skip to main content

Oakland School for the Arts

Value, Uplift, Honor
Home
Oakland School for the Arts
or Browse All Schools
QUICK LINKS
https://www.oakarts.org/ABOUT-US/Executive-Director/
Chinese Dutch English French German Greek Italian Japanese Korean Portuguese Russian Spanish Vietnamese Tagalog Khmer Farsi Hindi Punjabi
Contrast Mode

Oakland School for the Arts

Value, Uplift, Honor

Meet The Executive Director
mike oz

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
mike oz

Welcome to Oakland School for the Arts website designed to not only provide information to our families and community, but also to showcase and celebrate our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters.
 
We celebrated OSA’s 20th anniversary during the 2022-23 academic year.  It was both an opportunity to celebrate 2 decades of innovative arts education as a public charter school that is tuition free to students in grades 6 to 12.  The anniversary also provided an opportunity to reflect on the sustainability of OSA for the coming decades and programs, facilities, and funding that we need to continue to build.
 
Metamorphosis
 
For the 2023-24 academic year our theme is ‘Metamorphosis.’  Together, we will be exploring themes of transformation, evolution, growth, and the natural generative process that is inherent in all aspects of life, creativity, Academics, and the Arts.
 
Highlighted within the theme of Metamorphosis are 4 sub themes which coincide with the four stages of the metamorphic process and our four quarters during the school year. The four stages are:
 
  • Q1: Generate
  • Q2: Expand
  • Q3: Transform
  • Q4: Blossom
 
We are inviting students in their academic and arts classes to reflect on their own metamorphosis as scholars and artists and how arts training is shaping their growth and journey.  Likewise, now in our 21st year, OSA has graduates who are approaching their 30s.  We will also be inviting alumni to share how integrated arts training while at OSA has shaped how they have shown up in their communities and careers.
 
My Own Metamorphosis
 
With a multi-generational family history in the Oakland arts community, I have a strong sense of pride as a long standing member of the OSA team. Soon after joining OSA in 2006, I made a commitment to creating an inviting school culture and equitable educational experience for all students.  I started as a member of the leadership team in 2009. I served for 6 years as Dean of Students, 6 years as Principal, and have been in the role of Executive Director since February of 2022.
 
 Through each of these roles my focus has been on developing pathways that provide career and college preparation and access for all OSA students. I feel strongly that art is not optional and I am humbled by the opportunity to ensure OSA students bring the essential value of the arts into the career paths of their choosing.
 
Strategic Plan Financial Years 2024 to 2026
 
As a part of OSA’s continuing metamorphosis, it is time for 10 to 20-year thinking.  Our OSA community is currently engaged in the creation of a 3-year strategic plan which will serve as a roadmap to ensure OSA further develops as an important fixture in Oakland.  To guide this work, I am currently leading OSA’s leadership team in the development of a 3-year strategic plan that will be in place through the 2025-26 academic year. The plan outlines initiatives and detailed metrics aligned with each of these four pillars:
 
  • Joyful School
  • Creative Career Preparation
  • Graduate Success
  • The Oakland and OSA Way
 
<<The plan can be viewed here.>>  <<Holding statement.  The details of the plan will be posted soon.>>
 
Key initiatives for the 23-24 school year include the following:
 
  • Identifying a long-term sustainable facilities plan that can support OSA students for generations to come.
  • Developing OSA’s first dedicated outdoor space in the vacant lot at 1911 Telegraph with the OSA Uptown Art Park. This will also be the home of Cloud Park, where Oakland youth culture will be uplifted and OSA students who are no longer with us will be remembered.
  • Strengthening partnerships with the greater Oakland community. As a proud Oaklander, I aim for OSA’s impact to reach beyond that of the OSA students. All youth benefit from exposure to specialized arts education.
  • Bring visibility to OSA’s impact and programming to the greater Bay Area. This includes seeking corporate support of OSA’s operational costs.
 
Implementation will take intention, collaboration and focus.  I invite you to join us in building the next iteration of Oakland School for the Arts - a vibrant, resilient, creative community, set to serve many future generations of young artists.
 
Mike Oz
Executive Director
Head Shot