Former KTVU Reporter Joins Oakland USD

John Sasaki at his new workplace.

OAKLAND — Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) announced the hiring of John Sasaki as director of communications, effective Aug. 8.

Sasaki, an East Bay native and graduate of Berkeley High School, comes to OUSD with 20 years of experience working in and around Oakland as a broadcast journalist. He most recently served as news reporter/anchor for KTVU-TV in Oakland from 1996-2016.

“John is an exciting new addition to our Communications Department and his outstanding record of service to Oakland will only enhance our team’s ability to share and promote the great news happening in OUSD,” said Valerie Goode, deputy chief of communications and public affairs.

Sasaki serves as the primary public information officer for OUSD. Contact him at (510) 214-2080 or john.sasaki@ousd.org. Sasaki fills the director position previously held by Troy Flint, who moved forward from OUSD in December 2015.

“After having worked in the city of Oakland for almost 20 years, having covered countless stories on issues important to its residents, I’m thrilled at this great new opportunity to work for the people — in particular, the young people — of this city,” said Sasaki. “I will do everything in my power to promote education and all the incredible accomplishments of Oakland’s students.”

Goode, who was hired as deputy chief in April, will serve as a secondary media contact for OUSD. Contact her at valerie.goode@ousd.org or (510) 679-7819.

Sasaki is a former board member for Special Olympics of Northern California and a former member of the Pleasant Hill Education/Schools Advisory Commission, and taught broadcast journalism at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He also coaches girls’ lacrosse at Alhambra High School in Martinez.