Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler Appoints New Chief of Staff, Focuses on Moving District Forward and Retaining Local Control

Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler announced today the appointment of Lynette McElhaney as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Superintendent, effective December 18, 2025. The appointment strengthens executive coordination as Oakland Unified implements comprehensive fiscal recovery initiatives to address a projected $100 million structural deficit.

McElhaney brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience and deep Oakland community connections to the role. As an Oakland City Council Member (2013-21), and also having served as Council President, she provided critical leadership to deliver consecutive balanced budgets for the city's $3.2 billion municipal operation while collaborating with OUSD on youth violence prevention, attendance, and community safety initiatives.

"Dr. McElhaney's crisis management expertise, her track record building coalitions across diverse groups, and her profound understanding of Oakland make her uniquely qualified to support the District during a critical period of transformation," said Dr. Saddler. "Her commitment to Oakland's children and her ability to synchronize complex organizational teams will be invaluable as we stabilize our finances, strengthen instruction, and retain local control of our schools."

During her Council tenure, McElhaney led the effort to establish Oakland's groundbreaking Department of Violence Prevention—a first-in-the-nation model elevating non-policing public health interventions to eradicate violence. The comprehensive strategic planning process she facilitated secured 70% voter approval on a measure that was predicted to fail, demonstrating her ability to build consensus around complex initiatives requiring sustained community support.

As Managing Principal of a human development consultancy, McElhaney provides strategic counsel to executives navigating organizational transformation, maintaining 98% client satisfaction. Her work includes guiding leaders through sensitive transitions and crisis situations requiring sophisticated judgment and discretion.

In her role as Chief of Staff, McElhaney will synchronize the Superintendent's Leadership Team, manage special projects and strategic initiatives, serve as executive liaison with the Board of Education, lead strategic planning processes, and represent the Superintendent at public events across government and community organizations.

McElhaney holds a B.A. in Political Science from UC Berkeley, and received an honorary PhD in Humane Letters from Mills College. She currently serves as Treasurer and Past President of Black Elected Officials of California.