Superintendent Franco to retire at end of the year
Dr. James Franco speaks at the Wayne Schneider Stadium dedication last August.
January 24, 2014
After 26 years in Tracy Unified School District, Superintendent Dr. James C. Franco plans to retire at the end of the 2014 school year. Franco, who will be 65 in July, will have been an educator for 30 plus years.
Franco was the principal at Tracy High School for six years from 1990-1995.
One of Franco’s favorite memories at Tracy High was when the class of 1991 came together to make graduation a more respectable event. Prior to Franco being principal, graduations had deteriorated to a less than ceremonial event.
“Students were being rowdy at the event, and spectators did not pay attention,” Franco said. “Graduations were not as special as they should have been.”
With the help of class officers, it was decided to move graduation to a Saturday morning and go on a San Francisco Bay cruise on Saturday night, which was a reward for students behaving at graduation.
“That year graduation was great and since then graduations have reached new standards,” Franco said. “They have become a respectable event that is enjoyable to attend.”
Franco enjoyed being principal of Tracy High.
“The energy at Tracy High is high, they have great traditions, and, finally, they have such pride in their school,” Franco said. “I enjoyed attending the plays put on by the drama department and going to all the different athletic events.”
One thing that had remained constant throughout Franco’s career, he has always tried to make students feel important. He accomplished this by getting to know students’ names and interacting with them at school events.
Junior Jennifer Diaz sees Franco at many school events not only at Tracy High, but also Kimball and West Highs.
“I see him at a lot of school events, and I always see him wearing all three school lanyards,” Diaz said.
Diaz got to know Franco on a more personal level when she shared a Mandarin class with him.
“Franco asked me a lot about school, and how I liked it,” Diaz said. “He said he was willing to write a letter of recommendation for students who try hard.”
Senior Sarah Bai respects Franco for what he does for the students in the district.
“He remembers students distinctly, not just their names, but what activities they are involved in,” Bai said. “It can’t be an easy thing to do, it is quite incredible.”
Jason Noll, current Tracy High principal, was inspired by Franco, his principal, to become an educator. Noll graduated from Tracy High in 1993.
“Dr. Franco was the one to get my career focused on education,” Noll said.
Franco inspired him by being a good example and being personable. Noll has looked to Franco for advice while pursuing his career.
“He has given me advice on what to do and which path to follow,” Noll said.
Noll has been the principal at Tracy High since the 2008-09 school year. He has carried on things he learned from Franco.
“I always try to listen and hear all sides of the story,” Noll said. “I try to be a part of school activities and show my support.”
English teacher Sarah Rockey, looks up to Franco and with good reason. When Rockey talks about Franco her eyes light up with admiration.
“If you do not like Dr. Franco, you need to look at the type of person you are,” Rockey said.
Rockey believes Franco is a great leader because he never asks anyone to do anything he would not himself. He treats people with respect, even when they do not do the same thing for him.
“Franco is in a perpetually good mood,” Rockey said. “Being the superintendent gives him some power, yet he has never taken advantage of his position. He is the most humble person I have ever met,” Rockey said.
Rockey used to be the leader of the Black Student Union (BSU) of Tracy High and would help put on a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., breakfast, along with Kimball and West Highs.
“One year during clean up, Dr. Franco had stayed after to help clean, but the vacuum had stopped working. Dr. Franco suggested that the bag might be full, so he and I split up to find more bags,” Rockey said. “I came back to Dr. Franco sticking his hand in the old bag pulling out who knows what. That’s the type of person Dr. Franco is.”
Franco is always willing to go the extra mile and complete a task no matter what is it. Another example is after a school dinner that Franco and his wife were invited to.
“We rented dishes for the event which had to be washed before we could return them. It was around 9 p.m. when the event ended,” Rockey said. “I went out to wash the dishes to find Dr. Franco and his wife in their dress clothes with their sleeves rolled up washing dishes.”
After Tracy High, Franco moved on to become the assistant superintendent and became district superintendent, a goal he had set for himself.
“I have surpassed the goals I have set for myself,” Franco said. “Since I started my career in education, my goal was to become a superintendent.”
As superintendent, Franco was the driving force behind the bond issue in 2006 that would lead to Tracy High’s remodeling.
“Tracy High was in dire need of repair and few people had faith that it could ever fixed,” Franco said.
Franco formed a group of dynamic people who were trying to reach the same goal. Franco brought the community together.
“I asked the community what needed to be done for Tracy High to get it remodeled and then we did it,” Franco said.
Franco will continue as superintendent until the district hires his successor.
Noll believes that Franco will be missed after his retirement for his relationships with the students and the school.
“His love of the students will be missed, and also his attendance at school activities,” Noll said.
Franco began his Tracy Unified School District (TUSD) career as the principal of Monte Vista Middle School in 1987 and held the position to 1990. He then became the principal of Tracy High School, a position he held from 1990-1995. In 1995, Franco became the assistant superintendent of educational services until 2002. Finally, in 2002, Franco became the superintendent of Tracy Unified School District.
Prior to moving to Tracy in 1987, Franco served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Juneau, Alaska and the Vacaville Unified School District. He grew up in Daly City.
Franco received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, San Francisco and his Master of Arts Degree from California State University, Sacramento. He majored in History and School Administration. He earned his Doctorate in Education Organization and Leadership through the University of San Francisco.
