Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026, and will retire at the end of his current term, which ends in December of 2026.
Tietjen, who has served as county superintendent at the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) since December of 2016, is the 29th Merced County Superintendent of Schools and has been an educator for more than 45 years. Prior to leading MCOE, Tietjen served as a district superintendent for 22 years; 13 years in Woodlake Public Schools in Tulare County and nine years as superintendent of the Los Banos Unified School District.
Tietjen will have served as a superintendent for more than 32 years by the end of his term. During his time at MCOE, Tietjen oversaw several initiatives and led the county schools through the COVID-19 pandemic. He coordinated with all 20 school districts and public health agencies to respond to shifting guidance at the time.
“The COVID-19 health crisis and school closures were the most challenging during my time as county superintendent,” Tietjen said. “While there was a huge level of uncertainty, our school districts did an incredible job supporting students and families until we could fully reopen schools, which in some cases was long before other counties in California.”
He also led the initiative to annex and entitle the Virginia Smith Trust land near UC Merced for development and expand student scholarship opportunities. During Tietjen’s tenure, the Virginia Smith Trust expanded its scholarship program to reach local high school seniors in Merced, and for the past three years, the Trust has awarded more than $500,000 every year in grants and scholarships.
Under Tietjen’s leadership, MCOE expanded its footprint in downtown Merced by acquiring the former Bank of Italy building known locally as the Mondo Building, which created a conference center and events space to enhance MCOE’s ability to hold conferences and meetings downtown. MCOE also acquired the Thorington Building during Tietjen’s tenure to serve as a one-stop-shop for employment services, family services and mental health support services for students and families in Merced County.
Tietjen prioritized the use of improvement science, a data-driven strategy for improvement of student outcomes to guide both MCOE and Merced County school districts. Out of this work, several improvement networks were created across the county, including those for second language learners, chronic absenteeism and special education. Camp Green Meadows Outdoor School saw several infrastructure improvements, including a new nurses station, an upgraded septic system, refurbished cabins and plans for an expanded cafeteria and kitchen.
Through the remainder of his term, Tietjen will continue to focus on his responsibilities and support a smooth leadership transition.