Oakland Unified board re-elects Jennifer Brohard as president; Valerie Bachelor elected vice president

Jennifer Brohard was re-elected president of the Oakland Unified School District Board at the board's annual organizational meeting, and Valerie Bachelor was elected vice president.

The board conducted roll-call votes after nominations were opened and closed. Following brief statements from the nominees, members declared Brohard re-elected to the 2026 term. In her acceptance, Brohard said she would prioritize difficult budget adjustments, a superintendent search, support for immigrant families and students and continued collaboration with district leadership and labor partners. "At the center of every decision must be our students and our shared commitment to ensuring that every child in Oakland receives a high quality education," she said.

Director Hutchinson also accepted a nomination and offered a short personal statement, noting family circumstances limited further remarks.

For vice president, the board nominated and elected Valerie Bachelor. In remarks before the vote, Bachelor said she would emphasize shared governance, inclusion of the community in the superintendent search and a student-centered approach to budget and facilities decisions. The roll-call for vice president recorded five affirmative votes and two negative votes; the clerk declared Bachelor elected to the 2026 term.

The leadership elections concluded the organizational portion of the meeting and set the board's governing officers for the coming year. The officers' remarks previewed priorities the board intends to address in 2026, including facilities work, asset management and reading proficiency targets.