David Lattig, the Turlock Unified School District interim superintendent, will have the “interim” removed from his title beginning next school year.
The TUSD Board of Trustees announced Tuesday that Lattig will finish out this school term as the interim superintendent, then receive a one-year contract for the 2025-26 campaign.
“I greatly value the confidence the Board of Trustees has in me to continue to lead our district,” said Lattig. “This is not a job that can be done in isolation. Together, the members of the TUSD community will work to see every student, from preschool through high school, achieve at or above grade level. This can be done if we build strong partnerships with the families we serve, equip our faculty and staff with the tools necessary to meet student needs, allocate our fiscal resources responsibly and with a defined purpose, build strong collaborative and professional relationships, and maximize opportunities for every child.”
Board President Anthony Silva said he felt giving Lattig another year, so that the four newly elected board members could better assess his performance, was critical to the mission of finding the most qualified candidate.
“Initiating a search for a superintendent at this point in the year would not be prudent,” said Silva. “Most districts hiring a new superintendent have already initiated a search, and many are well into the process. The pool of qualified candidates would be reduced if we were to begin the process at this time. Appointing Mr. Lattig to lead the district in 2025-26 will maintain stability.”
New board members Debbie Martinez (Area 5), Anna Ramirez (Area 3), and Patrick Shields (Area 6), along with board President Anthony Silva (Area 7) and Clerk Lori Carlson (Area 2) voted in favor of the one-year pact, while Mary Jackson (Area 4) opposed the move.
Board newcomer Patti Eighmey (Area 1) was not present at Tuesday’s meeting.
Lattig has served in five different leadership positions within the district, including assistant superintendent of educational services, assistant superintendent of human resources, director of career and technical education, and principal of Turlock Adult School.
Prior to joining TUSD, Lattig was principal at Escalon High School for five years.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Silva credited Lattig for expanding the impact and focus of equity work across the district, contributing to the reduction in student suspensions over the past two years, and improving student achievement and mental health through Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS).
“Anthony and I have appreciated Dave’s leadership of TUSD during the seven months he has served as interim superintendent, and we look forward to continued partnership with him as our new board grows together as leaders of our governance team,” Carlson and Silva said in a joint statement issued by TUSD. “We have valued Dave’s efforts to create a culture of accountability for student achievement and look forward to him having an opportunity to continue to lead in new directions that fit with his leadership style and strengths over the upcoming school year.”
Lattig earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Stanislaus State, and a master’s in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Chapman University.
“I truly believe our district can meet the academic and social emotional needs of our students,” Lattig said. “I look forward to working together to meet the challenges ahead.”
