What a Wonderful First Day of School OUSD Enjoyed on Monday!

I write today, the third day of school, with a big smile on my face, and a heart filled with pride and gratitude. As is tradition, I toured OUSD schools in every city district on the first day of school. We started at the La Escuelita Education Complex, and along with Board of Education Directors, Oakland City Council Members, my leadership team, and numerous valued partners, we visited nine schools. Everywhere we went, we saw something remarkable.

First, at United Nation Child Development Center, I saw one of our pre-K students, eagerly trying to get in the front door before it opened, excited to start learning. Next door at MetWest High School, the staff wore school colors, set up in two lines with pom poms and noisemakers, and cheered every student as they entered the campus. Next to MetWest at La Escuelita Elementary School, the learning was already underway by the time we walked in and I listened to a classroom of 4th graders verbally define the words friendship, fairness, and fun.

Our next stop was at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary, where the campus is undergoing a major transformation that will include a dramatically different playground. In a classroom there, I had the pleasure of handing out backpacks with school supplies to students courtesy of the Lend A Hand Foundation. Then at Peralta Elementary, I saw classes and the playground filled with joyful learning and recess activities.

At Montera Middle School, I was able to sit down for a conversation with students in which we talked about social media and being kind to each other. Next up was Madison Park Academy primary school where the entire playground is brand new thanks to Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and KABOOM!. It is beautiful. I greeted families as they picked up their students.

Then at Frick United Academy of Language, where the hallways and classrooms are gleaming, I met with the entire staff to thank them for their hard work and dedication to our students. I also saw some of our students engaged in learning in the afterschool program. Lastly, it was a stop at Fremont High School, which I remember from years ago having many portables and an aging building. Now, the campus is gorgeous, with new buildings and facilities, and more construction currently underway.

The entire day compelled me to express my profound gratitude to all of our amazing school staff, teachers, classroom support staff, front office staff, custodians, nutrition services staff, culture keepers, noon supervisors, counselors, site leaders, and so many others who made the first day of school a great success. I stopped at nine schools, seeing 10% of our TK-12 schools. I know based on what I heard from my team, school leaders, and others that my experience played out across the entire district. Every one of our staff members had a big part in making it a special first day for our students, and for that, I thank each and every one of you!

Of course, there was a lot of work done to get us to this point. In particular, I want to thank our Facilities, Buildings and Grounds, and Custodial teams for all their hard work building new facilities, updating campuses, deep cleaning, and getting our schools looking their best.

Our academics and talent teams worked overtime to ensure our educators were hired, onboarded, and ready to teach engaging and inspiring lessons on day one. Thank you for getting our educators and education plans ready.

I also want to give a shout-out to many of our extraordinary partners and supporters - including Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, the Golden State Warriors & Valkyries (which are updating some of our school libraries with Ross Stores as I write this), Lend A Hand Foundation, Oakland Public Education Fund, Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and so many others. Thank you. We cannot do this work without you.

Last but certainly not least, I thank our students. From our youngest Child Development Center learners to the students in our Adult and Career Education program, and everyone in between. You are why we do this, and why I chose to help lead the District during this critical time of transition. We all see the brilliance in every one of you, and we want to make sure you gain the tools to help you share that brilliance with the world. And thank you to our families for ensuring that students have what they need to show up to school daily, ready to learn.

My inaugural First Day Of School as Superintendent was #1 among the 47 First Days of School I’ve now experienced in OUSD. It was a wonderful start to the year. Let’s do everything we can as a community and a staff to make the rest of the year even better.

In community,

Dr. Denise Saddler
Superintendent