C.J. Hirschfield works with over 100,000 preschool kids each year and sees their potential, excitement, imagination, and diversity. They deserve the opportunity to attend quality public schools with effective teachers and strong partnerships between families, teachers, principals, and students focused on the kids.

1. My name is C.J. Hirschfield. At my day
job, I’m lucky enough to be surrounded
by over 100,000 preschool kids each
year. It’s wonderful. I see their
excitement, how they fully use their
imaginations, how their diversity
makes for such a rich environment in
our city.
Their potential seems limitless. I see
their parents full of pride and joy as
they focus on ensuring that their kids
will someday be able to follow their
dreams. And each of these kids
deserves the opportunity, once they
get a little older, to attend a quality
public school.
Effective teachers, strong partnerships
between families, teachers, principals
and students—and most
importantly, all of us pulling together
with one goal: Our precious kids, on
whom all of our efforts should be
focused. Let the kids play—and let all
of us adults work hard on their behalf.
They’re worth it.

2. My name is Jennifer Rakowski. My wife and I have chosen to raise our children in Oakland, CA. My daughters both attend
Oakland Unified Elementary Schools. We first selected the school through the options process and liked the school so well
that we moved our family to the neighborhood. My older daughter is heading to an OUSD middle school next year.
I am active as Chair of Glenview's School Site Council and as a member of the District Advisory Council because issues of
educational effectiveness across language, race, culture, and class matter to me. GO has been a partner to Glenview school
providing volunteers at the beginning of the school year. They have been a partner to me by providing me with clear
information in formats accessible for a working parent. GO keeps both my head and heart engaged towards positive change.
GO does not ask me to adopt a single doctrine but rather ask for my input and the input of others across perspectives and
experience.

3. I'm Susie Wise. I am an Oakland
Mom and one of the founders of
Urban Montessori Charter School. I
am passionate about the role design
thinking can play in building diverse
and inclusive school communities.
My dream for Oakland's education
ecosystem is to nurture and catalyze
schools where children learn to be
confident in their creative abilities. I
want to live in a city where ALL
children know deep down that they
have the power to change the world.

4. My name is Mary Prime-Lawrence, and these are
two of my kids. I moved to Oakland to attend
undergrad at Mills College and never left. I fell in
love with this city- warts and all. I am working
hard to help treat some of those warts.
I met my husband in Oakland and we fell in love
and started our family. I am the proud parent of
three amazing children. My children attend a
public charter school. We are fortunate enough
to have the time, energy, and resources to
undertake the tough task of finding a great
school for our kids. We found a great charter
school that embraced not only our children but
our whole family. I want every family to find a
school for their children that welcomes, affirms
and lifts up children the way that my children's
school does.
Much, if not all I do in Oakland is influenced by
children: My own children, your children, OUR
children. They are why I am so active in Oakland.
They are why I help with youth sports, public
safety, healthy food access, you name it. They
are why I am going back to school to become a
teacher. They are why I am a part of GO.

5. My name is Mirella Rangel and I live and work in Oakland. I raise my children here and I’ve worked in Oakland’s
education system for 14 years, first as a math and science teacher, and now as the Executive Director of
Oakland Leaf. I adore Oakland and its people. I am proud of Oakland’s rich cultural legacy but saddened by the
fact that our children and youth suffer because people refuse to put their personal agendas aside. I fear that we
are on the verge of failure. It is time to come together and put the needs of Oakland’s children first.
Me llamo Mirella Rangel. Trabajo y vivo en Oakland. He trabajado en el sistema de educación en Oakland por
14 años y aquí crío a mis hijo e hija. Adoro a Oakland y la gente que vive aquí. Como maestra de ciencia y
matemáticas y ahora como directora de Oakland Leaf se que la riqueza cultural de Oakland no se encuentra
en ningún otra parte del mundo, pero nuestros niños y jóvenes sufren las batallas entre los adultos y temo
que estamos en el precipicio de fallar. Entre nosotros tenemos que buscar soluciones basados en las
necesidades de los niños y las niñas de Oakland. Yo soy GO.

