About Us

With a background in public policy, Lisa taught high school English at Skyline High School, where she served as a classroom teacher, a Teacher on Special Assignment and a member of the school's leadership team.  Following her time at Skyline, Lisa joined OUSD's Educator Effectiveness pilot, supporting secondary leaders and teachers to conduct effective observation, feedback, and evaluation practices. In 2017, Lisa found her passion with New Teacher Support & Development, where she has happily and tirelessly worked since. When she is not thinking about how to make sure our systems of support are aligned and coherent, she's chasing around her two kids and turning her brown thumb green.

Peggy Dove rejoins the team after continuing to support the evolution of OUSD New Teacher Support and Development programming the past two years as a Senior Program Consultant through the grant-funded partnership with the New Teacher Center. She brings 20 years of experience in education as a former AmeriCorps reading intervention teacher; an Alum Rock Unified School District elementary teacher; a co-founder, Lead Coach, and Intern Program Coordinator at the Reach Institute for School Leadership (now Reach University); the previous OUSD NTSD Manager; and as an Assistant Principal with Education for Change. Peggy also likes to spend time traveling throughout California to perform (as a professional vocalist), hike beautiful trails, or paddle on the water. 

Victoria Folks brings over 20 years of experience to her work in supporting teachers and instructional leaders. Victoria started as a classroom teacher in San Rafael City Schools, where she founded the school's AVID program and began supporting teachers through the induction program. In 2006, Victoria became one of the founding members of the Reach Institute for School Leadership, a nonprofit that became an accredited credentialing program for teachers. Over the years, Victoria worked in Reach's Intern program, served as the Induction Coordinator for the organization, co-ran the Master's in Educational Leadership program and was one of three faculty members in the Instructional Leadership Academy, which offered administrative preliminary and clear credentials. From Reach, Victoria worked at three different alternative high schools in Oakland Unified, coaching and leading professional development. When not working, Victoria can usually be found outside, either running a trail or swimming in the Bay. 

Hailing from Da 'Field, Garfield Elementary School to be exact, and formerly known as Grandmaster Tech., Abdul-Haqq joined the NTSD in the summer of 2021. Considered an "Assertive Logistician (ISTJ-A)", he's also a son, brother, husband and father. If you know him, you'll know that word is bond and he believes and tries to practice the principles of working and praying like his life depends on them.

Abdul-Haqq does this work because "I am because we are and therefore we are because I am (Asante Proverb)". All scholars are his lil' nieces and nephews and he believes it is a sacred trust to righteously educate someone else's child in a holistic manner. 

Three things that he wants new teachers to know are: You'll see it when you believe it. Think small lifestyle type changes versus a big gimmick diet and our work is not necessarily about you doing more but a "different" that is more effective and efficient. 

His greatest hope for this school year is that the teachers he supports have a belief and blueprint through their work together that provides them with the knowledge, skills and disposition to healthily and productively pace themselves through the knowns and unknowns of the school year and still find a reason to smile and laugh every day no matter what. So seeing him as an educational personal trainer or the driver's ed. instructor with the passenger side brake pedal, just in case! 

Abdul-Haqq's current food cravings are unfiltered apple juice, Nothing Bundt Cakes - Carrot and Black tacos. 

Dave brings 22 years of experience teaching mathematics, coaching math teachers, and leading mathematics teams in high schools in the East Bay. Dave was a founder at Oakland Unity High School in 2003, taught and coached with Envision Schools, trained as a transformational instructional coach with OUSD, and was again a founding member as the Math Lead of Latitude High School in Fruitvale in 2018. Dave believes that there are infinitely many ways to become a powerful classroom teacher and he loves the process of helping to define that pathway for new teachers. He knows that teaching is an act of courage and strong teaching is an act of love. Dave plays a bunch of instruments in his spare time and logs way too many hours playing chess online. 

An educator for 20 years, Feroze has been a high school teacher, curriculum consultant, resident teacher supervisor, program director, and researcher. Most of that time has been spent teaching STEAM subjects to high school students using project-based pedagogy. During graduate school Feroze developed a passion for supporting new teachers and their development within the teaching profession. When he’s not thinking about teaching and learning, Feroze spends time with his family and tinkering with whatever is around. 

Lizzie brings 20 years of combined teaching and coaching experience to the NTSD team, primarily at the secondary level. During her six years as an instructional coach at Claremont Middle School, she developed an intensive support series for new teachers to help foster community and bridge the gap between credentialing programs and the first year in a classroom. This foundational work is now part of NTSD's continually expanding professional learning offerings. Lizzie, who is certified in Elena Aguilar’s “Transformational Coaching” model, is passionate about working to dismantle racism and white supremacy in schools and believes in the creative power of teachers and young people. She enjoys getting out into nature with her two kids, and, as an east coast transplant, is continually amazed by how many incredible new places there are to discover in California.