Administrative Team

Mr. Joseph Blasher

Principal

It is an honor to serve the Castlemont community and work alongside the students, families, teachers, and community partners of East Oakland. This will be my sixth year as an administrator in Oakland and seventh year in the district. Originally from Eugene, OR, I started working in schools at a Head Start in Oberlin, OH while in college. After college, I taught English and health for six years in New York City, Hawai'i, and Portland before setting roots here.

My goal is to work alongside community members to continue the great work that has been going on for past generations to improve learning opportunities and environments for students. In my second year back at Castlemont, I will work with the community to increase student and family engagement and to support literacy growth, access to resources, and participation in school functions.

Please feel free to contact me to learn more or collaborate on a future Castlemont initiative. 

In Solidarity, Joseph Blasher

Ms. Samantha Odom

Assistant Principal

I am truly honored to have worked in the Castlemont Community for the past 20 years.  Throughout the years, it has been my privilege to work with so many diligent and compassionate educators, family members, and community partners who strive to help students become the best they can be.  Castlemont has accomplished so much as a school community, and continues to do great things.  There is a long-lived tradition of Knight pride, ambition, compassion, engagement, and community responsibility.  We continue with this tradition as we provide exceptional learning experiences for students through pathways, small learning communities, college and career readiness, dual enrollment, work-based learning, and community engagement.

At Castlemont, our primary concern is the learning and safety of all students.  With a focus on project-based learning, all students are encouraged to explore new concepts, challenge ideas, demonstrate and apply knowledge, and confidently express their views, opinions and identity in a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative environment.  We take pride in providing wrap-around services to address the needs of the whole child.  We recognize and respect family values, goals, and aspirations for students, and work collaboratively with families to promote a sense of shared responsibility for achieving the goal of graduating ready for college and career.  With the support of families and care-givers, we can instill life-long values in our students to remain diligent and appreciate their education.

My goals as Assistant Principal are to help identify inequities in school, dismantle oppressive systems, foster a culture of self-reflection, and work with staff to build healthy relationships with colleagues, families, and the community in which they serve.  At Castlemont, it is imperative that teachers teach with humanity and love, and help students of color realize their full potential, develop a strong sense of self, move through the world with confidence and joy, and learn to understand, be compassionate towards, and build healthy relationships with others.  I look forward to working with all stakeholders to help the school achieve its vision of producing graduates that are compassionate and collaborative life-long learners with knowledge and love of self, family, and community.

Samantha Odom

Assistant Principal

Ms. Jennifer Bender

Assistant Principal

I am excited to be part of this amazing administrative team after working at Castlemont for the previous six years as an Instructional Teacher Leader. The Bay has been my home for 25 years, but I am originally from a small-town in Northern Wisconsin (a very different land). I come to Castlemont having taught ELD and ELA and worked in various site and district admin positions before stepping back into a calmer teacher-leader role here.   

My work stems from a deep belief in the power of teachers and school personnel to have a positive, lasting, and transformative impact on students' lives. I strive to ensure that our teachers and staff have what they need to be and do their best for students every day. Students and families need systems and structures that acknowledge who they are and what they need, and then work for them.  I come to work ready to put those structures and systems in place so that students have every support to be whomever they want in the world. 

Jen Bender

Assistant Principal