‘Ultimate cowboy gentleman’ Doug Cardoza retires from Visalia Unified after decades of service

Lauren Jennings, Visalia Times-Delta
·3 min read
Visalia Unified School District Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is officially retiring. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.
Visalia Unified School District Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is officially retiring. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.

Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is retiring after more than 30 years in education and a year atop Visalia Unified School District.

To celebrate, the district held a cowboy-themed reception.

“He is the ultimate cowboy gentleman,” said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dedi Somavia. “I've had the privilege of working with Doug, for a long time, but really, for the last seven years, he's been my partner in crime."

From being inside the classroom to the principal’s office, Cardoza has ingrained himself within the community.

Since joining Visalia Unified, Cardoza has worked as an assistant superintendent of educational services, administrator of special education, director of human resources development, elementary principal, assistant principal and science teacher.

Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is retiring after more than 30 years in education and a year atop Visalia Unified School District. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.
Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is retiring after more than 30 years in education and a year atop Visalia Unified School District. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.

“[Cardoza’s] commitment and service to our students, staff and the community will be greatly missed,” Visalia Unified spokesperson Kim Batty said. “He has been a great leader, mentor and educator to many within the Visalia Unified community.”

He first took over as interim superintendent in September after former Superintendent Tamara Ravalìn retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

“When the time came to offer him the interim superintendent position, you know, we told him it's going to be a year of transition,” said Juan Guerrero, Visalia Unified board president. “During that time, he was asked, by me, to keep the district stable.”

Over the last eight months, Cardoza has had numerous firsts while working as interim superintendent:

  • Shifting classes back to in-person and the end of mask mandates

  • Superintendent search

  • Two trustee elections

  • Area redistricting

  • The aftermath of the cyberattack

  • School safety

Visalia Unified School District's Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is officially retiring. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.
Visalia Unified School District's Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is officially retiring. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.

This is also the first year Cardoza has given a speech during high school commencement ceremonies out of the three decades he has been with the district.

During the Sequoia High School graduation ceremony this year, Principal Adolfo Reyes introduced Cardoza to families accompanied by generic Western-themed music and a photo of Cardoza during his rodeo days.  

That’s right ... working in the education industry wasn’t always a part of the plan.

When Cardoza was in high school, he had aspirations of becoming a veterinarian; however, when he approached a school counselor looking for more information about the coursework he would need to complete to get the degree, he became overwhelmed.

Instead, after high school, Cardoza joined the rodeo and found success but the idea of going to college never left his mind. It wasn’t until he received some encouragement to apply for scholarships that he made the decision to go back to school.

Earlier this year, Visalia Unified School District Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza was honored as the superintendent of the year by the Association of California School Administrators, which cited the “structure and calmness” he provided Visalia Unified staff over the past year.
Earlier this year, Visalia Unified School District Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza was honored as the superintendent of the year by the Association of California School Administrators, which cited the “structure and calmness” he provided Visalia Unified staff over the past year.

Although Cardoza ended up taking some of the necessary steps to become a veterinarian – thanks to a more understanding counselor – ultimately, he, along with his wife Michelle, pivoted into education.

Cardoza earned a master’s egree in education and a bachelor’s degree in biology and possesses a clear single subject teaching credential in biology/life science and chemistry as well as a clear administrative services credential.

Since the move from animals to children, Cardoza has tried to give other students the same opportunities he received.

“After graduation on Wednesday, hearing him speak about how he got into it kind of made me think about things, “ said Isaac Gates, Sequoia High School graduate. “He was telling me about being able to go to colleges on various scholarships.”

The Association of California School Administrators also recognized Cardoza for his efforts this year and selected him as its superintendent of the year, citing the “structure and calmness” he provided Visalia Unified staff over the last year.

Visalia Unified School District's Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is officially retiring. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.
Visalia Unified School District's Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza is officially retiring. Family and friends celebrated with a reception on June 7 at the district office.

“Doug is our cowboy gentleman who treats every person and student, regardless of their position, with respect and honor,” Lucy VanScyoc, superintendent of Tulare Joint Union High School District, said during this year's ACSA awards ceremony. “Doug leads quietly by example. He is professional, yet approachable. He is a leader who works from a solid foundation of core values, work ethic and family.”

Lauren Jennings covers education and news for the Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register. Follow her on Twitter @lolojennings. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Longtime Visalia educator, Interim Superintendent Doug Cardoza retires