Chavez principal says she was forced out of her job. Stockton Unified leaders won't say why

The principal of Stockton Unified's Cesar Chavez High School has resigned and will not return next year unless the board has a change of heart.

Principal Cynthia Cardenas Sanchez resigned after just one year at Chavez. She was previously an assistant principal at Aspire Public Schools’ Langston Hughes Academy for six years.

With Sanchez’s resignation, half of Stockton Unified’s comprehensive high schools are now engaged in a leadership shake-up that could impact thousands of students come fall.

ICYMI: Two Edison High School administrators placed on leave

Sanchez’s principal position was not included in the March layoffs at Stockton Unified. The district confirmed she is not on any administrative, paid, or unpaid leave.

Sanchez told The Record, “decisions above me at the board and district levels prompted my resignation.

“Never did I think I would fall in love with the school as quickly as I did … my lifelong goal is to be principal of a school and retire as principal of that school — I want generations to know me,” Sanchez said. “I’m extremely saddened by the fact that I may not be there or that I’m not going to be there.”

During Sanchez’s short stay, Chavez has enjoyed the lowest suspension and chronic absenteeism rates among Stockton Unified’s four comprehensive high schools — pillar data points Interim Superintendent Traci Miller said she’d like to see improve districtwide this year.

While the numbers are still raw, official data will be pulled at the end of the year to report to the state's education board.

“This year, my focus was culture and bringing joy back to school. I really want kids to want to be at school,” Sanchez said. “We did that through the clubs and some of our community events … it’s just been a fabulous year … our team is committed to ensuring our kids have what they need. It’s a very student-centered team.”

Sanchez said she is reapplying for her job, but even as Chavez’s April 20 Culture Fest approaches, not everyone is feeling the love.

A group of Chavez students came to the April 4 Stockton Unified Board of Trustees meeting to discuss saving the Chinese language classes from being cut. Some students said Sanchez wasn’t listening to them.

“A quarter of the population of Chavez is Asian. Why was the school taking away the only language class that represented Asian culture?” one Chavez freshman said to the board. “When we talked about the situation to the principal, Ms. Sanchez, we felt like our efforts to fight for education and Chinese learning opportunities were a waste.

“When we tried to reason with the principal … (she would) dismiss us. We felt unheard and that our concerns didn’t matter. These interactions made me wonder, where was the quality of leadership in high school?”

The Chinese classes at Chavez were ultimately saved after the Chinese teaching services position was removed last-minute from the layoffs approved at the March 7 Board of Trustees meeting. Sanchez said the situation with the Chinese classes had been developing long before she arrived, and enrollment and funding weigh on making class offering decisions.

“Kudos to my kids. I am very proud of them for standing before the board, speaking there, and asking for what they need,” Sanchez told The Record. “It’s difficult when you have a passion to see and want things to go in one direction. When you have somebody like me who tends to be long-winded and give context … it sounds like barriers. Maybe that’s a learning point on my (end).”

Other Chavez students, teachers, and staff attended the April 4 Stockton Unified Board of Trustees meeting to show their support for Sanchez.

Kim Bowen, a counselor at Cesar Chavez High School, said their students' trauma from change over the last four years has been substantial and this just adds to it.

“Change is extremely difficult. We’ve had five superintendents since I've been here. This is my fifth year, three principals and extreme teacher turnover,” Bowen said. “Ms. Sanchez provides consistency, accountability … She always has the best interest of our students at heart, and that’s all I can ask for from a principal or any educator.”

Darlene Reynoso, a district employee, asked the board for transparency.

“She’s not only brought the students together, she’s brought the staff together, and she’s brought the parents together. She’s a true leader,” Reynoso said. “Why did she have to resign? We don’t know. Where’s the transparency? Give us a reason. We want to know why. Just the same as you are asking for transparency of other things.”

The district did not answer The Record’s questions on whether and why Sanchez would not return as Chavez’s principal next year. Board President AngelAnn Flores also declined to comment.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Chavez principal says she was forced out of her job. SUSD leaders won't say why