Dr. Steve Martinez celebrates his honorable recognition. Photo courtesy of TRUSD

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - In a testament to his outstanding work in turning Twin Rivers Unified into a school district of progress and opportunity, Superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez has received the distinguished Roberts Family Development Center Legacy Award. This honor shines a spotlight on the superintendent’s inspiring leadership which has turned Twin Rivers into a shining example of progress and growth over the past decade, according to the district. 

Transformative initiatives during Martinez’s tenure have resulted in a substantial increase in the graduation rate from 75.3% to 91.4%, a new Northlake TK-8 School set to open its doors in August, two students enrolled in the district’s Dual Enrollment Program with American River College (ARC) earning their high school diploma and Associate of Arts degree in 2022-2023; three more students are slated to achieve the same in 2024, $79 million investment in 74 major projects during the 2022-2023 school year, including Sports Complexes at Grant Union and Highlands High schools, $30 million investment in 24 projects during the 2023-2024 school year, including Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) facilities at Castori and Woodridge, and a $287 million investment in 128 projects in progress or the planning stages.

“The Legacy Award is an incredible honor, and I am truly humbled,” said Martinez. “None of us accomplishes this work alone, and the Legacy Award reflects the dedication and effort of the Board of Trustees and all staff in Twin Rivers Unified. It’s our collective work and the positive impact on the entire Twin Rivers school community that matters most.”

With an operating budget of $528,249,814 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Twin Rivers Unified serves 24,470 transitional kindergarten to 12th-grade students. Nearly 88% are socioeconomically disadvantaged and 30% are English language learners. Nurturing the potential of every student is a collective effort.

“Dr. Martinez has made Twin Rivers a district where people can identify progress,” said Derrell Roberts, CEO of the Roberts Family Development Center. “New construction, planned upgrades, a significant increase in high school graduation rates, outward student successes in and out of class, and some of the highest teacher salaries in our region. We are looking forward to working with him on ways to involve our broader community in making sure that this progress continues.”