Parker Magazine Summer 2020

Parker

LEARNING TOGETHER, VIRTUALLY | DAY OF GIVING GOES GLOBAL | PARKER’S PEP BAND | COMMENCEMENT 2020

SUMMER 2020

THE MAGAZINE OF FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOL

we’re so happy

HEALTH AND SAFETY

F.I.R.S.T.

to see you!

It’s up to each of us F ACE MASKS

Wear your mask

to do our part to keep our community i LL?Anytime youhealthy and safe. feel sick, I wear a mask to protect you; you wear a mask to protect me.

all the time

feeling ill?

stay at home until you are well.

R EMOVE GERMS

stay at homeWash your hands

thoroughly and often.

As we prepare to return to in-person learning, remember to practice Parker’s Health and Safety F.I.R.S.T. protocols.

S IX FEET

wash your hands

Whenever you can, stay six feet away from others.

t EMPERATURE thoroughly and often

Take your temperature and check for symptoms every day.

stay 6 feet apart

Help our community stay well by practicing these five rules everyday! from others take your temperature

every day

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Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Parker F.I.R.S.T. keeps us Healthy and Safe.

Head of School Message Earlier this summer, along with the Parker Administration and Board of Trustees’ full support, Parker produced the Lancers for Equity and Justice. This living document is both a testament to our core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and a bold and powerful statement dedicating ourselves to revising our curriculum and program, devoting financial resources, engaging with philanthropic investors, and partnering with organizational leaders to seek and achieve the change we greatly desire for our students and our world.

Read more at francisparker.org/ lancers-for-equity-and-justice

Inspired by what we have learned from the experiences of members of our Parker community and the insights and expertise a dedicated group of Parker administrators, trustees, and faculty and staff including our Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Christen Tedrow-Harrison and our Grade 11 Dean, Dr. Rai Wilson – Lancers for Equity and Justice serves as a roadmap to bring about essential change, knowing that our actions will ultimately speak louder than words.

community-wide assessment of inclusivity and multiculturalism, and addressing the deficiencies and biases embedded in the JK to Grade 12 curriculum.

Nevertheless, we know we have much more to do and pledge to do it with increased urgency, gravity, and earnestness.

Over the past decade, Parker has made strides in advancing this critical work, including the establishment of a Diversity Committee of the Board of Trustees, undergoing a

And it is with deep gratitude that I wish to acknowledge and thank an extremely generous donor publicly – an alumnus and his wife who wish to remain anonymous – for their extremely generous gift

of $300,000 in support of this important work. Together, we walk boldly and humbly toward a racially just future where each of us feels like we belong in the Parker community.

With gratitude,

Kevin Yaley, Head of School

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine

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Contents 08

16

Shift to Parker Online exemplifies School’s core value “No Limit to Better.”

Professional development broadens global perspectives.

Learning Together, Virtually

Day of Giving Goes Global

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24

Parker Pep Band challenges traditions.

Commencement 2020 : a celebration for a Class like no other.

Pep & Roll

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Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

A Celebration Like No Other

Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Francis Parker School Kevin Yaley, Head of School

Departments 04

Editor

Lori Foote ’94

Parker Highlights

The latest news from around the School.

28

Promotions

31

Parker Transitions

44

Alumni Class Notes

Lower and Middle School Promotions.

Photography

Celebrating Parker Faculty and Staff.

The latest updates from Parker alumni.

2020-2021

Board of Trustees Susan E. Lester, Chair Jeannette Aldous, M.D. Will Beamer ’89 Ayse Benker Jing Bourgeois Gil Brady Carin Canale-Theakston Diana Casey Ana Chapman Randall Clark Estela de Llanos Kristie Diamond Graeme Gabriel Robert Gleason

Contributors

Shara Freeman Hoefel Jill Kelly Matt Piechalak

Robert Howard Ted Kim Susan E. Lester Noelle Khoury Ludwig ’91 Samir Singh ’96 Kate Deely Smith Meghan Spieker Traci Stuart Mary Taylor Sarah White Caroline Rentto Wohl ’86 Kevin Yaley, Head of School

Lori Foote ’94 Earnie Grafton Matt Piechalak Courtney Ranaudo

Non-Discrimination Statement

Francis Parker School is an inclusive community where diversity is welcomed and celebrated. We seek talented students, families, faculty and staff from different backgrounds. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, creed or national origin in the administration of its admissions, tuition assistance, employment determination or other procedures or programs.

Inclusive Language Statement

Francis Parker School is committed to the use of inclusive language. This pledge extends to our communications.

We practice the use of writing styles and language that are free from bias and sensitive to people’s abilities, disabilities, ethnic and racial designations, cultural differences, and gender identities.

Parker Magazine is published two times each year by the Communications Office as a School community magazine.

Address correspondence to: communications@francisparker.org

On the Cover

Our Mission The mission of Francis Parker School is to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence, global perspective, and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Colin Duncan, Class of 2024, proudly holds a sign reading “Parker Teachers Rock” during the Parents Association Teacher Appreciation parade at Parker’s Linda Vista Campus in May 2020. As the Campuses were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, students and parents found creative ways to show their love and support for Parker’s faculty and staff. The event was live-streamed to the faculty while they taught classes from their homes.

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Parker Highlights ADMISSIONS UPCOMING EVENTS Admissions for the 20212022 academic year opens on October 1, 2020. Please visit francisparker.org/admissions for more information.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES On June 29, the Board of Trustees approved the following new trustees: Jing Bourgeois, current parent and community volunteer; Gil Brady, parent of alumni and President of Nativity Prep Academy; Carin Canale-Theakston, current parent and CEO of Canale Communications; and Ana Chapman, current parent and Senior Relationship Manager for Allianz Global Investors.

Rich Effress, Randy Jones, and Patsy Marino completed their dedicated trustee service to the School. Susan Lester began her service as Board Chair on July 1, 2020. Robert Gleason completed his two-year term as Board Chair and will remain on the Board.

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Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

ACCREDITATION UPDATE In June 2020, Parker was notified by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) that our current accreditation status was extended through June 2021 due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus.

Parker began a self-study process in June 2018 that culminated in February 2020 with a visit by a team of educators from some of the best schools in California: Head-Royce, Harvard-Westlake, French American International, Marlborough, Chadwick, La Scuola International, Crossroads, Oakwood School, Brentwood School, and Polytechnic School. Having read our self-study report, the result of 18 months of work by our faculty, staff, and administrators, the visiting committee spent three days observing classrooms, meeting with teachers, administrators, and students, and reviewing documents. The visiting committee’s report was sent to the Board of Standards shortly after the visit.

This summer, Parker will submit a brief update to the Board of Standards and this update, along with the visiting committee’s report will be reviewed in winter 2020. We expect to hear the Board’s decision regarding our accreditation status in early 2021.

COVID-19 CRISIS FUND In early April, an anonymous Parker family wanted to help our community and donated a $50,000 current-use gift to assist families who sought tuition assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Crisis Fund has supported families who were not currently receiving financial assistance and formally requested aid, and families who were receiving financial assistance and needed additional support for the remaining months of the 2019-2020 school year.

Parker Highlights

HISTORY DAY WINNERS Two projects created by Parker Upper School students won their categories at the National History Day California competition and both finished top 10 nationally. Elsa Baumgartner and Addy Phillips, both Class of 2021, won the Senior Division Group Website in California for their project, “Printing a Revolution: Breaking Barriers to Scientific Advancement.”

Jesse Smith, Class of 2022, won the Senior Division Individual Documentary category in California for his project, “Home from the War: The Vietnam Veteran Experience.” Jesse also won the William E. Geary Military History Award.

Parker students also won several special awards in the state contest. See below for a complete list of winners.

Eden Smith & Samantha Kim Breaking Gender Barriers: Women in Pants Junior Division Group Website Women’s Suffrage Award Cate Hasler Dolores Huerta: Breaking Barriers for Migrant Farm Workers Senior Division Individual Exhibit California Conference of Historical Societies Award Neusha Kharrati, Annie McGrath, Aadi Miglani Senior Division Group Website More than a Medical Anomaly: Breaking the Barrier of Implicit Bias with the 1993 NIH Revitalization Act Longevity Award presented to Neusha Kharrati To read about the Parker History Day Club, visit Parker School News at francisparkerschoolnews.com

Read more online at francisparker.org/news

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COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY HIRING Parker is committed to building a school community that represents a broad range of viewpoints, cultures, and backgrounds.

One of the many ways the School strives to improve its cultural competency is through continued education on diversity hiring practices.

Twenty-seven faculty and staff members participated in the Nemnet Diversity Recruitment Workshop hosted on Parker’s Linda Vista Campus last November. The workshop was one of two held in California in 2019. Workshops are open to both public and private school administrators.

Annually, Nemnet conducts regional workshops and training seminars on Diversity Recruitment, and Retention.

The workshops explore the challenges, best practices and strategies associated with minority and staff recruitment.

During the workshops, participants learn how to implement best practices and proven minority recruitment strategies, learn how and where to access information and resources that will assist them in meeting their diversity goals, undergo the Nemnet Minority Recruitment Assessment Test (mRat) to assess individual obstacles and needs, and leave with concrete and tangible tips and strategies.

For more information, visit https://www.nemnet.com.

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Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Parker Moment Head of School Kevin Yaley holds up a “congratulations” yard sign outside the home of a 2020 graduate during a senior sign distribution on May 7, 2020. Members of the Parker Leadership Team, Upper School administrators, and members of the School’s Transportation department drove around San Diego County, surprising the 130 members of the Class of 2020 with Parker yard signs.

“No words could fully express the gratitude I hold for each one of you for the incredible work you accomplished over these past few months.”

Head of School Kevin Yaley

p. 13

“One thing is vivid, clear, and sharp. Today is a special, thrilling, and wonderful day for you.”

Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director of The Old Globe Barry Edelstein

“WE REMAIN READY TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE HOWEVER WE CAN.” Parker Science Department Chair Denver Guess p. 65

p. 22

“You’re bigger than life when you’re a teacher at Parker.”

SK Teacher Birdy Hartman

“We hope tonight is a welcome respite and reminds us all why we chose to be Lancers.”

Gala Chair Liz Zborowski

p. 30

p. 43

“It’s so important to stay active, especially during times of stress.

I wanted to encourage people to get up and move.”

Parker Strength & Conditioning coach Jeff Rose

p. 12

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine

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Learning together virtually Shift to Parker Online exemplifies the School’s core value of “No Limit to Better”

BY MATTHEW PIECHALAK

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STANDING ON STAGE IN J. CRIVELLO HALL PRIOR TO MID-WINTER BREAK ON MARCH 5, PARKER HEAD OF SCHOOL KEVIN YALEY BRIEFED FACULTY AND STAFF ON PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN THE EVENT THAT THE SCHOOL NEEDED TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING THREAT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. At the time, no one could have predicted that the eventual closing would extend through the rest of the 2019-20 school year. But that was the reality for the Parker community.

Following orders from local and state health officials in the United States, on March 12, Francis Parker School closed its doors. Just ten days later, on Monday, March 23, Parker Online was launched school-wide to “provide continuity of learning for [Parker] students.”

Considering the breadth of creating a whole new system of learning, it was a remarkable turnaround, focused on offering the best possible alternative education to students across all three divisions during a historic and uncertain time.

Suddenly, learning was confined to the virtual world. Living rooms,

bedrooms, and backyard patios became classrooms.

Yet, despite the unfamiliarity and limitations created by these new realities, the Parker community began moving forward together.

Teachers across all three divisions tightened their creative hats and set about crafting and tailoring their daily lessons to engage their remote audiences. The content was altered, but the learning goals remained.

Meanwhile, Parker students did what Parker students do best: they enthusiastically harnessed their passions and skills to create—and share—unique content to inspire their peers, teachers, parents, and the larger School community.

As the days and weeks rolled on, Parker Online continued to evolve to meet the needs of the School. FPS TV was launched to broadcast both live and recorded content and to provide additional opportunities for teachers and students to interact and grow.

Students and teachers alike created inspiring songs, dance routines, and passion projects that they recorded and shared out. Utilizing video, email, chat, social media, and other modern forms of technology, Parker stayed— and remains—connected.

Parker Online found a place within the educational landscape of Francis Parker School at a time when inperson learning wasn’t an option.

FINDING INDIVIDUAL PASSIONS IN LOWER SCHOOL One component of Parker Online that was created and embraced at the Lower School was the incorporation of student-driven, ungraded projects called “Passion Projects” as an extension of the regular curriculum.

The students found success because they were invested in topics they cared about, says Design teacher Kelly Eveland.

The idea to bring Passion Projects to Lower School students was originally suggested by Grade 3 teacher Jamie Herold. Kelly, who used to teach

Above: Students, faculty, and even the School’s mascot, Lance, shared photos of how they learn, play, and keep School spirit alive during Parker Online.

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Genius Hour projects in Santee, agreed to help. Each student was paired with a mentor who would help them along, brainstorming the next steps and focusing their questions and ideas, Kelly explains.

“Students chose any subject close to their heart and they learned about the subject as in-depth as they wanted,” explains Kelly. “The final product was a presentation of any sort [that] communicated what the student learned about their passion or what skills they gained through the process.”

Among student Passion Projects were research on how to make vaccines more affordable and how to remove salt from saltwater in a more efficient manner.

“We wanted to give our students a chance to participate in a learning activity that took advantage of their independent work time and began to form their internal intellectual curiosity and drive,” says Kelly. “The other value is students become more unique individuals in the minds of the teachers and we all get to know each other better.”

