Heather Palin

Heather Palin's work experience begins in 2001 as a teacher at Sand Paths Academy. Heather then worked as a teacher at Mission High School from 2003 to 2007 and at Making Waves Academy from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, they served as an Administrative Intern at The Facing History School. From 2011 to 2013, Heather worked as an Educational Administrator and later as an Assistant Principal at August Martin High School, both positions under the NYC Department of Education. Heather then joined the Oakland Unified School District in 2013 as an Assistant Principal at Frick Middle School, and later became the School Principal at Emerson Elementary School from 2014 to 2022, managing over 50 teachers and staff. Currently, they are the Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support at the Oakland Unified School District, where they lead the development and implementation of an Oakland-specific MTSS framework.

Heather Palin holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from New York University, which they obtained from 2009 to 2010. Prior to that, they earned a Teaching Credential in Physical Education from San Francisco State University from 2005 to 2007. Their undergraduate studies were completed at Connecticut College from 1996 to 2000, where they obtained a BA in History. Additionally, Heather has obtained additional certifications in Leading for Equity in Complex Systems from the National Equity Project and as a Critical Friends Group Facilitator from Antioch College.