OAKLAND — After a difficult 2018-19 school year, during which teachers went on strike for seven days, Oakland Unified agreed to make more than $20 million in budget cuts and the Alameda County civil grand jury released a scathing report alleging district-wide administrative dysfunction, 20 principals — around a quarter of the district’s total — left their schools.
Oakland Unified spokesman John Sasaki said in an interview that although last year was “challenging,” the outgoing principals mostly left for other opportunities and didn’t indicate that they were leaving because of anything that happened last year. Some are moving on to other education jobs, some to administrative jobs within the district and a few are retiring, Sasaki said.
The 2019-20 school year starts Monday.
Principals interviewed by the Bay Area News Group said although there’s often a fair amount of turnover among principals in Oakland Unified, the number leaving at the end of this past school year is surprising. Sasaki said it’s not unusual for the district to have more than 10 new principals annually, though he did not know the average number each year.
Leroy Gaines, who served as principal for Acorn Woodland Elementary School for nine years before taking a job at educator training nonprofit New Leaders, said principals shouldered a lot of the weight from the strike and budget cuts. Principals have to “hold it all together” no matter what the teachers’ union or district administration decide, he said, which can be taxing and often goes unacknowledged.
“We want our teachers to be successful, and have a wage they can live off of, but we also understand the big picture that OUSD is in dire straits, and sitting in the middle ground was really exhausting,” Gaines said.
Gaines was replaced by Julissa Lambert-Yank. Urban Promise Academy Principal Claire Fisher also took a job at New Leaders; Tierre Mesa is the new principal there.
Joanna Lougin, executive director of United Administrators of Oakland — the union representing Oakland Unified principals and administrators — said many principals worried about their job security after last year. The grand jury report also brought to light instability among district management that left principals feeling uneasy, she said.
“When your leadership is not stable, it makes people say, ‘Let me see if I can find somewhere else,’ ” Lougin said.
Castlemont High Principal William Chavarin left to take a director position at the California Interscholastic Federation, or CIF. Chavarin, in an interview, said the CIF position is a “dream job,” and that his decision to take it was not based on the 2018-19 school year, which he called a “difficult year in Oakland education.”
Assistant Principal Michael Scott will take Chavarin’s place, according to an Oakland Unified news release.
McClymonds High Principal Jarod Scott announced his resignation in May, and will be replaced by former Frick Impact Academy Principal Jeffrey Taylor. Dwayne Bartholomew will be the new principal at Ralph Bunch Academy after Principal Betsye Steele retired.
Melrose Leadership Academy Principal Moyra Contreras stepped down to take an executive director position within the district’s high school network, according to the district.
Frick Impact Academy, Oakland SOL, Global Family Elementary and Street Academy are all getting new principals, according to the district. Amy Jones is taking over Manzanita Community School after Principal Eyana Spencer stepped down, and Montclair Elementary school Principal Denise Saddler is being replaced by Maite Barloga.
Sankofa Elementary Principal Renee Bullie has left, along with Madeline Noonan of Think College Now. Casey Breckner is the new principal at Grass Valley, replacing Tammie Hollis-Prime, and Jacqueline Cedillos is taking over at New Highland Academy for Yolanda Cater.
Franklin Elementary, La Esquelita and Lincoln Elementary also will have new principals. Elmhurst United Middle School, where Kilian Betlach is principal, will absorb Alliance Middle School, and the principal from Alliance, Faris Jabbar, will take over at La Esquelita for principal Jeff Franey.
Sequoia Elementary Principal Donald Bertolo is moving to Colombia to run a school, the district said. Ada Carter will be moving into the position.
“This is a remarkable group of new site leaders,” Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell said in a statement. “We are all very excited to start the new school year, and we know that these leaders will build strong relationships quickly with their staffs, their students and the school communities.”
August 6, 2019
The Mercury News
By Ali Tadayon
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