TULARE COUNTY – After a long and hot summer, the 2024-25 school year is finally arriving this month. As students head back to school this year, they will do so under the leadership of seven new superintendents in school districts across Tulare County.
In the Tulare City School District, Ira Porchia is taking over as the new superintendent after the previous one, Paula Adair, retired. Porchia previously served as the district’s director of child welfare and safety. Manuel Mendez will serve as the new superintendent of Farmersville Unified School District. Mendez is a Farmersville native and the former assistant superintendent of projects/curriculum in the district.
Travis Brown is taking over as the superintendent at Buena Vista School District after serving as the Tulare County Office of Education’s former administrator of New Teacher and Leadership Development. He replaces Carole Mederos, who retired. Jason Porter will be the new superintendent/principal of Three Rivers Union School District, while Scott Pickle, Ed.D. will serve as the new superintendent/principal for Sequoia Union School District.
David Frankiewich will take over as the new interim superintendent for Hot Springs School District after serving as the Strathmore Union School District projects director. Frankiewich replaces Tom Byars, who retired. T.J. Ryan takes over as the new superintendent of Woodlake Unified School district, replacing interim superintendent Tony Casares.
