Oakland school board chooses superintendent search firm

The Oakland Unified School District school board has initiated the search for a new permanent superintendent by selecting Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to lead the process. The board approved a contract negotiation of up to $150,000 with the firm, which has a track record of placing 76 superintendents in California over the past decade. Board member Mike Hutchinson abstained from the vote due to his concerns regarding the search process and the ousting of the previous superintendent, Kyla Johnson-Trammell. Micah Ali from Hazard, Young highlighted the importance of finding candidates who can drive systemic change in schools facing fiscal challenges and high absenteeism rates. The firm will design a community engagement plan to gather input from students, labor groups, and community organizations.

In the first 30 days, the firm will collect data on the district and meet with stakeholders. Denise Saddler, the interim superintendent, will continue in her role until June 2026 following the abrupt termination of Johnson-Trammell's contract. Hazard, Young aims to present candidates to the board in early 2024, with a finalist expected to be selected by April.