Sara Stone

With nearly 30 years in education, Sara Stone has held roles as an elementary and middle school teacher, principal, network superintendent, assistant superintendent, and currently, superintendent of Albany Unified School District. Throughout her career, she has prioritized creating safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous environments that empower students for success. Sara is an adaptive, empathetic leader who values data-driven decision-making, strong communication, and relational skills to drive continuous improvement. She is a hands-on leader, spending significant time in schools and classrooms where impactful work occurs. Sara takes pride in active listening and collaboration, fostering shared visions, and supporting teams to develop the skills needed for success.

During her tenure in Oakland, Sara worked across diverse communities, addressing unique challenges and building collaborative systems focused on student success, teacher development, and leadership growth. Her leadership contributed to schools earning accolades such as Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School awards. In Alameda, she advanced equity initiatives and guided the district through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating resilience and dedication despite personal health challenges from which she has fully recovered.

As Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in Ravenswood City School District, Sara led the development of comprehensive data and assessment systems, implemented new science and literacy curricula, and championed data-driven practices that improved literacy outcomes for vulnerable students. She also partnered with the community to launch the Changemaker program, centering historically marginalized students through a Targeted Universalistic approach that fosters belonging, leadership pathways, and positive narratives.

Sara is currently pursuing her doctorate in the LEAD program at UC Berkeley, enhancing her expertise in transformational system leadership. Her dissertation focuses on strategies that superintendents can employ to drive lasting, equity-focused change in PK-12 education, highlighting her commitment to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.

When not working as an educator or studying in the LEAD program, Sara enjoys hiking, playing board games, and spending quality time with her husband, her two sons (ages 16 and 23), and their two dogs.