“Thrown into this before many other districts and independent schools, the teachers quickly invented online

learning that was appropriate for our School and students,” says Head of Lower School Bob Gillingham. “We understand that there are countless variables once the educational process leaves our Campus and migrates into homes, and the teachers did their very best to accommodate the array of social, emotional, and academic needs.”

Grade 7 dean and teacher Mary OngDean. “So the initial challenge was determining what content and skills are essential and focusing on teaching those.”

FOCUSING ON RELATIONSHIPS, REAL-WORLD EVENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

“We were encouraged to find that students were just as passionate about their topics and worked just as diligently to become experts in their field as they did when they were working in the classroom.”

“I could not be more proud of the Middle School faculty and their pivot to Parker Online,” says Head of Middle School Dan Lang. “In just over a week, our entire faculty created an online school that was not only aimed at the same learning targets as our regular courses but also focused on keeping relationships strong with our students. In my visits to virtual classrooms, I was able to witness excellent learning first-hand and the innovative use of technology tools that teachers had just recently learned.”

“We knew when we shifted to online learning that we would not have the same amount of time to explore topics with students as we would in our faceto-face communications,” explains

The annual Renaissance project for Grade 7 students took on new meaning, as the students needed to focus their efforts online.

Upper School students hone their creativity and interpersonal communication online The Upper School faculty worked tirelessly to ensure that their students were having a meaningful learning experience, and importantly, that their students stayed connected to each other and Parker, says Head of Upper School Monica Gillespie.

“The creativity I observed when I visited classrooms was impressive,” Monica says. “The challenge was to bring what is so special about Parker into a virtual environment, and I believe it was a success. Not perfect, but that was never going to happen

Above: Parker teacher Denver Guess fired up Parker’s Design Lab 3D printers to make face shields for local healthcare workers.

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Above: An Upper School Guitar class performs together, virtually, in Parker Online.

nor does it happen when we are on Campus. This is a human endeavor.”

Upper School students and faculty needed to find their groove–but once they settled into a rhythm, both parties found an enriching experience.

“I loved being able to engage with students in their own space on social media platforms,” says Upper School Dean of Students Stacey Patsko.

“That is normally frowned upon, but in this environment, I felt it gave us an additional way to interact casually.

I also really loved the creativity that came out of Parker Online.”

Both Scribe’s “The Scoop” and the Associated Student Body’s (ASB) “The Late (Start) Show” were studentcreated programs that found weekly airtime on FPS TV, the Parkerspecific channel that was launched in early April to showcase live and prerecorded content and to provide additional opportunities for the community to remain connected.

The Late (Start) Show was created to entertain and advertise upcoming

(virtual) events and to keep building School spirit, says ASB member Ella Ludwig, Class of 2023.

“When you aren’t at school, you lose the sense of community that you get from seeing your friends every day and we needed a way to keep that,” Ella says. “Lauren Kaese ’20, our chair of activities council from last year, created the show and put together the first few episodes. The goal of the show was to highlight Parker students and keep people informed, but also to give students something fun to watch in quarantine.”

CREATING IN A BUBBLE Teaching core subjects online is one challenge; practicing music and creating art is quite another.

“Our biggest challenge in both Upper School and Middle School was not being able to rehearse at the same time,” says guitar teacher Mike Gonzales. “Ensemble classes require group rehearsals that culminate in major performances.”

To overcome that challenge, students sent in video and audio recordings that allowed Mike and the other teachers to assess their performances weekly.

“The video assignments gave me an opportunity to listen to each student individually and it was very helpful,” says guitar teacher Keven Ford. “I was able to give them feedback, which also allowed the students to listen to their own performance to apply improvements. As far as the camaraderie aspect, having time to have fun and have conversations with one another helped continue that team-like vibe.”

To replicate “live performances” in Upper School, each student had to record audio of their part while listening to a backing track.

“They would send us the track and I used Garage Band to build them into an ensemble performance,” says Mike. The next step was to use iMovie to combine the video and new audio into an online performance. It was a learning curve to overcome in a short period of time.”

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To the students’ credit, they were willing to accept the changes of an undesirable situation and have patience with their “senior teacher,” Barry says.

“With the encouragement of my students, I managed, week after week, to put together a beneficial course of study that enlightened and inspired them more than I could have possibly managed in the beginning.”

STAY ACTIVE, STAY SAFE, STAY POSITIVE. Parker Strength & Conditioning coach Jeff Rose was looking for a way to encourage the community to stay active while families were relegated to their homes. So in March, Jeff launched his Workout of the Day, which was broadcast on FPS TV and posted to the School’s social media channels.

Above: A collage of artwork created by Middle School students during Parker Online.

The annual Middle School Rock Project had to be altered, as well. The project usually culminates in a big live concert.

“The guitar and percussion class all collaborate to form their own rock groups. Each group chooses a song to present,” Mike explains. “With Parker Online, we had to adjust the live aspect. We sent them a backing track to practice, so when the kids mastered their parts as best they could, they sent us audio recordings.

We again built all the tracks into one master track.”

“While we were doing this, the kids worked as a team to create a slideshow with information about the band, themselves, and political, historical, and scientific information when the song was released. We felt it gave the kids a broader understanding of the song and the times. The rock videos turned out great as we all watched them on the final days of class.”

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When Campus closed, Woodworking teacher Barry Cheskaty had to figure out how to reinvent his class.

“How can I convey online the creative, hands-on experience that my students would normally enjoy?”

He asks, reflecting at the end of the school year. “How can my students, especially first-timers, possibly connect to the workings of the woodshop in front of their computers?

How can they truly experience the smell of fresh-cut wood, the symphony of sounds created by a dozen power tools and machines?”

The focus of Barry’s curriculum became more research-based.

“I would show them a wide variety of woodworking videos that showcase furniture styles, famous woodworkers, hand tools, and machinery safety and techniques, and to showcase an abundance of home decorator items and furniture styles that you hope will inspire your students,” he says.

“I really just wanted to give back to the Parker family,” says Jeff. “It’s so important to stay active, especially during times of stress. I wanted to encourage people to get up and move.”

Each daily workout would build upon the previous one and would conclude with an end of the week finale. One challenge, Jeff explains, was making sure the videos were easy to understand and that the workouts could be completed by a wide range of people.

“It could be anyone from a 10-year-old to a 90-year-old,” Jeff says. “I wanted as many people as possible to be able to do the exercise. Additionally, people would be exercising in all different spaces, most not having access to workout equipment, so I wanted to make sure they could be done in a small space without any equipment.”

The daily workouts were wildly successful—each was viewed

hundreds of times on social media.

Jeff also brought in special guests, including his wife and kids, and former and current Parker athletes.

“They all were so willing and excited to help out,” Jeff says. “Our senior athletes were beyond ready and willing to help. It was such a great reminder of how solid our Parker kids are.”

The success of Jeff’s Workout of the Day led Athletic Trainer Niki Dehner to begin a Stretch of the Day. Recorded and included in the daily FPS TV program, the videos were meant to coincide with the workouts and offered Niki’s tips on proper stretching techniques.

COMING TO YOU LIVE...

ONLINE “This became much bigger than I ever expected,” says Mike Gonzalez, when asked to reflect on Aloha Happy Hour, his Friday guitar concert that he

hosted on Facebook Live. “For me, it was a way to keep playing since all my live performances were canceled.”

Fellow music teacher Philip Lean also hosted his own weekly concert, and PE teacher Emily Lotkowictz helped the Parker community wrap up each week with her Happiness Hour Yoga. her weekly Happiness Hour Yoga! Both programs were featured on FPS TV. The live events from these talented individuals were an additional way to keep Parker connected,” says Mike.

“I couldn’t believe the number of people that would be watching and the number of views,” he says. “I loved going back over the show and reading all the comments—sometimes there were over 1,000 to read as people were chatting back and forth, just like being in a real bar or restaurant.

NO LIMIT TO BETTER Throughout Parker Online, there was

an unwavering commitment to be sure that Parker students, faculty, staff, and parents stayed connected.

This commitment led to unexpected discoveries and growth from all members of our community.

Addressing the faculty in an end-ofthe-year email on June 14, Kevin Yaley offered words of gratitude for the flexibility and unmatched passion of Parker teachers, who rallied to make Parker Online a success.

“If ever there were a year when my heartfelt thanks would fall woefully short, this is the year,” Kevin wrote.

“No words could fully express the gratitude I hold for each one of you for the incredible work you accomplished over these past few months. In a word, remarkable. I am proud to serve alongside all of you and now know that together we can accomplish anything.”

Once again, we have witnessed firsthand that there is no limit to better at Parker. n

Above: Parker Teacher Michael Gonzales kept the community together, virtualy, during Friday evening performances.

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Day of Giving Goes Global

BY JILL KELLY

Parker’s mission is to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence, global perspective, and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world.

For Upper School teacher Ari Gass, it is the “global perspective” in the mission that drives him to seek opportunities to broaden his horizons, and the funds raised through Day of Giving for professional development allow him to do just that.

Last August, Ari had the opportunity to attend a wholly unique program for global studies professionals—Where There Be Dragons, an immersive professional development seminar in field- and classroom-based global education.

In his role as a program leader in Parker's Global Studies Program, Ari has built and led an itinerary over the last four years for the program in Cambodia.

“My interest in the Dragons program in Nepal was to further my understanding of how to create a global studies itinerary that has an appropriate arc of preparatory activities, facilitation of discussion and debriefing during our time in-country, and a concluding project that helps students to incorporate their experience into something that can widen their perspective,” says Ari. “One of my goals for my students is to go beyond the feeling of ‘I'm grateful for all that I have at home’ to understanding the values of another culture.”

Ari traveled to Nepal for the two-week intensive training, where he was among a cohort of 12 independent school professionals, many of who have mandatory global studies programs. Ari spent considerable time in conversation with his peers to

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Above: Parker teache Ari Gass, front row right, pictured with other participants of the “Where There Be Dragons” program.

“ One of my goals for my students understanding the values of another culture.” learn how their programs operated, as well as participating in professionalled seminars. This was all against the stunning backdrop of Kathmandu, where he participated in the activities Parker students would experience when traveling there.

“After my days of learning, I had ample time to reflect on the things we do very well at Parker—we’ve been very intentional about partnering with our global communities rather than imposing upon them,” says Ari. “But there’s more work to be done. I spent a great deal of time learning how we could take our program from good to great.”

Ari came back inspired to rethink the approach to the Global Studies program. “In the current program, students meet six times throughout the year—after they’ve decided where they want to go. That time is spent learning the language, history, cultural norms, and creating a bond with their travel companions. I want to explore how we can spend time with students investigating the location options

before they choose,” says Ari. “For example, if a student is passionate about women’s issues and gendercide, their exploration of options may lead them to a program in India. For a student who wants to see the long tail of US international policy and how 40 years of civil war affects a region, Cambodia may be a good choice.”

With more information influencing their choice, students might get more out of the experience.

“The opportunity to learn from the masters of experiential learning and spend time with like-minded professionals in an inspiring setting was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Ari. “I’m so grateful to our community for investing in professional development to make this possible.” n

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&

Pep Roll Parker Pep Band challenges traditional notion of a marching band

By Matthew Piechalak *This story was written in February, prior to Francis Parker School closing its campuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pep Band Director Keven Ford moves from player-to-player, walking each through their designated part to The Allman Brothers Band’s uptempo version of the 1960s blues song, “One Way Out.” Resonating around the room are the spontaneously audible notes of a rock band tuning their guitars and casually playing their individual parts, focused on the sheet music on stands in front of them. Once everyone is clear on their parts and the song’s musical changes, Keven takes a seat behind the drum kit, counts them off with stick clicks, and the song begins.

The Parker Pep Band is not your typical pep group. Sure, they play at rallies, sports contests, and special

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school events with the objective to pump-up the crowd.

But a traditional marching band–they are not.

“We are a contemporary rock band that performs for sporting and school events,” says Keven, who has directed the group for eight years and is also one of the School’s Middle and Upper School guitar teachers.

The 2019-20 iteration of the pep band includes 12 Upper School students, who practice four days per week in the Thiemann Music Center. The band typically plays 10 to 15 events per school year. The lineup rotates, with a course expectation that each member performs at least once each trimester.

Antonia Villafranca ’20 is in her second year with the pep band. The lead singer says she joined for the bonds that form between musicians, connections she feels are unique from the ones a student would create with peers in other academic classes.

“Making music with someone is a much deeper and more meaningful connection for me,” Antonia says.

Parker Pep Band officially started in 1995 after former Athletic Director Dan Kuiper approached Middle and Upper School Guitar teacher Michael Gonzalez to see if his instrumental guitar class would want to provide music at a football game.

“I said, ‘hey class, guess what we’re doing? We’re going to play a little

Above: Upper School students, all who are members of Parker’s Pep Band.

music at the football games’,” Michael recalls with a laugh.

The momentum continued and eventually, a pep band course was formed.

“When we started, pep band was like a late-night band on one of the talk

“We were so not-the-typical pep band with horns and snare drums and one guy playing the cymbal–we were a rock combo right off the top.”

shows,” Michael says. “We were so not-the-typical pep band with horns and snare drums and one guy playing the cymbal–we were a rock combo right off the top.”

Michael was pep band director for 15 years before he passed the course along to Sam Hunt ’05, a Parker lifer who returned after college to briefly lead the band from 2010-12. Keven became the current director eight years ago.

Prior to arriving at Parker, Keven was the marching band instructor at West Hills High School in Santee, Calif. He admits he was slightly confused about the concept of pep band when he arrived at the Linda Vista Campus.

