Kyla Johnson-Trammell Appointed as Joint Senior Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education Initiatives

The EdRedesign Lab (EdRedesign) and the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader (ISCL) at Harvard Graduate School of Education announced the appointment of Kyla Johnson-Trammell as a joint senior fellow.  

Over the course of two years, Johnson-Trammell, CEO of Oakland Thrives and former Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) superintendent, will engage with the Harvard community and draw on her decades of experience in education, governance, and systems change to share lessons on how education leaders can work across sectors.  

Born and raised in East Oakland, Johnson-Trammell is nationally recognized for her work improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. As Oakland Unified School District’s longest-serving superintendent in five decades, she mobilized more than $300 million in aligned public and private investment, led the district out of a 22-year state loan, and helped drive significant gains in student outcomes, including an 8.8% increase in graduation rates and a 14% rise in college-ready completion. A longtime champion of cross-sector collaboration, she also served for eight years as co-chair of the Youth Ventures Joint Powers Authority/Oakland Thrives Leadership Council, helping build public-private partnerships across Oakland.  

“Johnson-Trammell has been an important thought partner in the work of EdRedesign for many years and exemplifies how local leaders can champion cradle-to-career change,” says Professor Paul Reville, EdRedesign founder and faculty director. “Oakland was one of the inaugural members of our By All Means Initiative and was an early adopter of efforts to connect city-wide resources across sectors to move the needle on issues ranging from mental health to college readiness.”

Today, Johnson-Trammell serves as CEO of Oakland Thrives, the collective impact backbone organization that convenes and staffs the Youth Ventures Joint Powers Authority (YVJPA), uniting public sector, private sector, and community leaders around a shared strategy for Oakland's children and families. Founded in 2015, Oakland Thrives drives cross-sector collaboration across health, wealth, education, safety, and housing, anchored in a deep commitment to equity and the community's long-term well-being. Its signature initiatives include the $100 million Rise East initiative, a place-based, systems-level response to food insecurity and the creation of a citywide youth mental health landscape analysis to increase access to care for young people across Oakland.  

“During her eight years leading OUSD, Johnson-Trammell demonstrated what it means for a superintendent to understand the health and well-being of an entire community as integral to the work of public education,” says Senior Lecturer Jennifer Cheatham, ISCL lead and faculty chair of field engagement at HGSE. “The role of superintendent has shifted over time, and we know that improving outcomes for students requires working beyond the boundaries of the school system. Johnson-Trammell brings a powerful perspective on what that kind of civic leadership looks like in practice, and we’re excited for her to help shape how we prepare the next generation of education leaders.”  

Johnson-Trammell also serves on the boards of The Oakland Reach, Women Leading Ed, and the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at University of Pennsylvania.

Insights and Research on Cross-Sector Collaboration and Superintendents

In her role as a joint senior fellow, Johnson-Trammell will lead work at the intersection of the superintendency and place-based, cross-sector collaboration, examining how system leaders can more effectively engage community partners to improve outcomes for children and families from cradle to career. Through the partnership with EdRedesign and ICSL, her work will directly inform practice, policy, and public understanding.  

“EdRedesign is committed to advancing systematic, mutually beneficial exchanges between exemplary cross-sector leaders and the Harvard community. I’m thrilled to collaborate with ISCL, Johnson-Trammell, and Oakland Thrives’ coalition of community partners,” says Lecturer Rob Watson, executive director of EdRedesign. “Johnson-Trammell’s vast experience advancing cradle-to-career solutions at the intersection of K–12 education and place-based partnerships will enrich our university’s learning environment and help us translate that learning into practical tools and insights that communities and schools can leverage to improve outcomes for children and families at scale.”

“I've seen firsthand how much place shapes opportunity, and I've built my career on the belief that cross-sector, community-grounded leadership can help close that gap,” adds Johnson-Trammell. “I'm honored to bring that practice-based expertise into dialogue with Harvard's scholarship and equally eager to draw on the depth of thinking this community offers.”

Johnson-Trammell will join Russell Booker as a joint senior fellow of EdRedesign and ISCL. Together, they will serve as advisers to EdRedesign and ISCL, offering their unique expertise to shape how both initiatives support cross-sector leaders as they tackle the pressing challenges facing children, youth, and families.  

Johnson-Trammell’s appointment will begin in August 2026 and extends through June 2028.