PUSD assistant superintendent leaving for new job outside Los Angeles

Pleasanton Unified School District assistant superintendent of human resources Julio Hernandez is parting ways with the district after he accepted a job as the Chief Personnel Officer at Torrance Unified School District in Los Angeles County.

His last day, according to PUSD Superintendent David Haglund, will be on Dec. 31.

“I am particularly grateful for the work Julio did in engaging with our Spanish speaking families in Pleasanton. He was a critical resource and helped them navigate various U.S. systems effectively,” Haglund said. “I have heard many positive comments from the community regarding his friendship and advocacy. I have also heard from members of our district staff who have reached out to him during times they needed help.”

The Weekly was not able to reach Hernandez for comment as he is currently on vacation and will be for the remainder of the month.

“On behalf of the trustees and cabinet, I wish Mr. Hernandez nothing but the best as he returns home to Southern California and takes on his new responsibilities in Torrance,” Haglund added.

Sara Myers, director of communications at Torrance, told the Weekly that Hernandez’s official first day with the new district will be on Dec. 28.

“Mr. Hernandez was chosen because of his exceptional experience, great references, and ability to develop strong working relationships, all of which he demonstrated throughout the hiring process,” Myers said. “We feel truly fortunate to have Mr. Hernandez joining our Torrance Unified team.”

Hernandez was first hired by the district in 2017. Since then, Haglund said he has been a “great, great partner and co-collaborator” as Hernandez took on critical projects like bringing the district into alignment with California Education Code and law.

“This is the one side of Mr. Hernandez’s investments that were sometimes missed when people considered his role in the district,” Haglund said. “And yet, these are some of the things I will miss the most as he goes on to this next opportunity.”

But as assistant superintendent of human resources, Hernandez was also known in the community and to the Association of Pleasanton Teachers for his role in working with the union during contract negotiations.

Janice Clark, the former APT president and a PUSD teacher who retired in 2019, spoke at the Dec. 14 school board meeting after hearing the news about Hernandez’s departure and said she appreciated the few years she spent working with him.

“In my work with Julio, I enjoyed and valued the honest and candid discussions about any and all issues that would arise and I very much appreciated our working relationship as one of trust and support and respect,” Clark said.

She also credited him for his commitment back then to finding fair and reasonable solutions for all the stakeholders involved in those past contract negotiation sessions and said that even though it was sometimes difficult to agree on things, they always found a way to make things work.

“I wanted to come tonight to wish you the best of luck on your new venture,” Clark said during the Dec. 14 meeting. “Please take with you my gratitude for always having an open door, the willingness to let me speak my mind, the way I saw fit … and for the collaborative experience that we shared in our dedication to this history together.”

Clark wasn’t the only one who took the time to say a few words for Hernandez during the meeting.

Current APT President Cheryl Atkins also took the time to recognize his work and said she appreciated Hernandez for giving her a platform to have a voice so that she can bring forth issues from APT members to the district.

“Mr. Hernandez, I appreciate when I took this position … you let me know that there would be times that we would disagree,” Atkins said at the Dec. 14 meeting. “Some would be big and some would be small. You also let me know not to make it personal. That was important for me to hear as I learned very quick that there are many disagreements in this position. I have gone back to that conversation in my head many times.”

“Thank you for always answering your phone when I call and (being) willing to talk and answer my questions,” Atkins added. “I wish you well in your new home and your new district.”

As the district is still at an impasse with the teachers union on current contract negotiations, Haglund said that assistant superintendent of business services, Ahmad Sheikholeslami will now serve as the chief negotiator for the district.

Haglund said he does not have any additional information on hiring a replacement for Hernandez as of now.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly labeled Julio Hernandez’s job title at Torrance Unified School District. The Pleasanton Weekly regrets the error.