“I thought [pep band] was some sort of marching band,” he remembers.

“Finding out it was a rock band was different...but it was really fun and unique and I just rolled with it.”

Students have two routes to join pep band–they either need to complete contemporary guitar as a prerequisite or they need departmental approval because “they have to have somewhat good chops to play,” Keven says.

Most songs the band plays are not too technical, but being able to read tablature, play chords, and have a basic understanding of music theory are all crucial to both student success and the overall functionality of the band, he says.

“A lot is thrown at them at once,” he says. “In music class, we’re prepping for six, seven, eight weeks before our first concert. By contrast, in pep band, SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 19

1

there could be a game on the first day of school. A lot of what you hear at the events is something we practiced the day before and sometimes, songs I throw out to them [spontaneously] during the games.”

For that reason, Keven stresses preparedness as a central learning goal of the course, a valuable life skill for the students, he says.

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“It’s about being able to be prepared in any situation so you’re ready to play at any given moment.”

To achieve that goal, there is an emphasis on punctuality, individual practice, and camaraderie. Performance days require students to arrive early, help set up and break down the gear, and stay until everyone is finished.

The band’s cover songs span musical genres, from classic rock, alternative, and grunge; to blues, funk, and punk rock.

A classically trained musician, Keven says the pep band gave him a different way of looking at music.

3 20 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

“With classical guitar, everything is so meticulous with dynamics,

articulation, phrasing...it’s sometimes difficult for a classical musician to just rock out,” he says. “In pep band, it’s just having fun–working so you’re prepared at the highest level possible–but at the end of the day, it’s just about having fun and going for it.

If you hit a wrong note, that’s okay.”

Jamming was one of the main draws for Aidan Bell, Class of 2020, who joined the pep band three years ago.

“I was first introduced to the informal, jamming side of music through pep band,” he says. “I loved it. I’ve learned so much about collaboration and groove that would have been almost impossible to learn on my own.”

Along with the collaborative process, there is also a lot of fun in being able to spread Parker spirit to the rest of the student body, Antonia says.

“I’m not really a sports person, so pep band is how I contribute to the overall school spirit of Parker.”

Pep band binds everyone together, Michael adds.

4

5

“ Pep band is how I contribute to the overall school spirit of Parker.”

“You have sports and music and it gets everybody fired up,” he says.

“It’s really neat when the athletic kids come up and say, ‘hey, thanks for playing our game’ or when parents of the opposing team come by and say that Parker is their favorite away game to attend because of the pep band– the kids’ faces just light up. It makes their whole day.”

“It’s turned into a really neat oncampus group.”

BRING BACK PARKER’S FIGHT SONG Two years ago, the Parker Pep Band revived the School’s fight song, something that had been dormant for years. Upper School teacher Paul Esch originally wrote the lyrics and melody in 2009.

“The ASB (Associated Student Body) had held a competition to submit a fight song,” Paul recalls. “I was in my high school pep band and the Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps and I absolutely loved my experience, so I was excited to see what I could do for the competition.”

Using GarageBand, Paul tapped out the song on his laptop, trying to mimic the sounds of Big Ten Football fight songs, he says.

“By the way, after singing the word “supreme,” the students are supposed to yell out ‘BURRITO’,” he says. “That’s in the original lyrics, but somehow that got lost.”

The song was very popular for years, but eventually died out, Paul says.

“I love our Parker Pep Band,” Paul adds. “They have incredible talent and I really enjoy the energy they bring. 7 Most fight songs have a very structured collegiate feel.

“We don’t have that,” Keven says with a smile.

The music has a fast, punk rock vibe, he says, and is highlighted by Antonia’s great stage presence.

“Antonia was instrumental in getting everyone pumped about it,” he says.

“She brings it to life and gets everyone on their feet. She is awesome on stage.”

VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES What is a pep band to do when there are no more live school events in which to perform? At Parker, the students turned to creating music videos from renditions of some of their favorite songs.

The band would meet online to rehearse a given song. They would practice their parts based using a particular version of the song. Each student would listen along to the track and then record themselves. Keven would then take all the submitted video clips and piece them together to create a final project.

“The students in Pep Band are absolutely amazing,” says Keven.

“They have so much dedication and love for the class that the process was very smooth.” n

Pictured: Upper School students, all who are members of Parker’s Pep Band. Top Left: Pep Band teacher Keven Ford.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 21

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A Celebration Like No Other

By Shara Freeman Hoefel

22 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Above: Families came together for a drive-in-movie-style celebrattion for the graduates of the Class of 2020 at Petco Park. Right: Head of School Kevin Yaley addresses the graduates and families of the Class of 2020.

“You

are an absolutely wonderful class worthy of a celebration like no other,” Head of School Kevin Yaley remarks in his opening graduation speech to the Class of 2020.

Then he makes an unusual request. “Lay on your horns so all of downtown San Diego can hear you.”

Parked in their cars in a lot adjacent to Petco Park, the graduating seniors enthusiastically honk for half a minute.

And for that moment, the students and their immediate families celebrate their graduation from Parker, all together as a class.

When facing the end of their Parker careers amidst a pandemic, the seniors were understanding that their graduation would not take place as they had originally imagined it. But they had one request: to be together one last time. And the Commencement Committee, charged with re-imagining the celebration, honored that wish.

Weeks prior, families were invited to the Linda Vista Campus for an individual 15-minute commencement. In their cap

and gown, each senior walked solo across the decorated commencement stage to receive their diploma. Immediate family members, along with Upper School administrators, were there to root them on, congratulate them on their milestone, and share in the moment of such a special occasion. Over six days, these moments were filmed.

On June 6, as families gathered in their cars at Petco Park, the compiled film was screened against the backdrop of the downtown skyline. As Kevin Yaley surveyed the sea of decorated cars, he offered this observation: “One of the main reasons why people feel this is a special class is because you show up. You show up for one another. Your default is to treat one another with dignity and with grace.

You believe in one another. You show up for one another.

You believe we will be better. When we look at you, our hope rises.”

The program also included remarks from Class of 2020 Valedictorian Gabriel Jinich, student speaker Grey Schneider, and keynote speaker Barry Edelstein, Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director of The Old Globe and Parker parent.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 23

As Barry took the stage, he announced, “One thing is vivid, clear, and sharp. Today is a special, thrilling, and wonderful day for you.”

“Optimism is in short supply but it is where I must begin. I have 130 reasons to be optimistic today. Shakespeare has assured me that time, and the world and life move only forward regardless of the obstacles,” proclaimed Barry.

He went on to explain that five separate plague outbreaks closed Shakespeare’s theatre during the course of his career.

During those times, “Shakespeare wrote and he planned. His theatre company toured internationally and published 18 of his plays that had never been published before.”

“The Shakespeare we revere today in the form of 36 masterpieces only exists because of an entrepreneurial response to a pandemic.”

Barry reminded the students, “Pandemics end. Upheaval brings change. Something new is born. Something better.

Fuller. More enduring. History says so. Shakespeare’s experience says so.”

24 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

“Pandemics end. Upheaval brings change.

Something new is born.

Something better. Fuller.

More enduring.

History says so.”

— Barry Edelstein Barry offered the seniors a short Shakespearean line in closing: “Much virtue in ‘if.’” He went on to explain that ‘if’ has good in it.

“‘If’ is a word that is great, powerful.

“I wonder what would happen ‘if?’ ‘If’ is the dreamer’s word. ‘If’ is a starting point. A word that launches journeys, knowledge, discoveries. Find your ‘if’ in the quietest corner of your heart and listen to it,” Barry advised.

“Couple it to the values that make you who you are. Be ready for it to lead you on a careering ride through life.”

“Your ‘if’ will always be your greatest guide.”

To watch the Class of 2020 Commencement celebration,visit: https://vimeo. com/426107385.

Pictured: members of the Class of 2020 at the graduation celebration at Petco Park in downtown San Diego. Students lined up, six feet apart donning face masks to walk across the stage as their names were called by then Head of Upper School Dr. Monica Gillespie.

With that, Barry welcomed the Class of 2020 into their next chapter.

From all of us at Parker: Go forth and knock it out of the park. n

Class of

2020 SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 25

’20 130

PARKER GRADUATES As Far As The Mind Can See

Graduates

77

Colleges

23

States

22% will attend CA Public

Washington, DC and two foreign countries

quantity

undergraduates

seniors

Large

30

>12,000

59

26

5,000 12,000

40

21

<5,000

30

Class of 2020 information as of June 5, 2020. Map from © Vemaps.com 26 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

graduates will be the only Parker student in their college’s entering first-year class

47

colleges offered admission to our graduating seniors

Medium

college size

will venture Northeast

will stay West

Small

234

20%

50%

46% 31% 23%

CLASS OF 2017 - 2020 Four-Year Martriculation American University Amherst College Arizona State University Babson College Bard College Barnard College Bates College Baylor University Benedictine College Boston College Boston University Brown University Butler University California Polytechnic State University SLO CaliforniaStatePolytechnicUniversityPomona California State University Sacramento California State University San Marcos California State University Stanislaus Carnegie Mellon University Catholic University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College College of Charleston Colorado College Colorado State University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College DePaul University DigiPen Institute of Technology Dillard University Drake University Drexel University Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Daytona Beach Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Prescott Emerson College Emory University Fordham University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Global College at Long Island University Gonzaga University Grinnell College Harvard University Harvey Mudd College

Hillsdale College Humboldt State University Indiana University Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount California University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Michigan State University Michigan Technological University Middlebury College Montana State University Bozeman Muhlenberg College New York University Northeastern University Northern Arizona University Northwestern University Oberlin College Occidental College Ohio State University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Point Loma Nazarene University Pomona College Princeton University Principia College Providence College Purdue University Reed College Rice University Saint Bonaventure University Saint John’s University New York Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego Mesa College San Diego State University Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Scripps College Seattle University Smith College Southern Methodist University Southwestern College Stanford University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Texas Christian University The New School

Trinity College Trinity College Dublin Tufts University Tulane University United States Coast Guard Academy United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Arizona University of California Berkeley University of California Davis University of California Irvine University of California Los Angeles University of California Riverside University of California San Diego University of California Santa Barbara University of California Santa Cruz University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder University of Denver University of Hawaii University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Nevada Las Vegas University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Saint Andrews University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Texas University of the Pacific University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin University of Wyoming Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Washington University Saint Louis Wesleyan University Wheaton College Whitman College Willamette University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University Louisiana Yale University SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 27

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTION

Shouts of “congratulations” and “woo hoos” were heard throughout the Linda Vista community as students arrived on Campus in decorated cars. Each advisory group was enthusiastically welcomed by music, Lance, and Middle School faculty members. Grade 8 Promotion was all about the kids—they had a chance to stand on a mini-stage in front of a step-and-repeat, pose for pictures, and most importantly, hear the congratulatory cheers of the teachers, administrators and their families as they graduate to the Upper School

28 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

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SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 29

LOWER SCHOOL PROMOTION

Honking horns, congratulatory waves, and shouts of excitement filled the afternoon of June 10, 2020, for the Lower School’s Grade 5 Promotion Parade.

Teachers, socially distanced, lined the edge of the Mission Hills J. Crivello Playground as families and their promoting students drove by. Before the parade, students received care packages from the School, including t-shirts specially made for each Grade 5 class. A virtual promotion ceremony took place the day after the parade and marked the students’ promotion to Middle School.

30 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

1

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 31

Virtual Gala,

Tangible Results

By Shara Freeman Hoefel “If ever there was a year that we need to do more, this is the year,” says Head of School Kevin Yaley during the Parents Association firstever virtual Gala on Saturday, May 9.

It was a Gala event unlike any other in its 38-year history.

For more than six months, Gala Chair Liz Zborowski, Parents Association President Madeleine Nawrocki, and the dedicated Gala Committee had planned for a “Sail Away Soirée” on the Linda Vista Campus. 500 guests, dancing, a live auction, and paddle raise—these wouldn’t be possible this year. What they needed to make possible was a community event when the community was at home, and they still needed to garner financial 32 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

support for the students. With herculean effort, they did just that.

“We wanted to be together and spend time as a community,” Liz says as she faces the camera during the live taping of the virtual Gala. “We hope tonight is a welcome respite and reminds us all why we chose to be Lancers.”

Scott Carr, Liz’s co-captain for the evening and fellow Lower School parent, emphasizes the purpose of Gala. “We have a goal. That is to fulfill a promise to our families and raise $500,000 for financial assistance tonight.”

With nearly 500 registered bidders and the same number of households streaming the event, the community, by all accounts, was together.

In addition to the traditional live auction and paddle raise, the event included a social media photo contest, live raffle, yacht rock by faculty member Michael Gonzales and Savannah Philyaw ’13, performances, videos, and pictures of students and families, and divisional Zoom rooms après-gala.

“we hope tonight is a welcome respite and reminds us all why we chose to be lancers.”

Throughout the event, pictures of the 130 seniors were displayed and Marc Thiebach, former assistant head of the Upper School gave the senior salute.

He shared that “while none of us could have anticipated the difficult challenges of the last few months if there was one class who could do it, it was you.

Congratulations and best of luck.”

The most powerful moment of the night was the story of the Gala speaker—a member of the Class of 2020. “Both my parents are immigrants, didn’t graduate high school, and their educational and financial opportunities were limited.

They have always told me education is important. That is why it’s my personal mission to learn the most I can in school and to try my best to have the education they never did. This led me to Parker, a school my family could never afford but I applied anyway for the ninth grade.”

The speaker closed with this message: “This is an unprecedented time and your support for the financial assistance program matters more

than ever before. Your contributions can truly change kids' lives. It changed mine.” The senior will be attending Stanford University in the fall.

Kevin then reminds the audience: “The reason we are here tonight remains the same as when we are in-person, and that is to raise support for financial assistance. More than $200,000 in additional assistance has been awarded to our families since the pandemic, and we are committed to making sure our community stays intact.”

“i will dye my hair red in honor of our class of 2020 if we exceed our goal.”

Kevin then makes a challenge that viewers could not pass up. He says, “I will dye my hair red in honor of our Class of 2020 if we exceed our goal and raise $600,000 tonight.”

Not only did the Parker community rise to the challenge, but we also came together to raise more than $720,000 for student financial assistance.

The Drama Club sang it best while dancing around on roller skates, “We have pride. Parker Pride.” n

Top Left: The Salgado family show their “Quarantine Island” setup for the virtual gala. Top Right: Head of School Kevin Yaley took to the challenge by dying his hair red to show his support for the senior class. Bottom left: Gala Chair Liz Zborowoski hosts the virtual gala. Bottom right: Savannah Philyaw ’13 performs from home for the virtual gala audience.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 33

Sponsors Thank you to our generous sponsors for their belief in the amazing impact that philantrhopic support can have on our Parker community. This year, all sponsorships will go directly to student financial assistance.

We appreciate their wonderful support.

$30,000 Sandra and Sassan Alavi

Lesli and Osman Kibar

Anonymous

$25,000

$15,000 ParkerSpirit.com

$10,000 Natasha and Kristian Allos

$5,000 Jimmy and Jennifer Anklesaria // The Cotton Family // Hernholm Group // The Huggett Family-CBRE // Hughes-Marino // Benjamin and Kimberly Lee // The Nguyen Family // Poseidon Restaurant // Heather Rosing and Scott Carr // Nika and Ramin Samimi // Carin Canale-Theakston and Hillary Theakston // Anonymous

$2,500 Anthony and Hoa Audette // John and Jennifer Crisafulli // Cindi Mishkin and Tracy Cline // Gensler // Madeleine and Alexander Nawrocki // Tyson Passey and Jonathan Schneeweiss-Schneeweiss Properties // Schor Vogelzang Chung LLP // Claudia and Marc Wornovitzky // Anonymous 34 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Parker Moment Visiting poet Elizabeth Acevedo speaks to Parker’s Middle and Upper School during Parker’s third annual Poetry Week on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. Acevedo led a series of discussions and writing workshops throughout the week, and encouraged everyone in the School community to find their voice.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 35

The Ironman of Parker Dr. Bob Gillingham leaves behind a lasting legacy

By Matthew Piechalak

36 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

BIRDS CHIRP IN THE EARLY MORNING AS HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL DR. BOB GILLINGHAM TAKES A SLOW WALK ACROSS THE COURTYARD ON THE MISSION HILLS CAMPUS AT FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOL. Fittingly, this courtyard where he presided over countless Flag Raising ceremonies will soon bear his family name.

He climbs the three steps leading toward the main office and stops on the cement landing adjacent to the tall pole flying the American flag. He turns to face the courtyard, framing himself against an all-to-familiar backdrop— the facade of the Lower School’s main building, with its red-orange clay roof accented by a vibrant blue sky and the rich green of the tops of the paperbark trees that line the School’s entrance along Randolph Street.

It’s Monday, June 8, 2020, and the final Flag Raising ceremony of Bob’s storied career at Parker.

“Good morning, everybody,” he says enthusiastically in his signature cadence as he looks into the camera broadcasting the live event. It’s a welcomed sound for members of the Parker community tuning in from the comfort and safety of their homes.

“I wish I could see all of you as I look out right now,” he continues. “It’s nice to be back at the Lower School, but it would be nicer if you were all here with me.”

The courtyard may be empty—an odd feeling for the beloved weekly tradition usually attended by the entire Lower School community—but they are present, albeit not physically due social distancing requirements imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 600 faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni are viewing via live stream. And the heartfelt comments are coming in rapid-fire within the chat box to the right of the video feed.

“You are simply the best, Dr. G! We will miss you.”

“The Lower School is what it is because of Dr. G. We Love You!” Left: Dr. Bob Gillingham at Lower School flag raising in 2020.

“Good morning to the legend himself!”

“Thank you for your years of incredible leadership, integrity, compassion and caring.

You are admired. You embodied the true spirit of Francis Parker School.”

“Thank you for shaking my hand every morning. You made us all feel seen and important. Wonderful memories are filling my head.”

The comments continue to roll as the man affectionately known as “Dr. G” gives his swan-song ceremony. Flag Raising is a Monday morning tradition that started at Parker’s Lower School decades before Bob began hosting the event in 1991, the year he became Head of Lower School. The brief morning ceremony includes, among other things, recitation of “The Pledge of Allegiance,” a round of “Happy Birthday” for all the birthday people of the current week, special announcements and recognitions, and STRIVE, the Lower School’s code of ethics.

By his count, Bob has led the weekly ceremony roughly 1,050 times ... likely more, he says. On the rare chance rain would cancel Flag Raising, it was simply moved to the following morning. One or two times, it was pushed to Wednesday, but it was unlikely to ever be outright canceled—it was too important.

“For the Lower School, it is centering,” Bob says following the final ceremony, as he sits in the Gail Pisula Lobby reflecting on his tenure at Parker. “It’s a community coming together.”

His preparation for the final Flag Raising is minimal, just as it has always been; a couple of bullet-pointed notes and student names to guide him.

“I have always enjoyed just speaking from my heart,” says Bob. “I have found in my time as Head of Lower School that’s what works best for me.”

It’s that heart that Bob gave, wholly, to Parker. Between driving buses, teaching Lower and Middle School students, and leading the Lower School for the past 29

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 37

years, his Parker career totals 44 years and spans six decades. His retirement at the conclusion of the 2020 school year coincides with the retirement of his wife, Listy Gillingham, a career educator at San Diego Unified School District. She has been the principal at Patrick Henry High School for the past seven years.

“She pegged 2020 as her retirement year and we decided that we would both retire on the same day,” Bob says.

HEEDING THE CALL Bob initially came to Parker in 1973 as a school bus driver. After five years behind the wheel, in 1978, wanting to move into the classroom, he left to earn his teaching credential. Bob has long felt that unique calling to the field of education, going all the way back to his teenage years attending and leading summer camps throughout San Diego County.

As a 12-year-old, Bob met longtime Parker teacher and legendary baseball coach Dave Glassey—then a camp counselor—at Camp Marston in Julian. It was a relationship that would one day lead Bob to Parker.

“I really admired him,” Bob says. “He was a great teacher.”

Five years went by before the two young men would cross paths again at San Diego State University, where Bob signed up to be a camp counselor alongside Dave at Camp Marston. It was 1976, the year Bob would meet Listy, also a camp counselor.

“I found that I really enjoyed working with kids,” Bob says of his introduction to educational instruction as a counselor.

“I got involved and then came back the next summer.”

Eventually, Dave would open his own camp in San Diego called Summer Venture. Bob was the first person he hired.

“The things that stood out to me was his genuine caring for his campers and always making sure they had the best experience possible,” says Dave. “His willingness to work hard and his dedication to the job was also very evident. His empathy and compassion both for the campers, as well as the staff, was another quality that set him apart from many other staff members.

A BORN EDUCATOR Bob first entered the classroom as an elementary teacher in La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. Then, in 1981, Dave, now the assistant head of Lower School, called Bob to let him know about an opening for a Grade 5 teacher at Parker.

38 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Below: From the archives. Photos of Bob Gillingham from Lower School yearbooks over the years.

“I owe it to Dave Glassey, from knowing him as a 12-yearold, to hearing as a credentialed teacher that there was an opening here,” Bob says.

Bob recalls in his interview being told that he would likely only stay at Parker for a few years before moving on.

“That was 39 years ago,” he says with a laugh.

Bob spent seven years in Grade 5 and three more teaching Grade 6 English. Then, in 1991, he moved back to the Lower School and was hired as head of the division, a post he would keep for nearly three decades.

“It sounded very interesting to be involved on a larger scale in strategic planning,” he says.

Like any new role a person takes on, it was a rocky start for Bob. “As a rookie principal, it was a [difficult] feeling sitting at my desk the summer before my first year thinking how overwhelming it was because I was going to have to answer for things,” he recalls. “Then, I began my first year and we had a lot of discipline problems.”

A lack of faculty resources combined with classes that were very unbalanced created a difficult environment. Bob recalls the day he sat down with the father of one student.

“His dad acknowledged that his son had misbehaved, but he also said, ‘do the kids know what you expect of them?’,” Bob recalls. “It stunned me, really. I thought about that a lot. It stayed with me.”

That summer on a family road trip to Colorado, the conversation was still ruminating in Bob’s mind.

“I thought, ‘the guy was right’,” Bob says. “There weren’t any guideposts for the kids. They really needed to have something that they could point to and their teachers can point to.”

A COMMON VISION “STRIVE was the answer to the question, what do you expect of the kids, and what values are important to you, here, universally to help the kids understand?” Bob says.

STRIVE is a character education motto that has served as the ethical foundation of the Lower School and has inspired thousands of students. It is recited every Flag Raising and is posted in every classroom, where it is reinforced by faculty, who use it to teach key lessons that form the basis of good citizenship.

STRIVE stands for: Seek always to do your best.

Treat people and property with respect.

Revere the truth.

Invest in your future.

Value School rules, your heritage and personal responsibility.

Enrich the world for all.

Bob implemented STRIVE in his second year, and it continues today.

“He had Parker students thinking about how to be the best they can be way before it was a big buzz in education,” says Grade 1 teacher Kym Farkas, who has known Bob for almost 30 years.

Ultimately, it took Bob years before he arrived at the point where he felt truly comfortable about his direction for the Lower School. He holds a strong belief that anyone in a leadership role needs longevity in order to develop their convictions about what is best for their faculty, the students, and their families.

“Once I got to that point, even difficult decisions seemed really easy for me because I firmly believed in what we were doing,” he says.

Bob says he was very fortunate to have both Sara Knox and Heather Gray as close associates during the last decade. Both were wonderful classroom teachers that showed they would one day become excellent school leaders, he says. However, early on, he would look on empathetically when they would have rough days. He had experienced the stressors and uncertainty of the role and knew they needed to be exposed to the same process.

“I would understand that they were going to develop over time and they were going to be able to say things very clearly to people that needed to hear them without feeling bad about it because you’re basing your decisions on what’s best for the school—it’s missiondriven and once you fully understand that, really, everything else is easy.”

Sara is now the head of Lower School at Shore Country Day School in Massachusetts, and Heather will serve as interim Head of Lower School at Parker for the 2020-21 school year.

“Bob created a vision for the Lower School that continuously grows and evolves to meet the changing

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 39

needs of kids,” says Heather. “His legacy will live beyond his retirement because he cultivated a culture of curiosity, perseverance, joy, and connection.”

Bob was a true mentor, says Sara, who worked alongside Bob at Lower School for eight years as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, and in the Admissions office.

“When working with Bob, he was sometimes quicker than I would be to make a decision, and while I’d sometimes encourage (beg) him to slow down, I realize in hindsight that the push he offered to all of us was exactly what we needed to keep us fresh and forever evolving as educators,” she says. “He pushed me to be a stronger leader and educator, and I am forever grateful to him.”

ROAD WARRIOR Sixteen miles in the morning, another 16 miles in the evening. One-hundred sixty miles per week and a combined monthly total of 640 miles traveled.

For Bob, commuting daily on his bicycle from his home in La Mesa to Parker’s Mission Hills Campus was a routine that kept him healthy and fit, sure, but also kept him grounded and driven to execute the main job of any educator—to reflect on current practices, and use those critiques to make adjustments in order to ultimately provide the best educational environment for the students and teachers.

“The faculty will laugh because when I came up with new ideas or something we were going to tackle and I wanted them to buy into it, I would tell them that I had thought about it on my bike,” he says with a smile. “My routine

allowed me to think in a clear way about whatever we were facing on any given day. It certainly gave me a much better perspective on what the kids were doing and what the faculty were doing.”

“That’s one thing that I will always look back on and be grateful, that I had the chance to commute,” Bob says.

“Honestly, if I had a really tough day, I would change and get on my bike and as I was heading down Randolph, I could just feel the day bleed off and it was the most marvelous thing. By the time I got home, I had thought of some other approach or angle and I was ready to go again.”

His ironman tendency to always commute led to another passion—competing in Ironman events. Former Parker teacher Chris Stone and Lower School secretary Linda Ruggles got him involved in his first event, and from that point, he continued competing.

“I had such a good base because I was putting in a couple of hundred miles a week on my bike,” Bob says. “I added swimming and running and there I was. It was such a revelation to me that I could do something like that. It’s such an interesting group of people—for me it was inspiring.”

Bob has completed seven Ironman competitions and plans to continue competing in retirement.

CHERISHED MEMORIES Easily, his best memories at Parker are of watching the students change so significantly from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 5, he says.

Of particular encouragement was watching the evolution of struggling students.

“We saw in them a certain fire,” Bob explains. “We knew they had grit, but they just didn’t have the tools yet.

There is an understanding that kids can be successful and they can achieve. Beyond us, in Middle and Upper School, we’d see some of these kids that we really wrang our hands about becoming so successful and confident.”

