Meet Kathryn

Kathryn Camp is an Oakland mom, an OUSD parent, and an experienced leader who believes deeply in the power of opportunity and in our responsibility to make sure every child has a real chance to thrive.

Her path to this moment was not a straight line.

Kathryn grew up in the Bay Area in a family where hard work was simply part of life. At nine years old, she began helping with administrative tasks in her family's small business while her parents worked long hours to support their family. She also took on responsibility at home, helping care for her siblings at a young age.

Those early experiences shaped Kathryn. They taught her to be resourceful, to show up for the people who depend on her, and to understand that behind every family are challenges and sacrifices that aren't always visible to others.

Kathryn entered the workforce and spent years building a career in administration, human resources, and financial services. For a long time, college was not the center of her story.

Then someone saw something in her.

A mentor recognized Kathryn's potential and encouraged her to return to school. That support changed the direction of her life and reinforced something Kathryn has carried with her ever since: sometimes a person's future changes because someone takes the time to see their potential and help open a door.

In her 30s, Kathryn went back to school.

She attended Laney College and Berkeley City College, earning associate degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences before transferring to UC Berkeley. She went on to graduate with honors in Political Science and later earned a Master of Public Affairs from UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy.

Kathryn knows what it feels like to take the long way to a goal. She knows that students and families do not all begin from the same place or follow the same path. And she knows firsthand what can happen when people are met with high expectations, meaningful support, and the opportunity to keep moving forward.

Learning to Lead

Over more than 20 years in the workforce, Kathryn built a career leading people, programs, and complex organizations.

She has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, built and developed teams, worked across government and regulatory environments, and brought people with different perspectives together around shared priorities.

But the most important lessons Kathryn learned about leadership did not come from a title.

She learned that good leaders listen before they decide. They ask difficult questions. They set clear expectations and follow through. They treat people with respect, especially when there is disagreement. And when something isn't working, they have a responsibility to confront the problem and stay focused on finding a better way forward.

Kathryn has carried those principles throughout her career. They are also the principles she believes Oakland's public schools need from their elected leaders.

A Personal Commitment to Oakland's Students

Becoming a mother made Kathryn's commitment to education deeply personal.

Like every parent, she wants her child to be safe, challenged, supported, and prepared for the future. As an OUSD parent, she also knows that what happens in our schools reaches far beyond any one classroom or any one family. Strong public schools shape the future of entire communities.

Kathryn often thinks about the mentor who saw potential in her and changed the trajectory of her life. Today, she mentors young women facing adversity, helping them navigate challenges, recognize their own strengths, and pursue goals that may once have felt out of reach.

But Kathryn does not believe a child's future should depend on being lucky enough to encounter the right person at the right moment.

Our schools should be places where every student is seen. Where educators have the support they need to help students succeed. Where families are treated as partners. And where the adults responsible for the system are willing to make thoughtful, responsible decisions with students at the center.

Why Kathryn Is Running

Kathryn is running for Oakland School Board because she believes Oakland can build stronger schools and better outcomes for its students, but doing so will require steady, accountable, and independent leadership.

She brings the perspective of a parent, the lived experience of a nontraditional student, and more than two decades of professional leadership to this work.

Kathryn understands that the challenges facing Oakland's schools are complex. She is not running because she believes there are easy answers. She is running because she believes difficult problems deserve leaders who will listen, ask hard questions, bring people together, and remain focused on solutions.

At the center of every decision, Kathryn will return to one fundamental question:

How will this help Oakland students learn, grow, and thrive?

For Kathryn, that is where the work begins.