Meet our Principal

Vanessa Flynn

Principal, Sequoia Elementary

Ms. Flynn is excited and honored to join our Sequoia community, marking a full-circle moment as she began her educational journey with student teaching at Sequoia over twenty-five years ago!

Ms. Flynn brings a wealth of experience to our school, having taught various grade levels and served as an instructional coach in the Oakland Unified School District. Her leadership journey continued as an assistant principal and principal in San Rafael City Schools and Berkeley for over a decade. Most recently, Ms. Flynn took a brief hiatus from full-time principal duties to provide professional development and coaching in Early Literacy and Effective Practices for English Language Development across California and Hawaii.

Throughout her career, Ms. Flynn has remained dedicated to fostering joyful, engaging learning experiences. She believes in the power of collaboration with teachers, students, families, community members, and colleagues to help all students realize their talents and unique gifts. Ms. Flynn is eager to share her expertise, connect with our community, and listen to the voices of Sequoia Elementary.

Outside of her professional life, Ms. Flynn enjoys the great outdoors, taking day trips with her husband, and spending quality time with family. She is incredibly proud of her adult son, Teo, an Oakland native and now an educator himself. A passionate community gardener, Ms. Flynn is enthusiastic about water harvesting and farming – be sure to ask her about these interests!