Other cherished memories include being able to celebrate the careers of colleagues who have long considered Parker their home, as well as the celebrations on his milestone birthdays—40, 50, and 60—when the Lower School community and former Parker employees would return, pack the courtyard, and hold up signs wishing him a Happy Birthday.

“Bob is the heart of Lower School,” says Grade 5 teacher David Ries. “Every time you speak with him and every time he passes by, he has the singular ability to make everyone feel proud to be here.”

40 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Bottom Left: Dr. Gillingham sits on the Retiree Bench located at the Mission Hills Campus. Above: Dr. Gillingham greets Lower School students with a handshake in fall 2020.

No one can replace him, says David.

“Bob stands at the gate each morning to greet students and parents as they enter Campus,” he says. “I have attempted to fill in for him a few times, and what I saw quite frequently was an obvious sense of disappointment that I was there, not Bob. Dr G cannot be replaced. You can see it in the eyes of the kids.”

Bob was always a good sport when it came to Halloween costumes, says Heather.

To her, and many others, the best was the year he dressed up as Cruella de Vil, the villain from the popular childrens story, “101 Dalmations.” The rest of the faculty dressed as the puppies.

“It’s always 100 degrees on Halloween,” Heather remembers. “He stood on the steps in front of the auditorium while his makeup started to slide off his face.

By the end of the parade, he looked more like the Joker.

In classic Bob-fashion, he just laughed it off.”

Dr. Gillingham is the ultimate leader, says retiring Senior Kindergarten teacher Birdy Hartman, who is also Bob’s sister-in-law.

“He leads parents towards excellence by meeting with them to guide them in their role as models, he leads

teachers towards excellence by pushing them to always want to excel in their craft, and he leads students towards excellence by gifting them with the tools for a successful life by teaching them his STRIVE model, she says.”

Where there is a school, there is a scandal, Birdy says, when asked to share a favorite memory from her career alongside Bob. “We once had a school gala and the following day, it was reported to me that Dr. Gillingham was seen dancing and kissing Mrs. Hartman,” she remembers. “Imagine how embarrassed the gossiper was when they discovered Dr. Gillingham’s wife is my twin sister.”

Parker lifers and recent graduates also have fond memories of the man that seemed larger-than-life when they recall their younger selves.

Russell Childs ’20 says he will never forget Dr. G’s smile and deep laugh, as well as his fond memories of learning STRIVE. “Dr. G was the head of a group of teachers that I consider unrivaled,” Russell says. “His energy and attitude rubbed off on everyone and truly made it a joy to attend the Lower School.”

Phoebe Lettington ’20 used to ride her bike to school with her father, and vividly remembers how it made her

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 41

feel to have that in common with her principal.

“It’s nice to know that you have a connection to someone you admire and for me, seeing his bike outside his office knowing that mine was out by the field was just one of the things that made him approachable to me,” says Phoebe.

“Then, being at the front gate to shake everyone’s hands in the morning just proves how much he cares about being involved in everyone’s Parker experience.”

Dr. G is the spirit of Parker, says Avalon Smith ’20.

“He celebrates every student, whether it be announcing their achievements on flag raisings or supporting a student’s idea,” Avalon says, who remembers Bob helping with her idea of a Season of Giving bake sale.

“He has had such an impact on my family and the Parker family in general. He will be greatly missed.”

THE NEXT CHAPTER Bob Gillingham is Parker and always will be, says Dave Glassey.

“Bob’s legacy at Parker will be the work he has done at the Lower School to make it a model for all elementary schools nationwide,” Dave says. “His tireless work and love for the Parker community are what we will all miss, but for me, it will be the opportunity to reminisce about the past and “catch up” on the present.”

In retirement, Bob plans to continue a daily exercise regime. Additionally, he says he plans to build a bathroom and master bedroom onto the family cabin near Palomar Mountain.

“I’ve always wanted to build a house, so this will be the closest thing to that,” he says.

The rich history of Parker is centered around the Lower School Courtyard, which for more than 100 years has been a meeting place for the Lower School and a bridge between the main office and the Szekely Auditorium.

Thanks to a generous Parker family, who reserved the naming rights in 2018, it has been renamed the “Gillingham Family Courtyard” in Bob’s honor. An official dedication celebration will be held in the future when the community is able to safely gather on Campus.

“Our family has spent so much time here,” he says. “It’s an unspeakable honor.”

SIGNING OFF As Bob concludes his final Flag Raising, he folds his notes and looks out into the historic courtyard that will now forever bear his family’s name.

“This is my last flag raising, and…”

He pauses briefly to compose himself before looking back up into the camera.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be with you,” he says. “I wish for you all lovely lives and it has certainly been my honor to be a part of yours.” n

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL ENDOWMENT GIFT Former Parker Board of Trustees member Carol Vassiliadis wanted to honor Dr. G’s service to the School, so as Bob announced his retirement, she made a $1.5 million endowment gift to name the Head of Lower School position the “Dr. Robert Gillingham Head of Lower School.” The position will be named in perpetuity.

Carol is the parent of Parker alumni, Andrew ’01 and Melissa ’04.

“Dr. Gillingham is irreplaceable,” says Carol, who has known Bob since 1988. “I have never met any executive of any school who has been as quintessentially perfect as he was.”

As a young man taking over a school division, Bob was a natural, Carol recalls.

“I never once in the time I knew him saw him angry,” she says. “I never saw him speak inappropriately; I never saw him rude or unpleasant–no matter what he had to do, he always had a small smile on his face.”

The head of Lower School has an impact on all Parker students, Carol explains, when asked about her gift.

“That position to some degree frames the life and character of every child who goes through the Lower School,” she says. “Whether they realize it or not, they were watching that man.”

Reflecting lately on his time at Parker, Carol admits she selfishly wishes he would never retire.

“I had a tremendous respect for his approach to every issue,” she says. “Boy, I’m going to miss him.”

42 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

Master of her show Birdy Hartman inspired generations of SK students

By Matthew Piechalak

Above: Senior Kindergarten teacher Birdy Hartman holds a sign recognizing her last day of Senior Kindergarten in spring 2020.

BIRDY HARTMAN ALWAYS CHALLENGES HER STUDENTS TO DO THEIR BEST. SO IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT HER FINAL LESSON TO ROUND OUT HER TEACHING CAREER AT PARKER IS ONE THAT PUSHES THE CHILDREN TO ATTEMPT SOMETHING NEW. EVEN LESS SURPRISING IS HOW SOME OF THE CHILDREN CHOOSE TO INTERPRET THEIR FIRST CRACK AT A PERSUASIVE ESSAY. “Four of them came back with their persuasive writing on why Mrs. Hartman should not retire, which was adorable,” says Birdy, who has taught Senior Kindergarten for 33 years.

“Mrs. H should not retire now I’m going to tell you why,” writes one student. “I want to see you again at Parker, I love you so much and everyone too, and you make every class fun. That is why you should not retire because you are the best teacher ever.”

Despite the valiant attempt, Birdy had already chosen 2020 to retire after 36 total years at Parker’s Lower School.

“I love this job,” says Birdy, as she sits in her classroom on the last week of School reflecting on her career. “I’m sad that I have to say goodbye to it.”

“Birdy is the very teacher Colonel Francis Parker, the School’s namesake, must have had in mind,” says Head of Lower School Dr. Bob Gillingham.

“Her impact has been so substantial and so powerful on so many people,” says Bob, who is also retiring. “In her 36 years at the Lower School, she has treated every school day as if it were the first in her career, anxiously, excitedly, and lovingly providing for the needs of students who adore her. They invariably grow and thrive in delightful ways under her care, and their understanding of the concepts of school and learning are joyous.”

A BORN EDUCATOR Bob and Birdy were fellow camp counselors 44 years ago at Camp Marston in Julian. Bob recalls the kids

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 43

Above: Left to right: Birdy Hartman, Kym Farkas, and Holly Panton.

being mesmerized by her every word and action. Yet, despite her camp leadership experience, Birdy admits that she wasn’t originally planning to pursue a career in education—there were already too many teachers in her family. By her count, there are 13 educators among her dad, siblings, in-laws, children, and nieces and nephews.

However, years later Birdy found herself in San Diego Unified School District as a teaching aid to Becky Glassey, the late wife of current Parker teacher Dave Glassey, whom she also worked with at Camp Marston years earlier.

“Becky shared that love of wanting to help kids onto the next level,” Birdy recalls. “She just kept saying to me, ‘Birdy, you were meant for this’. And she was right. I have never come to this job without a smile on my face. I have loved every single moment in my career.”

“A lot of how and why I teach came from her.”

The next year, Birdy received a call from Dave Glassey, at the time the principal of Lower School. He wanted to bring her to Parker part-time as a PE teacher. It was her foot in the door, she recalls.

Following two years in PE, Birdy spent a year teaching Grade 1 before she filled a void left when Senior Kindergarten teacher Mary Moore retired. It was a natural fit, one Birdy would occupy—and excel at—for the next 33 years.

44 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

THE ULTIMATE TEAM PLAYER Birdy prides herself, first and foremost, on being the kind of teacher that brings a grade-level team closer.

She noticed her ability to do it in Grade 1, when she was instrumental in bringing the team together. It continued in senior kindergarten, where a tripod relationship was forged with fellow teachers Sue Christian and Holly Panton—the team was together for more than 15 years.

“I’m big about teams,” she says. “It’s one thing to impact 20 kids. It’s even better if I can make an impact on 60 kids.”

“Birdy was our anchor,” says Grade 1 teacher Kym Farkas, who taught in SK alongside Birdy for more than a decade as both a teacher’s aide to Sue Christian and later a teammate. “She was always a mentor to me when I came into SK as a teacher. I owe all of my teaching success to her. She is the best teacher I know.”

Birdy’s love of teaching is apparent in all she does, says Jamie Coonan, who has been Birdy’s assistant teacher for the past three years.

“I will sincerely miss watching Birdy sing and dance along with the kids during the sight words songs,” says Jamie.

“Her energy and enthusiasm always brightened my day.”

To Grade 2 teacher Michele Muzzy, Birdy simply means “happiness.”

“She always has a smile on her face,” says Michele, who has known Birdy for 20 years.

The night prior, Michele’s daughter has just received a congratulation’s card from Birdy—her SK teacher—on her Grade 5 promotion.

“It was so genuine and heartfelt and beautiful,” shares Michele. “She remembered my daughter’s favorite things in SK, she included several pictures from that year. I was blown away that she still had those pictures, that she remembered those little details, and that she took the time to personally write to her and every other promoting fifth grader she taught that year.”

“She is the epitome of what a kindergarten teacher should be—kind, loving, positive, energetic, and totally devoted to making children feel loved, appreciated, and special in every possible way.”

TOOLS OF THE TRADE Kindergarten teachers are a rare breed, Birdy believes.

“You really need to have a passion for little people because you have to be on the whole time they are in your room,” she says. “Even in transition, you have to be ready with a song or movement.”

Birdy likens herself to the ringmaster of a circus.

“There are a lot of things going on always and I have to have my thumb on everything, all the time,” she says.

“Otherwise, you will lose them.”

polled her students, asking them what they believe her favorite subject is, the answers would vary greatly—and that’s intentional, she says.

“Every time I start something, I tell them, ‘it’s my favorite part of the day!’ I know how to create excitement. So when I have a kid that says they don’t like something or they are not good at it, I try to twist their thinking.”

She recalls one student last year who hated writer’s workshop. She continued to tell him she didn’t understand why, because writer’s workshop was her favorite.

“He scowled at me, but I worked on him and by midyear, I couldn’t take the pencil out of his hand,” she says.

For more than three decades, Birdy’s love of teaching has gone far beyond the normal confines of a job. Her children would tell you teaching kindergarten is her hobby, and she would agree.

“I would come here on the weekends,” she says. “I constantly think about my lessons—they come together in my head.”

HOLIDAY MEMORIES Birdy has cherished memories of the Lower School’s famed holiday parties, and believes each holiday will always be a little bittersweet moving forward without seeing the joy of all the children.

She will also miss the star factor she experienced on a daily basis.

Birdy believes strongly, especially with young children, that the best teachers don’t give the students everything.

Instead, that they coach them through it.

“Every time you walk up and down the halls, there’s always someone running up to hug you,” she says with a smile. “That’s hard to walk away from.”

“I can’t teach you to read,” she will tell them, launching into her speech about grit. “I can give you all the components and strategies. I can guide you. But your brain has to do the job. You have to WANT to do the job … so today, who has got grit? Who’s going to put their nose in the book and get lost when they’re reading today?”

“You’re bigger than life when you’re a teacher at Parker.”

Ask anyone in the Parker community—Birdy has a reputation for getting her students to read beyond a kindergarten level.

Combine that ringleader-like ability to juggle more than 20 young minds with the motivational tactics of a seasoned coach and you already have a great teacher.

But Birdy is also an expert salesperson. While reading is her favorite subject to teach, she believes that if you

“You’re bigger than life when you’re a teacher at Parker.”

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 45

Above: Kym Farkas, Birdy Hartman, and Holly Panton.

TRANSITION TIME The last few weeks of the 2019-20 school year were bittersweet for Birdy, who believes teaching Kindergarteners remotely is no substitute for being together in the welcoming embrace of a vibrant classroom.

Yet, despite the new mode of learning, she says her 21 Senior Kindergarteners persevered. She would hold two Google Meetups a day—one for about 75 minutes and another 30-minute session after a break.

“They loved being together as a class,” she says. “We would dance and I’d let them share the stories that they wrote. They loved sharing. We would do a writing lesson every meet up and then do a drawing lesson that connected to the writing in some way. The time flew by and they were happy.”