6. My name is Finis Altheimer, and I am a senior at Metwest High
School in OUSD.
This semester I am an intern at GO Public Schools.
I am involved with GO Public Schools because education is
important - especially to those who have problems learning. I
am working with GO as an intern to help schools fight for
autonomies that in danger, the autonomies that help schools
cater to their children with special needs.

7. My name is Charles Wilson. I am an elementary school principal in Oakland. I
have worked as a researcher, teacher, and administrator with OUSD since 1994.
I have worked with our community to make our school, the Fred T. Korematsu
Discovery Academy, the most improved elementary school in Alameda County.
Our school's community should be able to make decisions about what they
need in their school. Decisions need to be focused first on the needs of our
students instead of the needs of adults.

8. My name is Carmelita Reyes, and I moved to Oakland a
decade ago to participate in the small schools
movement. After teaching 10th grade humanities and
journalism for 6 years, I embarked on a new challenge ...
opening a high school that served the unique needs of
newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Oakland
International High School serves OUSD students from 32
countries speaking 29 languages other than English. At
OIHS, we provide academic programs and offer services
to support this vulnerable community of new
Americans.
It is my hope that we can become a model of success for
urban districts. We will honor and support teachers to
create curriculum and programs that meet the needs of
our community. It is my hope that the business
community, non profits, local
government, unions, teachers, school leaders, and
district administration can work together strategically to
align resources and create the conditions necessary for
student achievement. Behind every decision should be
this question, "Is it good for kids?"

9. My name is Vee Thomsak.
I am a teacher and a parent of
two school-age children in
Oakland.
I am involved with GO because I
believe that ALL children in
Oakland deserve nothing more
than the best education
possible.
Education is a right but excellent
education is a necessity
especially for our Oakland
students. I am hopeful. I believe
we are on the right path.
I know that we must really work
together in making this dream a
reality.
Every child, no matter where
they live, no matter who they
are, deserves the best quality
education.
Let us work together to achieve
this goal. Together we can make
a difference.

10. My name is Allison Rodman, and I am the parent of 2 Oakland kids who have hard-working, dedicated
teachers. Without them, my kids would not be successful.
My hope for public education in Oakland is that all kids have the opportunity to reach their potential.
GO Public Schools, and in particular the All Kids, All Schools, Our Decisions campaign, is helping
teachers teach!

11. My name is Ashley Keller Thomsak. I
moved to Oakland in 1991 as a
Teach For America charter corps
member. Now more than ever I
believe that ALL children need an
excellent education.
Transformational schools can and
should exist in each and every
neighborhood. This belief has led
me to building bridges between my
own neighborhood schools and the
residents and by becoming a
member of the school design teams
at the two Oakland Public schools in
my own community.
My own children now attend one of
these schools. Great Oakland Public
Schools provides me the
opportunity to network with others
that share the same vision to ensure
all Oakland students have the
opportunity to attend quality public
schools.

12. My name is David Stein. I am a native
Oaklander and a product of the Oakland
Public Schools. My youngest, Steven, is about
to graduate from Oakland Tech. Based on my
long held belief that Oakland’s future will be
shaped by the quality of Education of her
children, for decades I have been involved in
and supported many efforts to improve public
education in Oakland.
GO is about the children. No organization I
have ever been involved with, and I have been
involved with many very good organizations in
Oakland, has a laser focus on the children like
GO. Just as importantly, that laser focus is
coupled with a plan and a week to week, day
to day, hour to hour commitment to make
change happen for Oakland’s Children.
Everyday that we don’t move public education
forward is a day that one of our children falls
behind. The time is now and GO is the
vehicle to support the change!

13. My name is Anagha
Dandekar Clifford. I am an
Oakland resident, I work in
Oakland and I am raising my
three kids here.
My oldest starts
kindergarten in the fall.
Soon, the District will tell me
which public school he will
attend.
Oakland has some great
public schools, but I’m
worried my son will not get
assigned to one. I love this
town, but we desperately
need to come together to
create better options for our
students.