New OUSD School Leaders and Teachers are Excited for the New School Year

At this time every year, the activity at schools across Oakland picks up as school and district staff get ready for the return of students on the first day of the new school year. That time is now just four days away, Monday, August 11. One important step for teachers who are new or early in their careers is attending the District's New Teacher Institute which happened last week. At the same time, school leaders such as principals, assistant principals, and other leaders attended the Leadership Institute. This year, that included just six new K-12 principals, the District's lowest annual number in years.

Teachers learned how to manage their classrooms and how to create engaging lesson plans, among other things. Principals heard the latest information about safety and legal issues, worked closely with their networks - such as the middle school network, and they learned about District goals for schools for the new year.

It's a lot of information to absorb, but new teachers and principals are excited to apply all they learned the 2025-26 school year. Here you get to meet some of these remarkable people and hear their stories.

Dionshanee Campbell Manzanita Community School Special Education Teacher

"I am a product of OUSD. Went to Emerson Elementary, went to Ascend, graduated from MetWest High School… Oakland is what raised me. I feel like I wouldn't be who I am if I wasn't born and raised in Oakland. I wouldn't have the heart that I have." Dionshanee Campbell will be teaching special education at Manzanita Community School after serving as a permanent substitute teacher last year at MetWest High School, and working in education for seven years prior to that. "I am a classroom teacher. This is huge. This is huge for me. I'm so proud… I'm really walking in my purpose. I started in special education before I had my son. My son turned three, right before his fourth birthday I got just a little worried about his development. So, I got him evaluated. Turns out he's on the spectrum. Who better to be his mom than a special ed teacher?"

Chueyee Vang Brookfield Elementary School Fourth (4th) & Fifth (5th) Grade Teacher

"I began substitute teaching and I did a few long term subbing assignments at the same site and it turns out that it's something that I am very very passionate about. I really enjoy the interactions that I have with both my peers and my students" Chueyee Vang will be teaching 4th and 5th grades at Brookfield Elementary. He was actually hired there last February, so he is already familiar with the school and the students, and he has found his passion. "At first it was pretty nerve wracking. But after the first two weeks, we kind of like got to know each other. After that, it was something I looked forward to every single day. I would go home and find something of my own, I can't wait to share it with them."

Christina Saechin Lincoln Elementary School Second (2nd) Grade Teacher

"I want to give back to my community… OUSD has always supported me and treated me well. And I would love to continue my career through OUSD." Christina Saechin will be teaching 2nd grade at Lincoln Elementary, one of the schools she attended as a child, along with Cleveland Elementary, Edna Brewer Middle School, and graduating from Oakland High. "I have wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten. I remember setting up my stuffed animals and writing on a little chalkboard, and just wanting to present. My kindergarten teacher was probably my biggest inspiration. Miss Long at Cleveland Elementary… I love children. Can't get away from being in the classroom. I can't see myself doing anything else."

Jim Riddle Bridges Academy Physical Education and Science Prep

"I just enjoyed the freedom. I was traveling, I could take a trip anytime during the year, and not worry about having to come back at a specific time. I could take a month for Christmas instead of two weeks." Jim Riddle will be teaching P.E. and science prep at Bridges Academy. He was a substitute teacher for 15 years, including the last four as a permanent substitute. That followed a career in corporate sales. "I was comfortable as a STIP (permanent substitute), was basically in my bliss. But this new position is a new challenge. And I feel like I can do it very well. So, I was like yeah, let's do this new thing."

Greta Foehr Frick United Academy of Language Sixth (6th) Grade Math and Science

"I just graduated from U.C. Davis. and I'm originally from San Mateo, right across the bridge. And I got this job through Teach For America. It will be my first experience in the classroom, but I have a lot of experience working with kids, especially through rock climbing. I've been a rock climbing coach for about seven years." Greta Foehr will be teaching 6th grade math and science at Frick United Academy of Language. She is excited to start teaching in Oakland. "I just think it's a really rich place. Culturally, and there's just a lot going on and a lot to do. And I feel like so far, my experience in Oakland is that the people around me really seem to align with my values. And it just feels like an uplifting place to be. And I'm really excited to get more involved in the education system."

