Bay Area

LaSandra White Named Principal of Archie Williams High School

“After spending 25 years in this great district, I am ready to move into the role of principal, and I am excited and honored to be the Archie Williams High School principal,” White said. “The community – staff, students and parents – have been incredibly welcoming and supportive since I started in August, and I look forward to continuing the work of getting to know and building strong relationships with everyone in the Archie Williams community.

Published

4 years ago

February 12, 2022

Oakland Post

LaSandra White. Twitter photo.

LaSandra White is now the permanent principal of Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo, after being the interim principal since August 2021, according to the Tamalpais Union High School District. Her position went into effect on February 2.

White has been in the field of education for 25 years as a teacher, school counselor, and 18 years as the assistant principal of Redwood High School. She brings a wealth of experience to her new role as principal, including oversight of counseling/wellness, student activities, athletics, facilities, student support services, attendance and discipline.

“I also look forward to continuing the great work around equity, restorative practices and providing an inclusive, supportive and safe environment so that all students can thrive academically and social-emotionally,” she said.

White started her career in education as an academic support teacher at Redwood in 1996. The following year, she transitioned to the role of school counselor, supporting the academic and social-emotional growth of students.

In 2002, White made the move to administrator, taking on the role of assistant principal, where she excelled, building strong relationships with students, parents, colleagues and community members.

White holds two Master of Arts degrees – one in Counseling from the University of San Diego, and the other in Educational Administration from San Francisco State University.

White earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley.

LaSandra grew up in Marin City, graduated from The Branson School, and has strong roots in the community.

“I am thrilled that LaSandra will continue her great work in the District, this time as permanent Principal of Archie Williams High School,” said Tara Taupier, superintendent of the Tamalpais Union High School District. Further, Taupier stated, “LaSandra is an exceptional leader and exceptional person. Her energy, focus on equity and capacity to build relationships and community is a perfect match for the Archie Williams community. She fits, exactly, the type of leader the students and community stated they wanted and she’s more than ready for the challenge.”

The recommendation was approved by the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, February 1, during the regularly scheduled meeting.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

3 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.