Parker Leadership Team

KEVIN YALEY, Ph.D.

Head of School

Kevin Yaley, Ph.D., has served as Head of Francis Parker School since 2010, although he has held various leadership and teaching positions since joining the school in 2001. Prior to joining Parker, he taught history, ethics, and philosophy for a decade at the University of San Diego High School. He also coached cross country, track and field, and soccer.

Kevin chaired four California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) accreditation visits. He was a fellow of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Edward E. Ford Fellowship for Aspiring Heads and was awarded a fellowship to the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership’s Heads of Schools Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He also served on the CAIS Board of Standards from 2008 to 2016.

Kevin received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Notre Dame, an additional master's degree from San Diego State University, and his doctorate in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego. He recently received his executive coaching and leadership (IECL) certification. Kevin is the proud parent of three Parker graduates—Solia ’13, Indiana, ’16, and Ansel ’17.

Kevin Yaley, Ph.D.
Head of School
858/569-7900 x4103
 
 

PARKER LEADERSHIP TEAM

Erika Assadi
Head of Horizons and Associate Director of Lower School Admissions
619-298-9110 x 6234
 
 

Prior to joining Parker, Erika Chapa was part of a founding team that helped develop Marin Preparatory School from an idea to a thriving independent school in San Francisco. She has held many roles, including Director of Enrollment Management, Director of Educational Technology, and Director of Summer Programs. She also served as the Spanish Language Director and taught 2nd grade, Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Spanish.

Erika holds her master’s degree in Educational Administration/Leadership from Concordia University and her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Suzanne Barrow
Head of Integrative Programs
(858) 569-7900 x 4236
 
 
Suzanne came to Parker in 2019 and currently holds the position of Head of the Division of Integrative Programs. Prior to joining Parker, she served for the past eight years as the Associate Head and Dean of Students for the Carmel Campus at Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach and Carmel, California. Her past teaching experience includes Kindergarten, Grade 4, middle school and high school English, and she also served as the athletic director. Suzanne holds a BA in Education and English from Abilene Christian University. She is also certified in Drug and Alcohol Counseling and Pastoral Care. Suzanne has four children, Marka Sue (New York), Brett (Los Angeles), Carlee (Santa Monica), and Brady (London, England), and four grandchildren (Deacon James, Troy Jackson, Case Jordan, and Marilyn Sue). Suzanne enjoys talking about education, football, and fried chicken.
Tyler Fereira
Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance
858-569-7900 x 4219
Heather Gray
Dr. Robert Gillingham Head of Lower School
858-298-9110 x 6202

Heather came to Parker in 2000 and currently holds the position of Dr. Robert Gillingham Head of Lower School. Prior to joining Parker, she taught grades 6 to 8 in a public middle school near Seattle. She found her "home" at Parker in Grade 5 for 11 years before moving into other roles, including Math Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator, and Assistant Head of Lower School. She has two children who are "lifers" at Parker, daughter Zoë '19, and son David '22.

Heather earned her B.S. in Environmental Education from Western Washington University, Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington, and Preliminary Administrative Credential from National University. In December 2020 Heather will receive her Administrative Services Credential from SDSU. 

Heather enjoys hiking in national parks with her family, photography, swimming laps, traveling, cooking and reading.

Megan Storey Hallam
Head of Student Success and Wellness
858-569-7900 x 4154

Megan Storey Hallam currently holds the position of Head of Student Success and Wellness in the Lower, Middle, and Upper School. Prior to joining Parker, she was the Director of Student Support at Leman Manhattan. Previously, Megan held leadership roles in School Psychology and Student Support at various international schools. Her background also includes several years of experience as a Research Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in Public Health.

Megan earned her doctorate degree in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership and her education specialist degree in School Psychology from College of W&M. In her spare time, Megan enjoys yoga, running, sailing, and traveling with family.

Shara Freeman Hoefel
Assistant Head of School for External Relations
858-569-7900 x 4106
 
 

Shara came to Parker in 2013 as the Head of Advancement. In July 2020, she assumed the role of Assistant Head of School for External Relations. Prior to joining Parker, she was the Senior Director of Development and Stewardship for Fordham Law School. Previously, Shara was a Major Gifts Officer for Cornell University and prior to Cornell, she was Director of Major Gifts at The Chapin School in New York City.

Shara serves at the Chair of the CASE School Advancement Institute and on the CASE VII Cabinet Board. 

Shara received a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and an M.S. in Sport Psychology from Ithaca College. She enjoys traveling and is an avid reader.

