Stockton Unified trustees unanimously appoint Patrick Martin to fill Area 2 vacancy

Stockton Unified School District trustees voted unanimously to provisionally appoint Patrick Martin to the Area 2 vacancy after a special-board meeting that included candidate interviews and public comment. The board moved quickly from interviews to nominations and a roll-call vote; the superintendent then administered the oath of office.

The board described the appointment process as an open, equitable screening: an ad hoc committee met Oct. 28, 2025, and identified four applicants who met minimum requirements. The board interviewed the two candidates present, Georgia Brownley and Patrick Martin, asking the same set of questions and allotting standardized time for opening remarks and responses.

At the start of public comment, Dr. Chris Anderson told the board he supported Martin’s appointment, saying Martin’s local partnerships and grassroots initiatives have “had a meaningful impact” and helped raise literacy rates at several schools while supporting special-education services. Martin, an ABA therapist and paraprofessional at Bear Creek High School who runs the Patrick Martin Foundation, emphasized parent and community involvement as a district strength and said he would prioritize literacy and supports for students with disabilities. “Parent and community involvement,” he said, “is one of the biggest successes for this district.”

Georgia Brownley, introduced herself as a Sar Vista resident, president of the Sar Vista resident council and a long-time Stockton Unified employee and volunteer; she said she wanted to be “a voice for our parents and our children.” During the standardized interview, Brownley stressed student progress in local schools and advocated for targeted funding and expanded supports for special education.

After questions, trustees opened nominations. Several trustees placed Martin’s name on the floor, a motion to appoint him under a provisional appointment was made and seconded, and the board conducted a roll-call vote. President Kentha Stevens, Vice President Sophia Cologne, Clerk Donald Daire, Trustee Isabelle Perez, Trustee Shauna Priest and Trustee Frank C. Silva each voted yes; the motion passed unanimously.

The superintendent then administered the oath of office; Martin repeated the oath to support the U.S. and California constitutions and to faithfully discharge his duties. The board offered brief remarks thanking candidates for applying, Brownley for her community service, and welcomed Martin to the board. The meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m.

The appointment is provisional; the board did not specify any additional conditions during the meeting. The ad hoc committee’s earlier review and the board’s unanimous vote mean Martin will serve the remaining term for Trustee Area 2 pending any further process required by district policy or law.