Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Guest Voice on School Closures: What is going on in Oakland?

Jumoke Hinton-Hodge, A SOBEO (State of Black Education Oakland) member speaks on her feelings about the current state of Oakland. I’ve always experienced Oakland as a deeply-rooted land of diversity brimming in both culture and intellect.  Currently, it feels like folks have lost Oakland’s vision. Our city’s governing bodies are tearing down carefully-built trust and…

Part III: Re-Engagement and Renewal: Making Great School Voices Greater. 

Six months ago today, on October 1, 2021, we lost Dirk tragically as he joined the one too many, who have succumbed to Oakland’s gun violence. While I was certainly overwhelmed at the prospect, I knew our work —Great School Voices, SOBEO, our nonprofit, and Dirk’s collective movement would continue. Just as SOBEO had done,…

The Same, New Vision for Great School Voices: a Three Part Series.  

Part I: Resetting and Re-correcting the Record on Public Schools vs. Charters PART I As with all tragedies, we as humans flow from different stages to overcome trauma and grief, and move forward to rejoin the community. We reset, reflect, re-engage, and renew. We, at Great School Voices, have spent the past few months in…

Education Activist Dirk Tillotson Was as Real as They Come

By Courtney Martin. (This piece originally appeared in Education Post was republished with permission by the author). Last Friday, October 1, Oakland education activist Dirk Tillotson was murdered in his home. He was as real as they come, self-described as the “patron saint of lost causes.” His death is a massive loss for those who knew and loved him,…