Vallejo teacher urges district to recruit and retain local educators

Brandon Harris, a teacher and basketball coach with the Vallejo City Unified School District, told a school meeting that he has spent more than 20 years teaching in the district and urged officials and community members to prioritize hiring and supporting local educators.

Harris said he teaches U.S. history, American government, economics and a class he called "ingenuity," and that early in his career the small age gap with students helped him build strong relationships. He credited administrators and colleagues with providing "excellent support," and said the emotional rewards — former students sending notes or inviting him to milestone events — keep him committed to the profession.

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be who I am now," Harris said, recounting a former student he mentored who later attended San Francisco State and invited him to her graduation.

Harris described how he was asked by the athletic director to coach the girls' varsity basketball team despite having no prior coaching experience, and said that willingness to try new roles grew from his rapport with students. He also told the meeting he partnered this year with a program or individual he referred to as "Otter" and noted a community member named Jason as an example of local talent the district can recruit and mentor.

Throughout his remarks Harris emphasized community involvement as essential support for schools. He encouraged residents to volunteer at school sites, help teachers, and otherwise show families that "our parents truly do care about the kids," adding that new teachers will find "plenty of support from the top down."

He closed by urging attendees to "Think VC USD first," calling for a focus on bringing community members into the teaching profession and retaining them through mentorship and administrative support.

The remarks were delivered during a public comment segment; no formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript.