Parker Leadership Team
KEVIN YALEY, HEAD OF SCHOOL
Kevin Yaley was named Head of Francis Parker School in 2010 following an extensive national search. He is the 12th person to fill the position since the school’s founding in 1912 and is now leading Parker into its second century with great energy and vision.
Prior to stepping into the top leadership role, Kevin enjoyed 13 years of teaching history, ethics, and philosophy, first at the University of San Diego High School and later at Parker. He also coached cross country, track and field, and soccer during that time.
In 2004, Kevin was tapped to serve as Parker’s Director of Admissions. The following year, he was appointed Associate Head of School, a position he held for five years.
He was a fellow of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Edward E. Ford Fellowship for Aspiring Heads and was recently awarded a fellowship to the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership’s 2017 Heads of Schools Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Kevin also served on the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Board of Standards from 2008 to 2016.
He received a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Notre Dame and an additional master's degree from San Diego State University.
Kevin and his wife, Shawna, are parents of three Parker graduates—Solia ’13, Indiana, ’16, and Ansel ’17.
Kevin Yaley
PARKER LEADERSHIP TEAM
Erika Assadi, née Chapa
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Prior to her current role as Director of Summer and Extended Day Programs at 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.
Carrie Dilmore
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Carrie Dilmore came to Parker in 2003 and currently holds the position of Interim Head of Upper School. Prior to joining Parker, she taught mathematics and coached volleyball in the public school systems in Orlando and San Diego.
Mrs. Dilmore graduated with honors from Rollins College in Florida with a B.A. in Mathematics and a minor in Education. Going back even further, Mrs. Dilmore was a three-sport athlete, drum major, and a co-valedictorian of her high school in Colorado.
Mrs. Dilmore enjoys all things related to athletics and spending time with her family.
Heather Gray
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Coming soon
Shara Freeman Hoefel
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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 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.
Dan Lang
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Dan was named Head of Middle School on July 1, 2012, after serving as Middle School dean of students. Dan joined Parker in 2006 as a seventh- and eighth-grade 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 - Parker Class of 2015; and daughter, Frannie - Parker Class of 2018.
Christen Tedrow-Harrison
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
858-569-7900 x 4320
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Coming Soon
Anthony Thomas
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Anthony came to Parker in 2018 and currently holds the position of Director of Athletics. A seasoned educator, coach, and administrator, Anthony has served most recently as Athletic Director at several outstanding California independent schools, including Convent & Stuart Hall School in San Francisco, The Branson School in Ross, California, and the International High School & French American International School in San Francisco.
Anthony is a proud graduate of UCLA, and an active member of the California State Athletic Directors Association (CSADA) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). Anthony says working at Parker is a dream as few schools compare to its quality and caliber.
Katharine Wardle
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Katharine Wardle joined Francis Parker in 2018. Previously, she was Chief Financial Officer for the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. She has over 20 years of experience in financial and operational management in not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Prior to joining LFJCC in July 2014, her assignments included CFO at Mingei International Museum, CFO at the technology startup Skinit, and CFO at one of Mexico's largest dollar store chains, Waldo’s.
Ms. Wardle has a Master of Business Administration in International Management, concentration in Finance, from the Garvin International School of Business, Thunderbird; a Master of Science in Political Science from the School of Oriental Studies, University of London, England; and a Master of Arts (MA Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Ms. Wardle is also a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Treasury Professional. She is fluent in Spanish and Italian and speaks French and Mandarin.
Having spent her early career living and working in China and Southeast Asia, she has also worked in Mexico, Brazil and is now permanently residing in San Diego. Ms. Wardle is married to Patricia Brennan and they have three young daughters, Aisling, Eva, and Keira. Ms. Wardle is a graduate of the San Diego LEAD IMPACT program and her community work includes Board Member and Treasurer, Elementary Institute of Science and Audit Committee Member for Planned Parenthood, San Diego. Ms. Wardle’s passions are her kids, STEAM education for all, benefits of being multilingual, maximizing impact of mission-oriented organizations, and running.