Staying Focused on What Matters Most

There has recently been some buzz in the community about leadership transitions within our District. I want to speak directly to you to reaffirm where we are headed and what will guide us forward.

Leadership transitions are not unusual in organizations undergoing significant change, and as Superintendent, it is my job to ensure the District has the right leadership structure, alignment, and urgency to meet the work that lies ahead of us. That work is substantial, and it is time-sensitive.

I want to acknowledge Chief Business Officer Lisa Grant-Dawson and thank her for her service to Oakland Unified. Lisa has been open about her long-standing plans to pursue her next professional chapter, and I wish her well in that next role. Transitions, when planned and executed responsibly, allow organizations to reset, recalibrate, and move forward with clarity. The Fiscal Team is led by dedicated staff members who have decades of fiscal experience and have supported the implementation of numerous difficult budget scenarios over the years. In addition, I am bringing in a team of highly-qualified external fiscal experts to provide added capacity, technical review, and independent validation as we move through this next phase of work.

I am also excited to welcome Lynette McElhaney as our new Chief of Staff. McElhaney brings deep expertise in project management and a strong track record of leading complex work in partnership with communities. Her experience as a former Oakland City Council President will be invaluable as we align our efforts, strengthen coordination across departments, and continue engaging openly with our school communities and the city about the road ahead. She takes over for Dan Bellino who is no longer with the District. We appreciate his service on behalf of our students.

I also want to be clear: the District continues to educate children, support families, and improve outcomes every day, while continuity plans for leadership are firmly in place. We are all focused on the bottom line for our students: an outstanding education in warm, welcoming, and vibrant schools, with amazing teachers dedicated to helping students reach the futures they want and deserve.

We are now just days away from winter break. I know this will be a time for students, staff, and families to rest and recharge to get ready for the spring semester. Know that our leadership team will be spending much of the time continuing the work that is moving the District forward while getting us on firm financial ground.

Our objectives are straightforward and non-negotiable:

• Stabilize the District’s finances
• Avoid receivership and loss of local control
• Protect classrooms and student learning
• Reaffirm our commitment to fiscal stewardship

This is the work I am here to do.

After more than 50 years in public education, most here in OUSD, I remain grounded in a simple truth: students do better when adults stay focused, steady, and united around solutions. And that’s exactly where my team and I are. United around finding the best possible solutions for the complex financial issues that have challenged the District for decades.

In the weeks ahead, you will see continuous responsible budget action, engagement with our community, and difficult but necessary decisions that put the long-term health of Oakland Unified first. That is how we will honor our commitment to students and families.

To our OUSD staff:

I am grateful to all of you for showing up every day with professionalism, resolve, and care for our students. Your work matters more than you know. I see and I appreciate it. All of it is essential for the District to accomplish its mission. We are all in this together, and no matter what, we should be there for each other, as well.

To our community:

Thank you for your continued engagement, your questions, and your commitment to Oakland’s public schools. While moments of change can feel unsettling, please know that our focus remains on responsible stewardship, transparency, and doing what is necessary to protect the long-term stability of the District. We are approaching this work with urgency, care, and an unwavering commitment to students and families.

To our students:

You are the reason for every decision we make. Even when systems are under strain, our responsibility to you will never change. We are focused on ensuring your schools are safe, supportive, and centered on your learning and your future.

We will always move forward.

Respectfully,

Dr. Denise Saddler
Superintendent