RECOGNIZING DR. STEVE M. TIETJEN ON HIS RETIREMENT

On 2026-09-28, Representative Adam Gray (D-CA-13) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING DR. STEVE M. TIETJEN ON HIS RETIREMENT" in the House.

RECOGNIZING DR. STEVE M. TIETJEN ON HIS RETIREMENT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 153 (Monday, September 28, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 153 (Monday, September 28, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E990] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING DR. STEVE M. TIETJEN ON HIS RETIREMENT ______ HON. ADAM GRAY of california in the house of representatives Monday, September 28, 2026 Mr. GRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, Dr. Steve M. Tietjen, who is retiring as Merced County Superintendent of Schools after 45 years of service to students and their families. Dr. Tietjen earned his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration from the California State University, Fresno, and his Doctor of Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Southern California. In 1980, Dr. Tietjen started his career in education as a history teacher in Visalia. Just 12 years later, he became the Superintendent of Woodlake Public Schools in Tulare County, where he served for 15 years before moving to Los Banos Unified School District to serve as Superintendent from 2009 to 2016. He came to the Merced County Office of Education as the Deputy Superintendent in 2016, and in less than a year, he was elected to serve as the Merced County Superintendent of Schools, where he leads the 1,400 employees of the County Office of Education. During the COVID pandemic, Dr. Tietjen oversaw countywide efforts to keep students learning, a time he calls the ``most challenging period of his tenure.'' He also expanded the Virginia Smith Trust scholarship program to award more than $500,000 annually to Merced County students and acquired two downtown Merced buildings to make services for families, mental-health support, and employment programs more accessible to all. He has always made the needs of students his top priority in all matters and empowered those he worked with to do the same. It is my privilege to thank Dr. Steve M. Tietjen for his support and friendship as well as for his 45 years in education where he has tirelessly worked to educate, elevate, and empower the students and families he served. ____________________