Recently, numerous requests have been made by community members and staff to honor the contributions of Nielsen (Niel) Tam to AUSD and memorialize his contributions in a way that is fitting to his long legacy of outstanding service to the district and the Alameda community.

Niel Tam first began his career in AUSD in 1970 as a teacher after earning his master’s degree in Special Education. He became the first Chinese-American school administrator hired in AUSD after being selected to serve as the vice principal at Wood Middle School in 1996.  He then was hired as principal of Miller Elementary School in 1997 while also providing oversight to Woodstock Childhood Development Center simultaneously. Niel was later hired as principal of Washington Elementary School in 2006 before retiring from AUSD in 2008 after thirty-seven (37) years of service to the district.

During his time in AUSD and after, Niel Tam was a pillar of the community, having served in leadership roles in community organizations supporting youth and families (e.g., Alameda Boys and Girls Club; Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth, and Their Families (ACCYF); Alameda Community Fund; Alameda Family Services; Alameda Multicultural Community Center; Alameda Point Collaborative; and Girls Inc. of the Island City).

Niel also volunteered for the Alameda Food Bank, the Alameda Library Strategic Planning Committee, Alameda Soccer Club, the Alameda Traffic Commission, and the Buena Vista United Methodist Church. Niel campaigned and was elected to the Alameda Board of Education in 2008, was re-elected in 2012, and served as President of the Alameda Board of Education in 2013.

Niel Tam received numerous awards for his commitment and service to others (e.g., the San Francisco Foundation’s Koshland Civic Unity Award (2002), a Coro Northern California Community Leadership Program Fellowship (2006), an American Red Cross Award for Community Service (2008), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alameda City Social Services Human Relations Board (2015), and the Alameda County Lifetime Achievement Award (2015).

Niel Tam fought valiantly for the rights of all throughout his time with us, thus earning commendations from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County for his commitment to social justice. Niel passed away tragically and far too early at the age of 69 in May of 2015 while still serving actively and selflessly on the Alameda Board of Education until his death.

Alameda Board Policy 7310 states that “(u)pon request, the Board shall consider planting commemorative trees, erecting monuments, or dedicating buildings, parts of buildings, athletic fields, gardens, or other district facilities in memory of deceased students, staff members, community members, and benefactors of the district."

Staff asks that the Board support the requests of Alameda community members and AUSD staff to honor Niel by naming Alameda Unified School District’s district office The Niel Tam Educational Center.