already addressed the allegations before the consultants learned of them.
The McPherson & Jacobsen report also highlighted attributes the community wanted to see in the next superintendent, such as integrity and a strong moral compass.
In her introductory remarks, Stocking promised to deliver integrity, respect and professionalism.
“We are a ‘people’ organization, and so it is critical that integrity and professionalism is what we model and what we share together as a team,” she said.
Stocking’s full remarks to trustees
“Good evening President Brooks, as well as our trustees here from Merced City Board and all of our members sitting here in the audience, as well as Merced community.
I am honored to be your next superintendent and to serve Merced City Schools students, staff, families and community.
A few things that I would like to share:
First of all is – I would like to extend my huge appreciation and thank you to Mr. Brian Meisenheimer and the teams that have really sustained, and the board, all of this work through a lot of change in the past few years. I know that that’s happened in many districts, and I really commend you for your work. Thank you.
The second thing that I would like to share is: You’re probably wondering a little bit about me.
Coming to Merced City feels like coming home for me. It feels that way to me because I’m a proud graduate of Livingston High School. I was raised in Merced County. My grandfather’s name happens to be Merced the First. My father, who is here in the audience, is Merced II, and my brother is Merced Steven III. So, some might say (it’s) ironic. I might say meant to be.
The other thing I would say is that we come from a family that greatly values education and hard work, equally. That will be reflected in my work and servitude to you. It will be led to strive with integrity and respect for everyone that I engage with and for everybody that I support. We are a ‘people’ organization, and so it is critical that integrity and professionalism is what we model and what we share together as a team.
I would also like to share that as an educator – a 15-year educator in Delhi, nine-year educator in Tracy, and now here, coming home to Merced – students have been at the center of my decision making and commitment, from the day that I started, and will continue to be every day that I come to work.
I will share that coming to work, to me, means more than putting in eight to 10 hours. We know that the work goes beyond just the time that we put in. It never really ends.
My grandfather, Merced, would say, ‘Do more than the eight to10 hours. Instead, make sure that when you leave, every day you interact and engage authentically with people, so that they will have something positive and a positive experience when you have done so. We truly take that to heart, very humbly.
Also, I want to be very visible and very active, as we know that the heart of our work is happening at our school sites and in our communities, and for me to best serve you, I will be there.
I also will do my work in collaboration as I meet all of our teams and our community members. I look forward to fostering relationships as this time passes through this upcoming year.
I do have a very long-term commitment and vision to being here in Merced City. So my goal is to continue to not only foster – but sustain – those relationships, through the good times and through the challenging times.
I did bring my family here with me today because working in a ‘people’ organization is also an extension of family. Just as family, we have to come together through the good times and the challenging times.
I very much look forward to serving Merced City. I am honored – all of the great things that I’ve heard about our school sites, our building leaders, and our programs and our community – I absolutely love and live diversity. I look forward to serving you as your next superintendent.”