Kilian Betlach

Kilian Betlach is the principal of Elmhurst United Middle School in the Oakland Unified School District. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Boston College and a Masters in Educational Leadership from San Jose State. He taught 7th and 8th grade English, ELD, and Newcomer classes in East San Jose for six years before taking on the role of Assistant Principal at Elmhurst in 2009. Betlach was promoted to principal in 2012, and earned OUSD secondary principal of the year honors. in 2014. In 2018, he was selected to lead the merger of three East Oakland Middle Schools.

His work at Elmhurst has seen a dramatic reduction in disproportionate outcomes for Black students, the highest teacher retention of any district middle school, significant growth in enrollment, and a consistent 750% increase in the percentage of students reading on grade level over a three-year period. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two children.