Hi! I’m VanCedric Williams,

I was born in Los Angeles and am the first in my family to attend and graduate from college. One day as a 6th grader while I was walking home from school, I shared with my mom that I wanted to change the world and she said, “Son, adults are set in their ways. If you want to change the world then you need to work with young folks. They have the most promise.”  That conversation was the catalyst for me choosing a career as an educator 20 years later.

I’ve dedicated myself to teaching students in the most underserved communities in the San Francisco Unified School District for 20 years and I’ve called Oakland home for the last 12 years. My career and passion for the power of public education began as a paraeducator working with Sudanese refugee students in San Diego. I went on to pursue teaching Social Studies full time. 

In 2000, I began teaching 6th-8th grade. I discovered that many of the students I teach have to deal with problems that would overwhelm most adults. From those years, I realized that seeing the achievement and success of young folks and black male students offered no better reward.

Thereafter, I moved to High School and taught high school ethnic studies, US honor history, AP government, geography, and "Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)".  I have been working hard to be a teacher- leader of the Community Dream School Project while leading a student mentoring program that encourages and helps students of color graduate and attend various types of universities. In my years of teaching, I’ve concluded that I  haven't met a child who can't learn.

As an educator activist, I continue to support and defend the classroom through my role as Treasurer for United Educators of San Francisco Teacher Union. I’ve also worked on a variety of successful school board campaigns within SFUSD as well as several consecutively successful Ballot Measures. Most recently, “Measure G: Living Wage for Educators,” which was passed by San Francisco Voters to establish parcel tax support for Educators’ salary for the next 20 years. I will continue to fight tirelessly for funding the classroom.

Throughout my career, racial and social justice/equity in our schools and communities has always been a focus. When students learn from a culturally relevant curriculum they do better and feel better about themselves. Every student should receive nothing less than the highest quality education.

Treasurer of United Educators of San Francisco (UESF)

Delegate Member of the National Education Association (NEA)

California Teachers Association (CTA), the Budget Committee, the Advisory Panel on Endorsed Services, and the Racial Equity Affairs Committee

California Federation of Certificated and Classified Teachers(CFT)

CFT Ethnic Diversity Leadership Committee 

CFT Racial Justice Task Force.

I'm running for Oakland Unified School District, District 3 to address the institutional and systemic structures that have produced such poor and uneven results for all kids, particularly the Black children in Oakland.  I want a system to work in favor of the students and their best interests.  For generations, these institutional practices have devalued our students and created barriers to student success in OUSD. I will advocate for a new set of progressive policies and practices that will support increasing literacy and graduation rates and bring joy back to learning for our students.

OUSD must take an interest and invest in our vulnerable students, parents, and communities of color. OUSD has not done a good job of listening to students, parents or community of color, but instead have implemented policies that hurt the same communities that need the most help.  OUSD can do better and I’m running to be the forefront of change to raise expectations, academic performance, and the graduation rates for our students of color and their communities.  

 We need to be bold, courageous, and unapologetic when making decisions about and for most marginalized and middle class students. Over several years,  we’ve lost critical programs such as arts, music, science,  afterschool centers, and other resources, which contribute to rich and vibrant school education, which has been devastating to our students, parents, and their community.  I propose to address these challenges by reestablishing trust, building and strengthening the parent voice and community relationships, building the financial health OUSD and being intentional with using an equity lens to make decisions and support OUS students.

Maiya Edgerly is proud to bring an authentic, 3rd generation West Oakland voice to her candidacy for the Oakland School Board, District 3. After achieving her dream of graduating from a HBCU (Historical Black College and University), Maiya returned to Oakland to inspire future generations to find success in school. As a STEM instructor at Girls Inc., Maiya assisted young women in preparing themselves to study science, technology, engineering and math. She also formed a non-profit organization called the "Onyx Scholars", a mentoring program that helps prepare young people for college. Since then, as the founder of Onyx Scholars, Maiya fought for underserved students and helped them achieved their dreams - especially encouraging Black students to apply to the Historical Black Colleges and Universities that shaped Maiya's life. Maiya also fights for vulnerable Oakland students with Bridges From School to Work, helping Oakland students with disabilities develop the independent skills they need to build a life after school in our community. By serving the community, Maiya has become a source of empowerment for a generation of young people. Maiya shows her
Oakland pride in the best way; by giving kids a fighting chance. As the District 3 Trustee, Maiya is committed to lifting up the next generation of Oaklanders.