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Former Emerald High School principal Francis Rojas resigned from his position via text message after being called to a morning meeting with the superintendent and another Dublin school district official last month, according to records obtained by the Pleasanton Weekly.
A screenshot of the brief text message exchange and a copy of the letter mailed to Rojas the next day confirming what had transpired over cellphone – both released to the Weekly following an initial California Public Records Act request — start to shed some light on the sudden departure of the founding principal two months after the brand-new campus opened to students.
Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Chris Funk shared the news of Rojas’ resignation “effective immediately” on Oct. 17 in an email to the Emerald community that same day, sending shockwaves of surprise and confusion through East Dublin. A semblance of stability returned in the days ahead as assistant principal Lenni Velez was promoted to permanent principal.
No explanation was given publicly at the time for why Rojas stepped down. Attempts to contact the former principal for comment continue to be unsuccessful.
According to the two documents provided to the Weekly, Funk texted Rojas and another district official – labeled in the screenshot as “CH” — at 8:38 a.m. Oct. 17, saying, “Gentlemen, please stop by my office during the first break in principals meeting.”
Rojas responded, “I would like to tender my resignation.”
After that, Funk sent two texts in succession, representing the end of the four-message chain: “I accept. Please bring your keys and laptop to my office. We will schedule a time for you to clean out your office. You are not allowed back on the EHS campus without permission.”
“In addition, your cell phone,” Funk closed.
Funk followed up with an official letter dated Oct. 18, cited as having been delivered to Rojas by the U.S. Postal Service and email. The two paragraphs read:
“This letter confirms your notice of resignation, which you sent to me via text message on October 17, 2024, and which I accepted by my response message to you on that same date. I understand that you have resigned as an employee of our District and will no longer continue in your position as Principal at Emerald High School effective October 17, 2024. I accept your resignation as of that date.
“Effective October 17, 2024, you will no longer be an employee of the Dublin Unified School District.”
The identity of “CH” was not made clear in the records provided by DUSD, but Funk subsequently confirmed to the Weekly that the other person on the text chain was Curtis Haar, director of TK-12 education for the district.
The reason for and nature of the prospective Oct. 17 meeting between the three men were not elaborated on in the initial records. A follow-up CPRA request to the district about Rojas’ resignation is pending.
Rojas joined DUSD in July 2022, hired away from Milpitas High School to become the founding principal of Emerald as construction ramped up on the $374 million new high school on Central Parkway designed to serve families on Dublin’s growing east side.
After two years of work and preparations, Rojas was among the administrators, educators and support staff who welcomed freshman and sophomore students to the school as Phase 1 opened on Aug. 13. Phase 2 is expected to wrap in April, with the third and final phase to follow by August 2026 at which time Emerald would be at full capacity with freshman through senior classes on campus.
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