Blog

As Oakland Unified School District prepares for a leadership transition with the announcement of a new interim superintendent, we want to acknowledge the legacy and far reaching contributions of outgoing Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell.

We recently presented Superintendent Johnson-Trammell with our 2025 Literacy and Justice Catalyst Award in recognition of her focus on Oakland’s students and collaborative work with community partners during her nearly eight-year tenure.

Focus on Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction

During Superintendent Johnson-Trammell’s tenure, OUSD has prioritized literacy in the district’s strategic planning and moved toward evidence-based instructional approaches. The district implemented new materials and curriculum ahead of many peer districts in what has become a broader educational trend toward structured literacy approaches.

Measurable Progress and Resilience

The results of Superintendent Johnson-Trammell’s leadership speak for themselves. OUSD has improved high school graduation rates, better attendance, and the district is now on the verge of emerging from state receivership after nearly a quarter century.

Her exceptional leadership was perhaps most evident during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, where her steady guidance helped the district navigate uncharted territory while maintaining focus on student outcomes.

Transition and Continued Implementation

Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about OUSD’s continued focus on high-quality literacy instruction. The implementation journey is ongoing, requiring sustained commitment to building strong foundations for our youngest learners while supporting our educators with high-quality resources and professional development. This work requires persistence, especially when facing the challenges that come with meaningful change.

As an organization that shines a light on what works, we’ve proudly highlighted OUSD as a national leader in advancing literacy alignment on statewide and national stages. We believe in the importance of stable leadership that values this work and understands that system-wide transformation takes time, alignment, and unwavering focus on what’s best for students.

Oakland’s students deserve continued momentum towards educational excellence. We remain committed to supporting Oakland’s educational community through this transition and stand ready to partner with OUSD’s leadership, teachers, staff, students, and families to build upon the strong literacy foundation that Superintendent Johnson-Trammell has established. We hope our district leaders will continue to prioritize student learning and high quality teaching and learning.

Thank you, Superintendent Johnson-Trammell, for your partnership and nearly a decade of service dedicated to Oakland’s children.