LUSD’s Tim Hern to retire
Associate Superintendent Tim Hern, chief business officer of the Lodi Unified School District, has seen the ebb and flow of the economy through his 47 years working in education.
Through his past six-and-ahalf years at Lodi Unified, Hern has helped the district get through the recession. He has seen the district come into greater funding opportunities through the Local Control Funding Formula and the introduction of a new school bond, Measure U. Another moment of pride has been finding the resources to provide Chromebooks for every student in the district.
Hern announced recently that he will be retiring this year on June 30.
Originally, Hern started out in the education field in the 1970s as a high school teacher working in what is now the Pleasanton Unified School District. He taught social science and graphic arts classes for 17 years before moving up into administration.
“I’ve always enjoyed working in education — it made a huge change in my life and I wanted to do that for students, even though I don’t teach students anymore I’m still a part of putting it all together,” Hern said. “I think education is the key to success for virtually anybody.”
He also served as the Tri-Valley Regional Occupation Program director in Pleasanton.
In 2003, he began working in Oakdale Joint Unified School District as assistant superintendent of business services before coming to Lodi.
Outside of working at Lodi Unified, Hern co-directs the Association of California School Administrators’ Business Academy with his wife Ann, and also does some teaching at California State University Stanislaus.
Hern is not really focused on his retirement at the moment, he said, since much work must be done throughout the end of the school year. His announcement was given early to give the district time to search for a qualified replacement.
Hern plans to focus more on his hobbies and travel in his retirement. He enjoys model railroads, gardening and working outdoors.