Community

It’s a New Day at AIMS: Investing in the Future of Oakland – One Student at a Time

Published

4 years ago

February 27, 2020

As a multi-generational Oaklander, former OUSD administrator, student and parent in Oakland’s private, traditional, and charter public schools – I am proud to have a 20-year career serving Oakland kids.

Today, I continue that legacy as Superintendent of AIMS K-12 College Prep Charter District.
It’s a new day at AIMS. Next year will be our 25th anniversary. We have evolved and continue to improve to support the families we serve today.

Our students reflect the diversity of our surrounding downtown/Lake Merritt community: 55% are Asian; 25% are African American; 14% are Hispanic/Latino; 4% are white; and 2% identify as Other. Seventy-five percent of our students qualify for free and reduced-price lunches (their families make less than $36,000/year for a family of four).
AIMS K-12 College Prep provides high quality public education that helps these families break the cycle of poverty. In 2017-2018, AIMS was the only middle school in the Bay Area recognized by Innovate Public Schools for closing the achievement gap for low-income African American students in English and math.

This year we are being recognized again as one of the top 52 public schools for underserved students in the Bay Area. The rate at which our high school students meet or exceed state tests is twice that of what many people consider the top public high school in Oakland, despite our serving a much lower income community.

The local African American-led blog “Great School Voices” has called our elementary school one that “Black Families Should Consider Based on the Latest Data.”

We believe investing in our students is an investment in Oakland’s future. We pay for college applications and SAT/ACT prep. Every student takes AP classes starting in their freshman year. We set high standards because we know our students can achieve them. One hundred percent of our graduates are accepted to top universities across the nation.

We often have to remind people that we are Oakland, too. Our families live and pay taxes here.
Our teachers are Oaklanders just like those in OUSD schools. There’s a reason charter schools like ours have flourished: we provide safe, rigorous, and successful places for children of all backgrounds.

Check us out online at www.aimsk12.org to learn more about how it is a new day at AIMS.

Maya Woods-Cadiz

Superintendent, AIMS K-12, College Prep Charter District

Posts by Maya Woods-Cadiz

Related Topics:AIMS Education k-12 Oakland OUSD

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.