Julian Crocker praised for leadership as he retires as county superintendent

County Superintendent of Schools Julian Crocker, who retires in January, has been a tireless advocate of education on the Central Coast for nearly three decades — including the last 16 years as the top education official in the county.

Those close to him describe Crocker, 72, as a true Southern gentleman with an unwavering patience and commitment to youth.

He is known among the county’s 10 public school districts, and in the halls of the state capital where he often lobbied elected officials, for his gentle, humble demeanor, coupled with a firm resolve to put youth first.

Crocker’s legacy of working to guarantee an equal education for all students regardless of their economic or social status will continue locally for years to come in a multitude of programs that he helped shape during his tenure.

Those programs, serving special student populations, include three community schools, the Grizzly Youth Academy, the Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School, several preschools and the Avid program that is now integrated into county schools.

“If there is a program where there is a need to provide even access and create a level playing field for all, that is where you are going to find Julian,” said John Barnhart, retired county schools administrator.

His advocacy is recognized statewide. Crocker was honored Nov. 7 with the Ferd. J. Kiesel Memorial Distinguished Service Award at the Association of California School Administrators’ annual dinner.

Former state schools superintendent Jack O’Connell has worked closely with Crocker over the past two decades.

“He is smart, full of integrity and makes a great impression,” O’Connell said. “He really is the distinguished gentleman — exactly what you want in a successful leader. People just naturally follow him, have confidence in him and respect him.”

Crocker, also known as a quintessential family man, said in his retirement he plans to renew his French lessons, learn how to line dance and spend time with his family, including his wife Donna. The thing he will miss most about the job, he said, is the people.

“Public education is critically important to individuals and to the country,” said Crocker. “We can’t have a democracy without a well educated population.”

Paso Robles experience

Incoming county schools Superintendent Jim Brescia first met Crocker in 1989, when Brescia started teaching at Flamson Middle School in Paso Robles.

Crocker was a well-respected superintendent of the Paso Robles district, Brescia said, who pushed for more professional development opportunities for teachers and looked for alternative programs to meet student needs.

“Paso was considered one of the cutting-edge districts during his tenure,” Brescia said. Crocker was involved in starting the Grizzly Youth Academy, a charter high school that serves at-risk youth from around the state. Initially it was a charter under the Paso Robles district; now it’s administered by the county education office.

Ironically, things came full circle in recent years when Crocker faced the challenge of not approving the Paso Robles school district’s budget and appointing a fiscal advisor to help the struggling district balance its budget.

Crocker said it was one of the most difficult tasks he faced while in office.

Crocker began his career in education in California in 1972, serving in leadership roles including as a superintendent in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. He worked as superintendent of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District for nine years before he was elected as county schools superintendent in 1998. He was subsequently reelected to three successive four-year terms.

Early ed advocate

Crocker recognized the importance of early childhood education and pushed for its expansion, Brescia said.

Crocker was instrumental in helping the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County, in partnership with the county’s First 5 Commission, to start a “Raising a Reader” program in 2003, said Janice Fong Wolf, director of grants and programs for the community foundation.

The program gives children and their parents, mostly those from low-income families or learning English as a second language, a chance to participate in a rotating book bag program to read more than 100 books together in six months.

Crocker was a founding board member of the community foundation, serving from 1998 through 2006.

“He educated our entire board about the importance of these programs,” Fong Wolf said. “His personality is always collaborative, trying to find innovative ways to address issues.”

First and foremost, Crocker is always advocating for kids, Brescia added.

“This is the person who’s out there saying, ‘Hey guys, this is why we’re here.’”

'A warrior' for students

Another part of Crocker’s role as county schools superintendent is providing support to the county’s 10 public school districts, including their superintendents.

Jim Hogeboom, who has led the Lucia Mar school district in South County since 2008, said Crocker’s willingness to share advice and feedback was invaluable for him as a brand-new superintendent.

“As a county leader he’s tried to push schools and education in the right direction,” Hogeboom said. “But his support and friendship has meant the most to me.”

Hogeboom also said he was influenced by Crocker’s ongoing support for universal preschool. Crocker has advocated making sure all 3-and 4-year-old children have access to quality, free preschool so they are better prepared when they start kindergarten.

For example, Hogeboom said, he made space at Fairgrove Elementary for the San Luis Obispo County YMCA to run a preschool program at that campus – something that Hogeboom might not have made a priority had Crocker not pushed the importance of preschool, he said.

Another of Crocker’s consistent goals has been to close the achievement gap – the disparity in academic performance between the average student and those who are economically disadvantaged or whose native language is not English.

The percentage of students in San Luis Obispo County schools in those latter categories continues to grow each year.

“There is no silver bullet,” said Crocker. “If someone asked me what one thing can help close that gap I would have to say universal preschool.”

Crocker said that the income disparity of families with school age children needs to be addressed as a community issue.

“We need more affordable housing,” he said.

San Luis Coastal Superintendent Eric Prater said that Crocker quickly became a mentor and confidant when he was first hired in 2010.

“He has been a warrior for disadvantaged students in our county and has given his entire career making sure the playing field is level in our schools,” said Prater. “I've witnessed Julian engage and challenge state-level politicians who he felt were not advocating for students and educators. He was always the diplomat and an outstanding advocate and ambassador for public education.

“The southern gentleman from Tennessee has made an indelible impact on me by modeling compassion, charity, and grit. “

This story was originally published November 28, 2014 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Julian Crocker praised for leadership as he retires as county superintendent."