For Birdy Hartman’s class, the last week of school traditionally includes creating an end-of-the-year video, where the students dress up and use props to share out

46 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

their successes and favorite things. The video is followed by an appreciation party, where families come into the classroom for a watch party. Finally, on the last day of school, they attend the Lower School Circus in the canyon.

Despite the limitations due to COVID-19, Birdy, the ringleader, believes the show must go on. So she still produced a video, splicing together photos and submitted video recordings from each member of the class. They then gathered online to hold a virtual watch party.

The coveted circus event was also scheduled to be held, albeit virtually. All students received a package of toys, white gloves, a clown nose, a little stuffed tiger, and cookies.

“We’re going to have a circus,” Birdy says confidently. “It may not be the circus that was going to be big and grand down there in the canyon, but I’m not cheating my kids.”

It’s that dedication and heart, right up until the very last day, that makes it easy to understand why her students wish they could persuade her to stay. n

Parker Transitions we all had spirit shirts and we all came together, we would all feel connected.”

Monica worked with student leaders to bring back pep rallies and she remembers standing to the side of the bleachers during the one when everyone, students and faculty, were wearing their Lancer Legion shirts.

“They were doing the fight song. The seniors stood up and sang it. Stacey Patsko looked at me and said, ‘Yeah, we did it.’”

That was an aha moment for her.

She loved seeing the community come together then and still sees it happening today.

“The way the community came together in March and how we celebrated the seniors. Everyone stepped up. How grateful the seniors were to know how much we care about them. I was filled with so many emotions.”

Monica Gillespie “I was at a Drama Club production and there was a student in the show,” Monica recalls on the last day of school in June. “I had met the student before she came to Parker. She was really shy and reserved. I remember thinking when I saw her on stage, ‘oh my gosh, she is totally thriving!’”

“We don’t know what we can’t do. You have to be in a place where others can see that in you. That is what Parker does.”

Monica has many stories when she thinks back on her three years as the Head of Upper School.

“The faculty are so passionate about what they do, it makes the kids passionate about what they do,” she says.

Monica loves working and connecting with the students.

“Being present for our kids in all the ways is so important. Attending events, going to concerts and games. It has been terrific to show our support for all the hard work that happens inside and outside the classroom. It is really fun.”

Monica likes to have fun. She is the first to wear her Parker gear, dress up for Halloween, and during spirit week, all bets are off. She loves themed weeks as much as the students.

“Parker spirit is all about the students. It is about being joyful together,” Monica reflects. “I really wanted us to all have shirts–Parker shirts. I thought that if

The strong sense of community attracted Monica to Parker.

“People care for each other. Students appreciate each other. People value all the different gifts each other brings.

The community is real.”

“She mentioned ‘community’ to all of us when she arrived,” says Interim Head of Upper School Carrie Dilmore. “She didn’t just jump in and ride along. She elevated the community. Our new schedule next year has more time for students and faculty to gather because community is one of our pillars.”

Monica has accepted the position of principal for preschool through Grade 4 at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

“I am really grateful for Parker.” Monica said. “Our kids are awesome. Our teachers are awesome.” n

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Parker Transitions “Jacquie is focused on the school’s mission and character is part of our mission,” says Chris Sanders, currently the Associate Director of Upper School Admissions and incoming Director of Admissions.

“Jacquie has an open door policy. She will meet with families and students anytime to discuss Parker and how we encourage growth beyond the classroom.”

“Parker students are tremendously caring and thoughtful individuals,” Jacquie observes. “I will miss teaching, having one-on-one conversations, and chatting about nothing and everything with students.”

Jacquie Wilson “I found poems from my math students,” Jacquie remarks. “Writing is not something kids think about in math and I decided to engage my students in Parker’s first Poetry Week.

It was really fun.”

In her five years as Parker’s director of enrollment, it is clear that Jacquie is committed to the students and school culture. Whether it is teaching advanced Upper School math or shaping an incoming class, her work impacts Parker in a significant way.

“The role of admissions professionals has evolved,” she says. “We help shape and change the culture by bringing in students whose talents, skills, and values strengthen the community.

When I review applications, I think about the individual and the individual as part of the community.”

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When she and her husband moved to San Diego, she happened to visit Parker’s website. “Parker’s mission and vision statements intrigued me.”

Jacquie continued to research Parker and read about the students.

“I felt that Parker was in fact truly living its mission,” she says. “That was attractive to me. I have often told parents that we expect our students to make a difference in the world.”

The recent graduation of the Class of 2020 was a special moment for her. It was the first class she admitted to the School.

“Academics have to be strong and the kids have to be successful, but character is important,” she says. “We have done a good job of looking at character.”

Jacquie helped implement the Character Skills Snapshot (CSS) tool that Grade 6-12 students take during the admissions process. “The CSS ties into how important character development is at Parker,” Jacquie says. “Colonel Parker said the ‘end and aim of all education is the development of character.’” His words ring true in the work of admissions today.

In reflecting on school culture, Jacquie shares that she had many conversations with parents about diversity. “While there is still work to be done to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive school, I was able to impact the School’s culture by enriching the student body in myriad ways.”

And about those keepsake math poems, Jacquie shares, “six of the students wrote about me in their poems. Prior to this assignment, I’ve never been the subject of a poem. My heart was tickled.” n “Addition and subtraction is the easiest and sometimes fun But when it comes to multiplication and division I reach my limit and am done Just finished learning about the unit circle and exact values Sine, cosine, and tangent graphs I’d rather not tell you Math hurts my mind and stresses me out But with Desmos and Mrs. Wilson math is so far-out.”

— Cesar Fernandez ’19

Parker Transitions are careful about protecting the younger grades from a constant conversation about college and encourage them to focus on what they love. We want them to have the information but not overwhelm them.”

In addition to her role in College Counseling, Terri has been an Upper School advisor and chaperoned student trips to Guatemala, New Orleans, Croatia, and Bosnia. She has also represented Parker by serving on multiple organizations and guiding key initiatives at both a national and global level.

The best part of every year is graduation, Terri says.

“At that moment, I see the kids and think about that pathway they have been on. I am excited for them. I see what their future holds. They have incredible futures and I have a small part in helping them get from Point A to Point B. It is a happy day for me.”

Terri Devine Sitting among moving boxes in her San Diego home, Terri Devine packs and reflects on 14 years of working in and leading Parker’s College Counseling department.

“It’s been an honor to work with the Parker faculty and the College Counseling department,” Terri says.

“They are my family.”

Terri and Bob Hurley started at Parker at the same time, which happened to be during the Generations Campaign construction of the Linda Vista Campus.

“We were sandwiched between the maintenance and transportation areas, and our office flooded after the first college night,” she recalls.

Terri was attracted to Parker after leading college programs during summer camp on Campus. “I liked the kids. They were interesting and bright, and there was an energy at Parker that was collegial and fun.”

During her time at Parker, the College Counseling department expanded from two to four counselors and the attention paid to each individual’s Parker experience has greatly increased.

Bob Hurley has accepted the role of Parker’s Dean of College Counseling and starts on July 1.

“Terri listens and advocates like no other,” Bob says. “Through her dedication, forward-vision, professionalism, honesty, integrity, we have an office that functions well and we have had a ball doing the work that we do due to her leadership.”

“It has been a privilege to witness great teaching at Parker. I am proud to have worked with amazing people and students,” Terri says.

Starting this summer, Terri will be the Director of College Counseling at the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. n

“Grade-level deans and the school psychologist provide support for the younger grades to give them more academic guidance,” Terri says. “We SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 49

Parker Transitions Debbie came to Parker when the family was looking for a more challenging school for their son, Michael ’04.

“Parker met all of our expectations,” she recalls. “It was much smaller and a tight-knit community.”

Her granddaughter Bailey Avila ’17 is a Parker lifer.

Debbie’s first-year memories center on how everyone cared so much about every student and how welcoming the existing faculty made her feel, she says. Clearly, moving forward she would pass that love along to everyone she came across.

The Middle School went through changes at the administrative level, and Debbie was always there for support, says Middle School teacher and dean Jeremy Howard, who worked with Debbie for 12 years.

Debbie Peterson Every school community needs that one person who can seemingly do everything to help make the lives of the students and faculty better.

For the last 21 years, that individual in Parker’s Middle School has been administrative assistant Debbie Peterson.

“Debbie is the face and the heart of our Middle School,” says Head of Middle School Dan Lang, who has worked with her since 2006. “She is the first person to greet you and the first person to help solve any issue 50 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

you may have. For our kiddos, Debbie is a linchpin to their Middle School experience—she is a tooth puller, skinned knee cleaner, tissue provider, and giver of hugs.”

“She embodies Parker’s culture of care.”

“Debbie keeps us all organized, helps out with anything anyone needs, and supports us in so many ways,” says Associate Head of Middle School Christi Cole, who has worked with Debbie for 22 years. “She will listen to your stories, she will get you a sub, she will take your temperature, basically she is always there for faculty, staff and students.”

Debbie retired at the end of the 201920 school year to enjoy the second part of her life with her husband of 45 years, Dale.

“Debbie was there to get us through the day, the week, and the year when it came to the smallest thing like making copies,” he says. “Although, that’s a big thing when you are rushing to get to class. “She was also our emotional support. “For those who experienced loss or pain in another way, Debbie was there to ask you how you were doing, or just to let you know you were in her prayers.”

“What I enjoyed most about the School was the fun, crazy lives of Middle School students who are never boring, and the loving faces of faculty and students each day,” Debbie says.

In retirement, Debbie plans to turn off the alarm clock, and when she wakes up, spend quality time with her children and grandchildren.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone at Parker for making me laugh each day,” she says. “I want to tell them how much I loved being there for them and also thank them for all the love and support they gave me.” n

Parker Moment Upper School 2D Art teacher Patrick DeAngelis discusses portraiture during a lesson on Feb. 25, 2020.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 51

ONE OF THE FAMILY Jula Harrington ’18 joins growing number of women in football

By Matthew Piechalak This story was written in early March 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“YOU HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A TOP CANDIDATE BASED ON YOUR DEDICATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FOOTBALL INDUSTRY,” READS THE EMAIL JULA HARRINGTON ’18 RECEIVED LAST DECEMBER, INVITING HER TO ATTEND THE 2020 WOMEN’S CAREERS IN FOOTBALL FORUM AT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE’S SCOUTING COMBINE.

female candidates working in Football Operations” and to “provide participants with the opportunity to interact with top executives in professional and college football programs in an effort to help grow their network and learn industry insights.”

“I was completely shocked,” says Jula, a Parker lifer and former student manager–and captain–of the Parker Varsity Football team. “It didn’t feel real until I went. It was a dream-come-true.”

“It was a whirlwind 24 hours,” says Jula, a sophomore Psychology major at Tufts University. The Parker alumna is in her second year as a student assistant coach for the university’s football program.

Jula was one of just 40 women nationwide invited to the annual forum, which according to the NFL, “serves to educate and connect

Reflecting on her experience, Jula says she learned about the importance of connections within the sport. The

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The forum was held on Feb. 25-26 in Indianapolis.

forum is attended by general managers and current coaches, including female assistant offensive coaches Katie Sowers (San Francisco 49ers) Jennifer King (Washington Redskins).

“They went to the conference and said, ‘I was in your shoes, sitting where you are now’,” Jula explains.

“That gave me chills.”

To date, nine NFL teams have hired women through the forum, according to the NFL. Having the opportunity to meet inperson with those within the industry is an important step for an individual looking to grow their professional experience in the sport, Jula says.

“It’s easy to have your job application get lost in the pile,” she says. “But if they know who you are already and how passionate you are about the game, they’re going to pull your application.”

Jula would know–it already happened to her once before.

A random introduction to Tufts Football Head Coach Jay Civetti led Jula, then a Grade 10 student at Parker, to start considering the college for her postsecondary education. At the time, Jula’s family was visiting her older brother, Gabe ’13, a football player at Colby College.

The Harrington’s were staying in the same hotel as the Tufts Football team, Colby’s opponent that week.

“We met him in an elevator and he casually mentioned that if I came to

Tufts, the team would love to have me,” she says.

As a Grade 12 student, Jula visited Tufts during homecoming week and quickly decided it felt like her second home.

“Despite being a Division III school, they seemed to really care about football–everyone was in their Jumbos gear,” Jula says. “I fell in love with the school, applied, and emailed the coach right after I got in.”

Jula’s role as a student assistant coach is broad–and growing. During practices, she is a part of team operations, often snapping the ball for the quarterbacks and aiding other position groups. Additionally, she works in alumni relations, community service, social media, and logistics, where she coordinates

“It’s like having 80 brothers around the school...I am on the team, and they treat me like that.” food, transportation, and hotel accommodations for away games.

“We’re lucky to have her,” says Coach Civetti. “She’s a tireless worker who is as committed to the program as anyone.”

Jula, the only female currently associated with the team, says her favorite part of the job is the relationships she has built.

“I’ve gotten really close with the coaches and the guys on the team are some of my closest friends here–it’s like having 80 brothers around the school,” she says. “I am on the team, and they treat me like that.”

Jula grew up around football at Parker, and garnered a deeper appreciation for the game watching Gabe each Friday night from the sidelines of Lauer Field.

Already a three-sport athlete at the School (basketball, lacrosse, track and field) and a four-year member of ASB (Associated Student Body), Jula decided to join the football team as a Grade 9 student after interim head coach DJ Walcott asked her to be a manager.

