OAKLAND, CA – Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and UC Berkeley’s Principal Leadership Institute (PLI) are expanding their partnership with a $1.2 million Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI) grant to grow a stronger, more diverse pipeline of school administrators. The grant, part of a historic $10 million statewide investment, supports the training and placement of over 300 equity-focused administrators by 2027. Each participating educator can receive up to $30,000 to pursue a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.
“Removing financial barriers made a huge difference in our recruitment efforts,” said Cecilia Terrazas, OUSD Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion. “Many candidates would not have applied without the DELPI funding.”
Closing California’s leadership gap
Nearly 80% of California students are students of color, yet only 20% of public schools are led by Black or Latinx principals. Research shows that diverse school leadership strengthens teacher retention, expands student access to advanced coursework, and boosts graduation rates for students of color.
Record cohorts in Oakland
In 2024–25, three OUSD educators were awarded DELPI scholarships, with two already hired as assistant principals. For 2025–26, six OUSD participants were selected from a record 13 applicants, the largest number ever accepted into UC Berkeley’s PLI in a single year.
“Every day in our schools, we see the impact of having a diverse and stable staff, which is why this is one of the four pillars of our District Strategic Plan,” said Tara Gard, OUSD Chief Talent Officer. “This grant ensures leaders who look like our students and understand their experiences, are prepared to lead.”
Equity-centered preparation
Founded in 2000, UC Berkeley’s PLI provides rigorous, equity-focused preparation through a 14-month program blending coursework, coaching, and field experience.
Through DELPI, OUSD participants receive:
- Up to $28,000 in tuition support (covering ~90% of fees)
- Individualized coaching and field supervision
- Training in culturally responsive leadership
- A master’s degree in Educational Administration upon completion
“This is an unprecedented investment in cultivating equity-centered leaders,” said Dr. Soraya Sablo Sutton, PLI Program Director. “The DELPI grant has also had a ripple effect, allowing our program to redirect existing scholarships towards other candidates, which results in increased financial support for all PLI students.”
As a result, all 11 admitted OUSD candidates received substantial financial support to earn their administrative credentials and master’s degrees.
Building Oakland’s leadership pipeline
Across two cohorts, 100% of OUSD’s DELPI recipients identify as BIPOC, and the majority of the latest cohort are Spanish bilingual. Many also bring critical expertise in special education, and two have preschool experience, both of which are high-needs areas within OUSD. Participants are already leading school-site projects focused on improving services for English Learners, students with IEPs, and other high-needs groups.
For educators such as Kathy Locke, Assistant Principal at Chabot Elementary, the program was transformative. “The DELPI grant gave me the means to pursue leadership training without financial hardship,” she said. “Now I can apply what I learned to advocate for Oakland’s children and families.”
Looking ahead
OUSD and UC Berkeley will continue joint recruitment and outreach efforts for the 2026–27 DELPI cohort—the final year of funding. Applications are due December 1, 2025.
“Our partnership with UC Berkeley has been central to the program’s success,” said Cecilia Terrazas. “Together, we are building the next generation of equity-centered leaders for Oakland’s schools.”
About the partners
UC Berkeley’s Principal Leadership Institute (PLI) has prepared over 700 equity-centered school leaders since 2000 through coursework, coaching, and practical experience.
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) serves more than 34,000 students across 77 schools and prioritizes diverse and stable staffing as part of its District Strategic Plan.
October 2, 2025