Leroy Hurt Oakland Technical High School Engineering Academy Teacher

"31 years of working construction, up at 5:00 a.m., done at five, then coach. It just wears on you. So, now, I can literally get up at seven, shower, and be at Oakland Tech at 7:45 for an 8:30 start." Leroy Hurt, an Oakland Technical High School graduate, will be teaching in the engineering academy at Tech. He has been the school's head girls basketball coach for nine years where he's already led the Bulldogs to three state championships. Now he is stepping into the classroom for the first time. "We've got some great kids, smart kids, kids who really care about their grades, where I expect to be challenged… If I can help some of us get represented, get some kids some good internships, I'll be happy."

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Sondra Aguilera has a reminder for all teachers, especially ones who are new. "There's this whole emotional response that our students have to their actual physical environment and the way that people treat them in that environment. And so, when you build trust, you can break down those barriers, and that unlocks our kids' ability to just be all that they can be. It is such a great way for us to think about our role as educators, to build that community, and build that safety in the classroom."

This year, the District is celebrating stable leadership, as it has the fewest new K-12 principals it has seen in years. As recently as 2022, the District started the year with 18 new principals. This year, there are just six, and none in middle or high school. There are three new principals in early childhood education. Here are a few of them.

Tina Garison Harriet Tubman and Highland Community Child Development Centers Principal

"I moved up from the central valley. I chose Oakland on purpose for the diversity, so that I can be around children who look like me.” Tina Garrison is the new principal at Harriet Tubman and Highland Community child development centers. She's been in education for 29 years. “I am a product of Head Start. My mom had me when she was 16, so I was a statistic the day I was born. And now, here I am giving back to early childhood. So, I want families to see me as a role model… A couple years ago, I had run into a young man, and we made the connection that I was his kindergarten teacher, and now he was a 3rd grade teacher at the school where I was a principal. That was a nice connection and accomplishment."

Cody Marshall Fruitvale Elementary School Principal

"Based on my own experience, I've dealt with all kinds of adversity and whatnot, I'm still here where I am today because educators at whatever level of school I was at believed that I could do it, and held high expectations for me." Cody Marshall is the principal at Fruitvale Elementary. He has worked his entire 12 year career in OUSD, starting off teaching at Allendale Elementary, and then moving into administration at several charter schools, including the last two and a half years as a principal. "Something I'm really proud of is turning the culture of the school around from…you know, there's students in the hallways a lot, and kind of unfocused behavior in classrooms. And instruction is impacted, culture is impacted. To really use PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) to shore everything down, so that classrooms are calm and everyone remembers our purpose for being here."

Iris Castillo Emerson Elementary School Principal

"I strive to foster a sustainable culture where staff have what they need to thrive so they can help students be their best. This role is about listening, learning, and building trust while ensuring that our decisions always center the needs of our children." Iris Castillo is now the principal of Emerson Elementary after working with children and families across school, after-school, and mental health settings for the past 17 years. "My hope is to learn, refine, and strengthen what already makes Emerson a strong school while developing systems that make us even more effective and able to expand our reach. I want to ensure that academic excellence and social-emotional growth thrive together, supported by a culture where staff feel empowered and cared for in their work. My goal is for every child to feel safe, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential while staff have the structures and resources to sustain their best work for years to come."

Matt Takimoto Glenview Elementary School Principal

"Folks might have seen me in one or two or three Jeopardy! appearances over the last few years. That's kind of where I popped up as Oakland teacher on Jeopardy! I won one game, lost the second one. And got invited back for a wildcard tournament a year later." Matt Takimoto taught at Glenview Elementary for ten years, and has now taken over as principal. "I've been on instructional leadership team for seven years. I've been on faculty council. I've been on culture and climate. I was our OEA (teachers' union) site rep for seven years, so building a lot of rapport with the teachers and having a lot of really hard conversations around work conditions, and going through multiple strikes with the staff on the teacher end, and now wanting to support from the other side of things. And just really build a community and building a school where everybody's on the same page and everybody's united. Because ultimately, we're all on the same team."

"I am excited to see all these remarkable new teachers and principals take on their roles in our schools, and I know that our students will be in good hands," said Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler. "Being a teacher and being a principal are two of the hardest jobs there are. It takes deep internal inspiration to be able to pour into our students day after day, knowing that educating is just one part of each complex job. Our teachers and site leaders drive the work that helps build the future for our students, for our city, and for our world. I look forward to working alongside them to continue building a school district that delivers a high quality education for all of Oakland's young people."

Teachers and principals and many other school staff have been on campus this week getting their plans, classrooms, and schools ready to welcome students bright and early on Monday morning, August 11.