“He said, ‘you understand football’,” she recalls of DJ, who was also her track and field coach. “I think I said ‘yes’ right on the spot. I knew I was good at logistics and I loved football.

Managing seemed to be both of those things combined. I had the ability to be a leader and create systems.”

“I’ve known Jula since she was a little girl playing with my baby son, Deuce, under the bleachers at football games,” says DJ, a Middle School Science teacher and assistant football coach. “She was very protective of him and she demonstrated that same care for her friends, and as many of them were on the team, it seemed a natural

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 53

fit to ask her to be a student manager.

She insisted that she wouldn’t be a water girl but a member of the team and an important helper.”

Her first year with the team was a transition year for the program and admittedly, there were also “assimilation pains,” says Jula.

“I was a lot younger than the senior guys who were the team leaders,” she explains. “Sometimes, it’s hard to assert yourself when you are younger, but also the only female in a maledominated area.”

Jula ran into the same struggle last year, but says that once the teams– both at Parker and at Tufts–saw she was consistent, loyal, and focused on making the team better, they knew she was “legit.”

Jula’s duties and dedication extended far beyond handing out water bottles, DJ says.

She recruited and coordinated a student manager crew that would prepare water stations at practices– including special bottles with mystery Gatorade flavors, made ice baths for recovering players, filmed and uploaded practice and game footage for the coaches, made birthday treats for players and coaches, and became an important voice of encouragement for the players.

“She got on the boys when they needed to hear a hard voice and she was the first to congratulate them when they won,” DJ says. “She was our true MVP.” Her dedication to the program prompted Head Coach Matt Morrison to suggest she apply for team captain during the 2017 season.

“Our team was really young–we only had three seniors,” Matt recalls. “There hadn’t been a winning environment and we needed a culture change

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“She got on the boys when they needed to hear a hard voice and she was the first to congratulate them when they won” around the program. “Someone asked in a coaches meeting, ‘who do you think the best leader in the program is’, and I said ‘Jula, it’s not even close’. And nobody disagreed.”

Jula applied, and the team voted her as one of their captains.

“It was like having another coach,” Matt says. “One of the best qualities of an assistant coach is that they figure out what needs to get done and they do it before I notice that it needs to get done.

Jula was so smart and so instinctive.

She had a really strong sense for that.”

Assistant football coach John Morrison believes Jula is the first nonplaying captain that the School has ever had–in any sport.

“It speaks to Jula’s incredible leadership style and her ability to make those people around her better,” says John, who was ASB advisor when Jula was ASB president and led Parker Football from 19972014. “Even though we only won three games in 2017, I think Jula played a large part in the resurrection of the program and helping lay the foundation that has led the program back the past two seasons.”

Jula is still deciding what type of role she’d like to pursue professionally, but the forum piqued her interest in areas of the sport she didn’t know

it’s awesome that I was able to pave the way for other people.”

Annika, who graduated from UVA last year, is currently an events coordinator for USA Football in Indianapolis, where she oversees all the behind-the-scenes logistics for their national teams program. A lifelong football fan, Annika says her interest in the sport really grew at Parker.

“My first time on the sidelines and getting to see the ins and outs is when I started to realize I had a different passion for the game,” says Annika, who was a part of the Lancers program her last two years of Upper School.

At UVA, Annika continued growing her experience in the sport. Her duties included caring for the footballs on game-day, snapping the football for the quarterbacks at practice, and working directly for UVA offensive coordinator Robert Anae. What started as a college job began to change her career path.

She completed a summer internship in 2018 with USA Football, and subsequently accepted a full-time job which she began after graduation. she was interested in like scouting and player personnel.

“I realized a lot of the job descriptions aligned with what I do here at Tufts,” she says.

Ultimately, Jula says she’ll be ready and willing to undertake any future experience related to football.

“It’s a very unique sport–the only one equated to war...which is maybe a bit dramatic, but the bonds I see formed in football are ones that will never be broken, she says. “It creates ‘family’, I’d say, instead of a ‘brotherhood’, because now I’m a part of it.”

A worthy successor Jula’s interest in the NFL’s Women’s Careers in Football Forum piqued

after learning that another Parker alumna had previously attended the prestigious event.

Annika Meurer ’15 was invited to the forum last year and posted about the experience on social media. Annika, also a former student manager at Parker and four-year equipment manager for the University of Virginia Football program, is one of her role models, Jula says.

Her long term goal is to be the director of football operations for a college or NFL team. She believes that the sport is at a unique point where the doors are beginning to open for women.

“We’re finally at a time when people are realizing they’re missing 50 percent of the candidates,” she says.

“Women have to prove themselves twice as hard, but they are bringing a whole new set of eyes to the game.” n

Annika and Jula overlapped at Parker by a year, and the two were on the same basketball team at Parker–Jula a freshman and Annika the team’s senior captain. They remained friends after Annika graduated.

“It’s been really cool for me to see Jula’s success,” says Annika. “I think SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 55

Parker Moment Parents and students drove to the Linda Vista Campus in May 2020 with one mission: to show Parker faculty and staff how much they appreciate them.

Under normal circumstances the Parents Association hosts a Teacher Appreciation lunch or breakfast to accomplish this goal, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to think outside the box. Nearly a hundred decorated cars took part in the drive-through parade with students holding signs to show their love for faculty and staff who watched the event from home.

56 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 57

Class Notes 1 | Rod Thompson ’ 61 returned to

2005 and has spent her time focused on restoring and protecting public and private forestlands that provide significant benefits to the local communities.

California after a stint in Chicago. He and his two grandsons are enjoying the beautiful weather in Pasadena and are avoiding cabin fever.

9 | Sonya Cronin ’96 lives in

Westchester, NY, with her husband and three children. She is a realtor in Larchmont and stays busy volunteering and spending time with friends and family.

5 | Jeff Von Behren ’90 and retired

2 | Annie James ’71 is living in

Washington state on Camano Island with her husband and cats Mork and Mindy and several birds. She spends her days making art and enjoying the view from her front porch. Her daughter and two grandsons live in Encinitas.

3 | Andreas Eros ’82 participated in

a Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices on May 5, 2020. He spends his days teaching physical education and Japanese Karate. Andreas attributes his life-long interest in poetry writing to his mother.

faculty member and parent of alumni, Carol Jensen, ran into each other at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London in June 2019.

They live only a few miles apart in San Diego, yet it was site-seeing on summer vacation that brought them together.

6 | Stewart Breier ’ 91 is pursuing a career in alternative healthcare as a Massage Therapist while continuing his work in poetry. He was proud to have Rabbi Daniel Bortz, his friend, lecture at Parker’s Day of Understanding in January 2020.

10 | Olga Liv shin ’ 96 Is a writer and

poet living in Philadelphia, PA, with her partner and eight-year-old son.

She had an opinion piece published in Newsweek comparing anti-Semitism in Moscow in the 80’s and life in the US after the two synagogue shootings in Poway and Pittsburg in April 2019. You will also find a light-hearted story about her time at Parker in Chris Harrington’s website, My Life in 650 words (http:// mylifein650words.blogspot.com/).

11 | Christopher Torres ’ 99 assumed

the duties of Executive Officer of Naval Station Newport Rhode Island in early 2020. He hopes to enjoy a polo match and a proper New England Clam Bake this summer.

12 | Matthew Goldberg ’01 graduated

from law school in 2009 and is now an associate at Perkins Coie LLP in San Francisco. He is an avid marathon runner and will complete his twentieth race when the opportunity exists again.

7 | Noelle Khoury Ludwig ’91 and

4 | Scott Hylbert ’87 released his

debut novel “Task Lyst” in July 2019. The book, a futuristic thriller, was published

by Turner Publishing Company and is available to purchase wherever books are sold. Scott reconnected with several classmates at his book reading in summer 2019 at Warwick’s in La Jolla, CA.

Caroline Walther-Meade ’89 bumped into each other across the globe in Siem Reap, Cambodia, while on vacation with their families in December 2018. They live on opposite coasts of the US, only 2,700 miles apart and randomly met on the other side of the world. It is a small, small world!

8 | Robyn Vasterling Miller ’93

was named Deputy State Director of The Nature Conservatory in Idaho.

She has been at the Conservatory since 58 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

13 | Morgan Justice Black ’ 01 and

Lizzy Bendrick ’ 07 attended the Outdoor Outreach Gala in August 2019.

They are pictured here with former Parker employee, Annie Sawyer.

of Summer and Extended Day Programs at Parker) and her husband, Arman Assadi; and Justin Levine.

17 | Nicole Price-Fasig ’ 03 is an

editor at the Wall Street Journal and happily lives in Queens with her husband, Jason. She enjoyed meeting fellow Parker alumni at the New York alumni event in March 2020.

14 | Brandon Scott ’01 rocked out at the Student Life Center with several faculty members and Upper School Students to celebrate the Class of 2019’s last day on campus and the opening of the Heart of Campus.

21 | Josh Osias ’08 poses with

Hanna Gneiting, lower school faculty member, at the Outdoor Outreach Gala in August 2019. Both Josh and Hanna volunteered for the organization and led excursions for young San Diegians.

18 | Mallery White Horton ’ 05

15 | Jennifer Kastner ’02 is working as

an investigative reporter for ABC News in San Diego. Over the years, she has written, produced, investigated, and reported on hundreds of stories. She was awarded an Emmy and an Edward R. Murrow Award. Additionally, she’s been nominated for four other Emmy Awards and an Associated Press award.

started Sel de Vie, a jewelry company that donates 25% of the proceeds to Cystic Fibrosis (CF) research, in honor of her daughter, Palmer, who battles CF. Check out the Caribbean Collect which features fun earrings named after summer cocktails.

22 | Rob Poole ’ 08 is working for the

City of New York Housing Authority. In summer 2019, he was promoted to the Green Housing Preservation Program where he coordinates low-or no-interest loans to finance energy efficiency and water conservation improvements, lead remediation, and moderate rehabilitation work within Manhattan.

19 | Matt Morrison ’05 was honored with the Semper Fi Coaches Award at Parker’s Sports Banquet in May 2019.

The award recognizes a high school football coach who exemplifies the Marine Corps motto: Semper Fidelis, always faithful, and who models the Marine Corps’ core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

20 | Kendra Crone ’ 07 relocated from

Boston to New York City in March 2020.

She is a production coordinator at 72 and Sunny, a marketing and advertising agency in Manhattan.

16 | Daniel Pegg ’ 03 and Justin

Lev ine ’ 04 brought their families to campus for a tour. Pictured are Dan, his wife Andrea, and their baby, Isla; Bridget Levine; Erika Assadi (Director

23 | Kyle Dowdy ’11 made his major league debut on March 28, 2019, as a pitcher for the Texas Rangers. In his first game versus the Chicago Cubs he allowed only three runs over two innings as the relief pitcher.

24 | Alec Heifetz ’ 12 is working for a software company headquartered in Manhattan. Previously, he spent time in Italy where he worked on Ferrari’s Formula One Racing Cars to enhance engine performance.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 59

Class Notes 27 | Savannah Philyaw ’13 released

several new singles recently, and her album, A Whisper in the Wind, was released in April 2020. Many of her songs were inspired by her times at Parker.

She is pictured performing for the Upper School at the Student Life Center during lunch.

28 | Alena Silberman ’ 13 is living in

Manhattan and is an Associate Producer at Sequence Events. She creates large and small events for non-profit organizations in the tri-state area.

25 | Stanley Gambucci ’ 13 returned

to San Diego in October 2019 to dance at an art installation opening in La Jolla. While in town, he facilitated a dance workshop on campus for Parker students. He is living in Queens, but has been traveling the world, most recently Portugal and Amsterdam.

Stanley is pictured here with Nancy Anderson-Bruno.

Forbes “30 Under 30 in Education” list.

The achievements of his company, Rhymes with Reason, now place him among the world’s most impactful community of young entrepreneurs and game-changers. One of his companies many accomplishments was in 2019 when he was selected as an Echoing Green Fellow. The 34 fellows spanned the globe and offered innovative and promising solutions to address urgent social and environmental challenges worldwide.

60 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

from Columbia University in 2019 and just completed her first year at Harvard Law School. She is excited to intern this summer with the New York State Office of the Attorney General in the New York City Bureau of the Division of Appeals and Opinions. She will be performing legal research and writing.

29 | Aliza Adler ’14, Felisa Preskill ’98

and Mary Beth Blasnek ’ 87 all work together at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center Division of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences. They discovered that they are all Parker alumni in early 2019.

26 | Austin Martin ’13 is on the 2020

31 | Natalie Schmidt ’ 15 graduated

30 | Liv Fidler ’ 15 graduated from

Skidmore College in May 2019 and has been working at the Brand New School, a creative design and production studio. They focus on producing commercials, interactive media, branding consultation and design, and music videos.

32 | Rachel Bruno ’ 16 received the

2019 Volleyball Player of the Year Award and made the All-Northeast-10 (for the third-year-running).

33 | Carlos Ezquerro ’ 16 graduated

from Stanford University this year. He received the Stanford Alumni Association’s Award of Excellence in recognition of his sincere commitment to the University through his involvement, leadership, and extraordinary Stanford spirit. Carlos is working as an Investment Banking Analyst at Greenhill & Co.’s San Francisco office and consulting pro bono for @thisisabouthumanity.

Looking to the future, Carlos is excited to have been admitted to Stanford’s Graduate School of Business for his MBA, class of 2025.

placed 3rd in the (New England Interscholastic Sailing Association (NEISA) Coed Championship Regatta and was awarded the NEISA Rookie of the Year. NEISA is the most competitive conference for sailing.

