OAKLAND — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the appointment of Dr. Kimberly Ann Statham as the State Administrator for the Oakland Unified School District. Dr. Statham has been serving as the Interim State Administrator since August. 

"When I appointed Dr. Kimberly Statham as interim state administrator, I was grateful to have in place a leader of her caliber while I undertook a comprehensive national search for someone to fill the position of state administrator,” O'Connell said. “I was immediately impressed with Dr. Statham's leadership skills and her efforts to work with parents and other community members to make the sure the reforms now underway succeed for Oakland's students. The more I got to know her the more I realized I had already found the right person for the job. Dr. Statham offers significant expertise and stability to the district, and also brings a collaborative, cooperative spirit to the crucial effort to improve Oakland schools."

O'Connell made the announcement at ACORN Woodland/Encompass Academy campus in East Oakland, where he was joined by Dr. Statham.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve this community as state administrator,” Dr. Statham said. “I am committed to this community and to the work underway to ensure an excellent public school in every neighborhood. Across Oakland, dedicated teachers and parents are helping students learn and grow to become capable, thoughtful and successful adults. Everything we do must be about supporting this effort."

O'Connell appointed Dr. Statham as interim state administrator following the resignation of Dr. Randolph Ward, who is currently Superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education.

"I have charged Dr. Statham with the same assignment I gave her predecessor," O'Connell said. "First, improve student achievement, second, restore the district to fiscal stability, and third, put the state out of the business of running Oakland schools and return the district to local control as quickly as possible. I believe that under Dr. Statham's leadership, in partnership with teachers, administrators, school staff, parents and community members, Oakland schools will achieve all three goals."

Dr. Statham, who started her career in education as an elementary school teacher, has more than 25 years of experience supporting and serving students in public schools. Before her appointment as interim state administrator, Dr. Statham was the Chief Academic Officer for the Oakland Unified School District, a position she has held from 2005 to August 2006. She previously served in a variety of administrative positions for school districts in the state of Maryland, including deputy superintendent and chief academic officer of Howard County Public Schools in Ellicott City, MD from 2001 to 2004, and as community superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, MD from 1999 through 2001. She served as director of school administration for that district from 1997 through 1999. Prior, Dr. Statham was the principal of Cannon Road Elementary School in Rockville, MD from 1991 through 1997.

Statham received a doctorate degree in educational psychology from Howard University in 1992. She received a master's degree in curriculum development from Howard University in 1984 and a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1980. Dr. Statham was selected as a Broad Urban Superintendents Academy fellow in 2003.

The compensation for the position of state administrator of the Oakland Unified School District is $240,000.