Mahina Hannemann-Gago
Director of Athletics
858-569-7900 x 4147
 
 

Mahina Hannemann-Gago D.Ed. CMAA, joined Parker in the Summer of 2023 and currently holds the position of Director of Athletics. Prior to joining Parker, she was the Associate Athletic Director at The Kamehameha Schools-Maui for seven years. Previously, Mahina held administrative roles in education administration at KSM and Quest Preparatory Academy.

Mahina earned her doctorate degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Performance Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She received her MA in Higher Education Policy & Administration from Dakota Wesleyan University and a BS in Exercise & Sports Science from Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. She also holds a Certified Master Athletic Administrator distinction from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. She is also a current member of the American Samoa Women's Basketball team.

Allison Kaufman
Head of Communications and Marketing
858-569-7900 x 4403
 
 

Allison joined Parker as Head of Marketing and Communications in the summer of 2023. She relocated to San Diego from Monterey, CA, where she was the Director of Digital Communications for Stevenson School. Allison holds a Design Communication Arts certificate from UCLA, a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from the College of the Holy Cross. She has worked in education for 15 years, many of which were spent in the classroom teaching student publications alongside her administrative duties and coaching rowing, basketball, and volleyball.

Dan Lang
Assistant Head of School for JK-12 Strategic Initiatives
858-569-7900 x 4123
 
 
Dan was named Assistant Head of School for JK-12 Strategic Initiatives in August 2020, and has also served as Head of Middle School since July 1, 2012. Dan joined Parker in 2006 as a Grade 7 and 8 English teacher.
 
As Seventh Grade Level Coordinator here, Dan represented that grade on the Middle School Administrative Team. He facilitated weekly grade-level meetings and provided administrative support for grade-level activities.
 
Originally from Northern California, Dan graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in English. After attending law school at the University of San Francisco, Dan began coaching and working with young people as middle school athletic director at West Portal Lutheran School in San Francisco, a path that ultimately led to full-time teaching. In 2011, Dan completed his master's in leadership and earned a state administrative services credential through the Educational Leadership Development Academy at the University of San Diego.
 
Before joining Parker, Dan taught ninth- and 12th-grade English at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, where he also was head boys track coach. Dan makes his home in Alpine along with his wife, Heather; son, Grayson '15; and daughter, Frannie '18.
Mike Rinehart
Head of Operations
858-569-7900 x 4115
 
 

Mike Rinehart rejoined Francis Parker School in 2023 as Head of Operations. Immediately prior to his return, Mike was Chief Financial Officer at Ezoic Inc., a global technology company whose AI powered platform helps more than 10,000 digital publishers improve the performance of their websites. From 2016 to 2021, Mike was Vice President and Corporate Controller at Avalara, Inc., a global provider of software solutions for sales tax automation. From 2011 to 2016, Mike was Head of Finance and Operations at Francis Parker School. Earlier in his career, Mike held various financial and operations positions at several technology companies. Mike received a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University. In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and volunteering.

Frederic Skrzypek
Director of Instructional Technology and Information Systems
858-569-7900 x 4130
 
 

Frederic came to Parker in 2021 and currently holds the position of Director of Instructional Technology and Information Systems. He has worked in independent schools for almost 20 years on both East and West coasts. Frederic attended University of Paris XII (France) and he holds a master's degree in Philosophy of Science.

Christen Tedrow-Harrison
Head of Belonging
858-569-7900 x 4320
 
 
Christen came to Parker in 2015 and currently holds the position of Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. She has been in education for over 14 years. She’s worked as an English teacher, a facilitator, trainer, and diversity practitioner. Her work focuses on the incorporation of multicultural curriculum, anti-bias training, and SEED facilitation. As a biracial woman of Latina descent, diversity, multiculturalism, and social justice have always been integral to her work as an educator.
 
In 2010, Christen was the co-chair of the National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference and was a member of Call to Action from 2009 to 2012, a diversity think tank comprised of national leaders for equity and social justice within independent schools and educational organizations.  
 
Christen has a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Spanish from Christendom College in Virginia and is working toward a graduate degree.
Ben Temple
Head of Upper School
858-569-7900 x 4120
 
 

Ben Temple came to Parker in 2021 and currently holds the position of Head of Upper School. Prior to joining Parker, Ben was the Head of Upper School at the Collegiate School in New York since 2015, where he was responsible for all aspects of the Upper School program and supervised 225 students, more than 50 faculty, and eight department heads.

Ben is an accomplished educational leader with 18 years of teaching and administrative roles in independent schools across the country, including The Blake School in Minneapolis, Global Online Academy in Seattle, Westtown School in West Chester, Pa., and Tatnall School in Wilmington, De. He is a champion of gender diversity work and an advocate for students and faculty of color.

Ben and his wife, Erika, are parents of three Parker students — Austen, Class of 2025, Olivia, Class of 2028, and Sam, Class of 2032.