Debora Gordon

About Debora Gordon

Debora Gordon is a writer, artist, educator and non-violence activist. She has been living in Oakland since 1991, moving here to become a teacher in the Oakland Unified School District. In all of these roles, Debora is interested in developing a life of the mind. “As a mere human living in these simultaneously thrilling and troubled times,” Debora says, “I try to tread lightly, live thoughtfully, teach peace, and not take myself too seriously.”

A white man wearing blue collared shirt smiles for camera

Checking in With Sam Davis: OUSD’s New School Board President

January 29, 2024 Debora Gordon

Oakland Voices interview new Oakland school board president Sam Davis, a former teacher, about the challenges facing the district, and some of the positive things to look forward to this year.

A group of mostly Black students and a few adults stand in front of peach colored school building with sign that says "stop the war on public education"

OUSD Terminates Veteran Teacher, Allegedly for Protesting and Union Organizing, Amid Teacher Shortage

September 14, 2022 Debora Gordon

On the first day of school in the Oakland Unified School District, teacher Craig Gordon could not access his district email nor the substitute system, after having worked in the school district as a teacher

a collage of seven diverse Oakland firefighters

Fighting Fires With People: Seven Oakland Firefighters Talk About the Work They Do (Part 1)

April 20, 2022 Debora Gordon

This past summer, two Oakland firefighters came to my apartment building to get a replacement key for the knox box, which is outside all multiple unit buildings, to allow firefighters to access the building in

Fighting Fires With People: Seven Oakland Firefighters Talk About the Work They Do (Part 2)

April 20, 2022 Debora Gordon

A woman wearing a purple mask, pink hat, and glasses takes a selfie in front of Lake Merritt.

COVID Zooming, Blooming, and Mostly Not Dooming

March 1, 2022 Debora Gordon

“In some ways, phone, email, text and Zoom have increased my contact with friends.”

an image of an African American girl smiling while holding a poster drawing that she created

Oakland Youth Artist Daria Belle Shares Her Artistic Process

January 18, 2022 Debora Gordon

Daria Belle exhibits her social justice and politically-themed art around the Bay Area, such as her recent participation with Artivate’s “Feminism Now.” The 16-year old high school sophomore lives in Oakland and attends school in

A Black woman wearing a beanie is holding back a smile.

One Oakland Woman’s Journey From the Streets to Being an Advocate for the Unsheltered

December 23, 2021 Debora Gordon

On any given night, over half a million Americans experience homelessness. A 2019 count indicated more than 4,000 unhoused residents live in Oakland. Resheemah White, also known to friends as “RoRo,” was one of them

A lake with a sign in it that says "don't give up hope."

Violence in Oakland: ‘We Can Fix This’

December 8, 2021 Debora Gordon

There is a maxim in journalism, “If it bleeds, it leads,” and there have been seemingly endless stories of violence both far and near. Here in Oakland, there is a seeming daily litany of violence

A collage image of three Oakland teachers in their classrooms or outside

Back to School in Oakland: Perspectives from a Kindergarten, 3rd Grade Teacher, and Librarian

October 13, 2021 Debora Gordon

This article is part three of a three-part series sharing OUSD administrator and teacher perspectives to the start of in-person learning, including many lessons learned during 18 months of distance learning during COVID. (Read parts

Three diverse teachers in Oakland in a collage image

Back to School in Oakland: High School Teachers Consider the Changes from Zoom to Classroom

October 13, 2021 Debora Gordon

from kindergarten through high school, share their experiences and perceptions, from classroom to Zoom and back again.