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The Dublin Unified School District’s recent decisions to reassign some educators to different schools for the 2025-26 school year have faced scrutiny from the teachers union.
Jason Rockwell, former head coach of junior varsity boys’ basketball and special education teacher at Emerald High School, spoke out at a school board meeting last month after being notified he was being transferred to teach at a middle school in the district. In his comments, he urged the district to reconsider his transfer.
Additionally, DUSD also planned to reassign Wells Middle School teacher Sabrina Britton to an elementary school in the district.
DUSD has the authority to reassign a teacher to meet the district’s needs based on the collective bargaining agreement between the district and teachers union, according to district spokesperson Chip Dehnert.
But the Dublin Teachers Association has filed grievances against district management, alleging that the reassignments — including the now-reversed reassignment of another Wells teacher, Marianne Tirnetta — were retaliatory, DTA President Brad Dobrzenski told the Weekly May 30.
“It’s our belief that these educators were really outspoken and strong advocates and this is the consequence of their advocacy for students,” Dobrzenski said. “We’re asserting there has been a violation of our contract.”
In early March, Rockwell was informed that he would not be the Emerald basketball coach moving forward, Dehnert told the Weekly in an email that month. But Rockwell has remained a teacher with the district.
The news followed a complaint filed against Rockwell in December 2024 and a 10-day, paid administrative leave while unspecified allegations were investigated, Dehnert confirmed.
Then in April, longtime East Bay coach Ron Pangilinan was selected as Emerald’s first varsity boys’ basketball head coach.
Throughout the evolving situation, students and parents have flocked to DUSD board meetings to support Rockwell’s post at Emerald.
But for the first time, Rockwell took to the podium May 13 to discuss his position at the school.
“I believed that staying quiet and trusting the process was the right example to set for my students and my players,” Rockwell said at the meeting. “Watching them grow, take the initiative and stand up for their beliefs has made me incredibly proud and now they’ve shown me that it’s my turn to speak up and stand beside them.”
Rockwell has coached high school basketball for 14 years. His experience also includes coaching at college, middle school and youth levels, but he has built his skills, passion and purpose at Emerald, Rockwell said at the meeting.
He was also named Emerald’s school site Teacher of the Year for the 2023-24 school year.
After receiving feedback from management earlier this year, Rockwell said he responded by changing his daily practices. But on May 12, he was notified of his transfer to Wells.
“I’m heartbroken by the news that another opportunity to stay connected to the community — and more importantly the students that I love — is being taken away from me,” Rockwell said. “I belong at Emerald High School.”
“This isn’t just about an administrative transfer job change,” Rockwell added. “This is an obvious and blatant punishment for the support that the Emerald students and community have shown me these past few months.”
In April, two teachers from Wells also received notices of administrative transfers, Dobrzenski said. The reassignments were set to move Tirnetta and Britton to elementary schools in the district.
“(They) were outspoken advocates for their students,” Dobrzenski said of Tirnetta and Britton. “As a result, we believe that they are being moved and separated and sent to elementary levels, which is not where their passion was.”
“Similarly, Jason was also a really outspoken advocate of the needs of his students,” Dobrzenski added.
The union initially filed grievances against district management for the reassignments of all three teachers, Dobrzenski said.
“While HR is involved, the ultimate decision rests with the superintendent,” Dehnert said of the reassignments. “Regarding the duration of the assignment, after a year, a teacher who has been reassigned can request a transfer to a new location.”
On June 2, DUSD management told Tirnetta that she will be staying at Wells, she told the Weekly.
“I’m so thankful that I get to remain at WMS, it’s where I belong. It’s my home,” Tirnetta said.
DUSD officials did not confirm the assignment statuses of Rockwell nor Britton as of Monday. “Mr. Rockwell and Ms. Britton, are aware of their 2025-26 assignments,” Dehnert said.
Neither Rockwell nor Britton responded to requests for comment as of Monday.
