About G WOO LEGACY

For more than 40 years, Gail Wooley has dedicated her life to teaching, mentoring, and uplifting students in some of California’s most underserved communities. Known by her students and loved ones as “GWoo,” Gail is more than an educator—she is a mentor, a poet, a survivor, and now, a jewelry artist with a mission.

Gail grew up in North Oakland, later living in Los Angeles, Orange County, Philadelphia, and even Sierra Leone, West Africa. Along the way, she witnessed the challenges of poverty, violence, and inequity up close. These experiences shaped her calling: to guide young people away from the streets and toward brighter futures.

She has worked with continuing education students, special needs students, and kids society often overlooks. She’s mentored countless young people to not only graduate but to pursue careers and even start businesses. Known for bringing homeless and struggling kids into her home for holiday dinners, Gail has always believed in creating space for those who needed it most.

Her journey hasn’t been easy. Gail survived domestic violence, years of dialysis after being diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, and the loss of family members to addiction and street violence. Yet, through it all, she remained committed to her students—teaching during the day and attending dialysis treatments at night, always keeping her sense of hope. 

In 2015, she received the life-saving gift of a double kidney transplant. Instead of retiring, she went back to teaching because, as she says, “My kids still needed me.”

Today, Gail teaches English at Oakland Technical High School’s Fashion, Arts, and Design Academy, the same district where she once received honors as a student. She has been named Teacher of the Year multiple times in her career, demonstrating her ability to teach "the whole child."

In addition to teaching, Gail has always been a creative force—performing spoken word poetry on justice and equality, and now, handcrafting jewelry from stone, glass, and natural materials. For Gail, jewelry is not just an art form but an extension of her purpose: a way to express resilience, beauty, and strength while giving back.

Through G WOO LEGACY's jewelry sales, Gail donates 5% of profits to support teachers and classrooms, funding basic supplies and field trips that spark imagination and opportunity for students.

When you wear GWoo, you’re not just wearing jewelry.
You’re carrying a story of resilience.
You’re supporting teachers and students.
You’re joining a movement rooted in love, justice, and community.