34 | Mary Tobin ’ 16 received a

Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Germany. She graduated from Dartmouth this year as an Engineering Science Major and Human-centered Design Minor.

37 | Esin Gumustekin ’17 is studying

neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

She started the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Brain Exercise Initiative, a student-run organization aimed at improving the cognitive function and memory of those with Alzheimer’s disease through simple brain exercises.

38 | Will Southworth ’ 17 and Giselle

35 | Scott Wais ’ 16, Alex Blood ’ 16,

Carol Obermeier, Nick Hubacheck ’17, a friend, and Kai Bauer-Seeley ’ 19 visited Ms. O in her classroom in fall 2019. Many laughs were shared on her comfy couches!

36 | Andie Ezquerro ’17 is in her

senior year at Loyola Marymount University where she is majoring in communications. After her prepandemic semester abroad in Italy, this summer Andie is interning with public relations agency The A-List in Beverly Hills, and also working on Special Projects for @thisisabout humanity.

Alota ’ 18 reunited at the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia during Fall 2019.

Although they rooted for opposing teams that day, each enjoyed reconnecting with a fellow Lancer.

39 | Av i Anklesaria ’ 18 just

completed her sophomore year at the University of Southern California (USC) and has a summer internship at Northrop Grumman. She’ll be working on technology product design for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) Space Systems in Utah.

40 | Carson Cook ’ 18 completed his second year at Northeastern and is a pursuing data science for his co-cop.

42 | Maddy McGrath ’ 18 is on Brown University’s women’s sailing team.

During Spring 2019, she and her team won the Gerald C. Miller Trophy and the Madeleine Trophy at Nationals, beating Harvard by 84 points.

43 | Emily Potts ’ 18 just finished her

sophomore year at Wake Forest where she is an admissions ambassador, student advisor, and cheerleader. She assisted Parker’s college counseling office by providing advice and answering questions about college this spring for the Class of 2020.

44 | Lia Redfern ’18 just finished

her second year at Northeastern and is enjoying her co-op at Putnam Investments in finance and accounting.

45 | Kurt William ’ 18 finished classes at Santa Clara and is working for Tesla as a Vehicle Readiness Specialist.

41 | Cole Harris ’ 18 had a couple of

big successes in 2019 as a skipper on the Dartmouth College sailing team. He

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 61

Class Notes EVENTS

51 | Parker hosted a breakfast in Fall

46 | Jack Morrill ’ 19 surprised the

drama class and Elise Marinkovich over his 2019 winter break. He shared stories about classes at Elon University and gave advice to the current students.

49 | Gabe Harrington ’ 13 joined Dr.

J.P. Pierce, Sarah Latimer, and Coach David Glassey at FPS in Los Angeles in February. Not pictured, but in attendance were Dav id Daitch ’ 03, Matt Herrill ’ 81, and Ben Peters ’ 12.

2019 for the retirees. Nineteen of these wonderful “alumni” toured the Student Life Center. Peggy Watson, Debbie Burzynski, Sue Marrone-Moerder, Irina Dorfman, and Julie Feori posed by the Alumni P in the Parker Cafe.

WEDDINGS:

47 | Leena Mayberry ’ 19, Berkley

Hayes ’ 19, and Lily Arrington ’ 19 visited the Heart of Campus and Nancy Anderson in fall 2019.

50 | Twelve alumni joined faculty at

FPS in San Francisco in February. Ben Wright ’ 04, Christian Winther ’ 87, Gabe Meyer ’ 95, Zach Gleicher ’ 12, Eva Scarano, ’ 13, Molly Merkin ’ 12, Ryan Griggs, Michael Schreiner ’ 11, Josh Leibow itz ’ 12, and Rose Hanscom. Not pictured but in attendance were George Jemmott ’ 03 and Gonzalo Gallardo ’ 12.

52 | Lauren Lillie ’ 02 was married to

Jake Gibson on February 23, 2019, in South Pasadena, CA. Top row (l to r): Dustin Lillie ’ 92, Ian Lillie ’ 21, Rema Lillie ’ 94, Sasha Lubomirsky ’ 01, Tatyana Dorfman ’ 02, Lauren Lillie ’ 02, Jake Gibson, Liz Fuller ’ 02, Alex Rosen ’ 02, Brittany Welsh ’ 02. Bottom row (l to r): Anders Lillie ’ 27, Eric Lillie ’ 26, Betsy Lillie, Alice Lillie ’ 30.

48 | Annie Voight and Barb Ritchie

met in April 2019 on Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, Australia. They discovered their separate trips coincided and planned their meet-up at the March 2019 retired faculty luncheon.

53 | Carli Smith ’ 03 and Steve

Evanco ’ 04 were married on January 62 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

26, 2020, at Flora Farms in San Josè del Cabo. Seven of the 10 attendants were Parker friends. From left to right: Jessie Gaines Drake ’ 04, Mike Chalker ’ 03, Allie Barry Hobson ’ 04, Carli Smith Evanco ’ 04, Steve Evanco ’ 03, Sharni Smith ’ 15, Danielle Smith Fromm ’ 01.

BIRTHS

59 | Brittany Kasner Welsh ’ 02 and

husband Eric welcomed Violet Lee into their family on December 7, 2018.

56 | Michael Jensen ’ 94 and wife Kristen Sheldon welcomed James Corie Jensen into the world on February 21, 2020.

54 | Alli Hillgren ’ 06 married Grant

Warner on September 20, 2018.

Carolyn Hillgren ’ 09 was Alli’s Maid of Honor and Camilla Koon ’ 06 served as one of Alli’s bridesmaids. Eric Sato (former Francis Parker School State Champion Women’s Volleyball Head Coach) was also in attendance.

60 | Dav id Israel ’ 04 welcomed his

second child, Bekin Israel, on November 27, 2019. The family was thrilled to celebrate Thanksgiving with the little man.

57 | Andy Cheskaty ’ 95 and wife

Amber welcomed Adam into the world on June 24, 2018.

55 | Tyler Bonilla ’ 11 was married to Blair Magee on April 20, 2019, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. They met in Austin, where they still work and live. Photo from left to right: Aidan Kennedy ’ 10, Alex Nuff er ’ 11, Tyler Blair, Chase Brew ster ’ 11, Madelinn Thurman ’ 11, Ben Piacquadio ’ 11, Cameron Bonilla ’ 16, Griffin Barra ’ 11, and Willy Avery ’ 11.

61 | Jef f Lauer ’ 07, wife Nina, and 58 | Sarah Silverman Jorgensen ’ 00 and husband Matt welcomed Judith Quinn Jorgensen, named in memory of Judith Silverman, her mother and retired Parker faculty member. Judith joined big brother Miles Parker on May 7, 2019.

daughter Adelaide welcomed son and baby brother Robert James on June 3, 2018.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 63

Class Notes MEMORIAM

67 | Dana Lee Brawley ’ 92 passed 62 | Gordon Reeve Gould ’ 36,

“Reeve” passed away on March 13, 2019. He will be remembered for his elegance and kindness. Reeve became a popular architect in the San Francisco Bay Area and designed many private homes and public buildings around the Bay Area. He was very active in the arts, supporting the ballets, opera, symphony and university performances. While serving as a communications officer in WWII, Reeve was on the USS Missouri for the signing of the Treaty of Surrender in Tokyo Bay.

63 | Sandra Curtis Gustafson ’ 53

passed away on February 1, 2020. She was a world traveler, noted author of 34 guide books to Europe and Hawaii, and a long-time San Diego resident.

65 | Pamela Gail Kennedy-Buck ’ 78

passed away on March 22, 2019. Pam attended the University of Oklahoma and then moved to Dallas. Pam had two passions, cooking and politics.

While in Dallas, she rose through the ranks of the Republican Party and achieved a national position. She told of having a one-on-one conversation with the late George Herbert Walker Bush about a woman’s right to choose.

Pam returned to San Diego in the early 1990s and became an account executive at a local radio station and joined her then-to-be husband Chuck Buck in his advertising agency Arnold BuckInc.

66 | Cate Gilman ’ 79 passed away in

64 | Sherry Kw int-Cattoche ’ 66

passed away on November 24, 2019.

She was a respected artist and art teacher in the Bay Area, a friend to animals and beloved by many.

64 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

May 2019 just after she attended her 40th reunion and shared wonderful memories with her classmates. Her positive energy and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by her friends.

away on December 14, 2019. Dana was a kind and charismatic woman who loved horseback riding and cheerleading. She was a cheer coach, role model, and friend to many Parker people.

68 | Judie McDonald, former

Parker faculty member, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2019, at home. She will be remembered as a brave, kind, and gentle Judie who loved the time spent with her family and friends enjoying the theater, gardens, meals, teaching, traveling, and quiet moments. Pictured are Judie, Paul McDonald ’ 91, Ann McDonald McGrath ’ 88 and Steve McDonald.

Parker alumni are invited to share their news in Class Notes.

We welcome wedding and birth announcements, career updates and professional milestones, personal news, photos with fellow Parker people, and obituaries. Send your note and/or photo to alumni@ francisparker.org. Please specify if your news is to be published only in the magazine or only on the alumni website or both. Submissions will be edited for space and style.

FPS IN NYC In late winter 2020, Jeff ’75, Karen, and Alena ’13 Silberman opened up their sky-high New York City apartment to Parker alumni. 20 guests gathered together to share stories, meet and reconnect, and reminisce about Parker. Regional events were also held in San Francisco and Los Angeles in early February.

SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 65

A Forever Impact

By Shara Freeman Hoefel

Alumni and parents of alumni came together virtually for Parker’s Alumni Giving Days of Impact in mid-May. Thank you to the overwhelming generosity and support from more than 300 donors, $73,000 was raised to fully endow the Alumni Impact Fund in perpetuity. This Fund will annually support Parker students and each year, during the Alumni Giving Days of Impact, donors will be able to contribute to the Fund and decide on how the proceeds are allocated to support students in that fiscal year.

66 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

This year, the Anklesaria Family made a current-use donation of $2,500 that was unlocked with high participation. This gift will go directly to replenish the Middle and Upper School Design Thinking Lab supplies which were donated as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Above: The Anklesaria family pictured at Parker’s Linda Vista Campus.

Thank You! SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 67

Parker joins effort to aid local healthcare workers School partners with local government, healthcare providers to create face shields

By Matthew Piechalak

WITH LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN DESPERATE NEED OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AS THEY BEGAN FIGHTING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MARCH, FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOL JOINED THE LOCAL AID EFFORT. The School partnered with the City of San Diego, Scripps Health, Kaiser Permanente, and the San Diego Library Foundation, and began weekly production of 300 PPE face shields using the 3-D printer in Parker’s Design Lab, as well as 3-D printers at the San Diego Public Library. The effort was spearheaded by Parker Science Department Chair Denver Guess.

“Francis Parker School is excited to partner with the city and local

68 Parker Magazine SUMMER 2020

medical institutions to produce and donate needed safety equipment,” Denver said in a statement released to the city when the partnership was officially announced. “Our namesake, Colonel Francis Parker, once said, ‘the needs of society should determine the work of the school’. In this crisis, it is an honor to be able to play a small part in making a meaningful difference in our community.”

In mid-March, a pediatrician at Scripps Ranch–the mother of two former Parker students–had reached out to Denver to inquire if the School’s Science Department could donate any PPE equipment to their medical team.

In the process, Denver was connected to the Scripps’ supply chain manager.

“He referred me to a 3-D printed medical face shield designed by Budmen Industries to see if we could produce this equipment in the Francis Parker Design Lab,” Denver says.

Using the design as a starting point, Denver reengineered the shield to work with alternative materials on-hand. Denver stresses that what he has created is not an N95 mask or a ventilator, but a face shield. It is constructed of a thin, plastic screen akin to an old projector transparency that attaches to a 3D-printed Polylactic acid (PLA) visor. An elastic cord holds the shield in place around a person’s face.

The masks are crafted under the highest of sanitary conditions. Denver

Above: Teacher Denver Guess works in Parker’s Design Lab to produce face shields for local helathcare workers.

has been the only person inside the School’s Design Lab, which was previously professionally cleaned.

After setting aside his personal belongings like keys and cell phone, he takes his temperature and logs it into a book. Once confirming it is in normal range, he uses hand sanitizer and puts on disposable gloves before entering the lab.

“It’s been exciting to see how local organizations can quickly mobilize and collaborate for the collective good,” says Denver, when asked in June to reflect on the unique collaboration between public and private organizations. “As an institution that values community and acknowledges our interdependence, we remain ready to form partnerships

and make a meaningful difference however we can.”

partnership which has greatly benefited the School community.

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR PARKER’S DESIGN LAB

“The Foundation’s investment in our students aligns with our number one priority that students come first whether we are learning digitally or inperson,” says Parker Head of School Kevin Yaley.

With the help of 306 alumni donors, 12 family matches, and 13 class matches, Francis Parker School this spring was able to raise more than $73,000 to endow the Alumni Impact Fund and provide $2,500 to restock supplies and update equipment in the Middle and Upper School Design Lab.

The funding will be used to stock PPE for students’ use in performing science labs and experiments, as well as for materials needed for multiple courses that utilize the lab. n

Additionally, in June, Parker received a generous grant from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation to support the work on the School’s Design Lab. The Foundation and Parker have an ongoing, 34-year SUMMER 2020 Parker Magazine 69

YOUR GIFTS SUPPORT THE PARKER EXPERIENCE IN PERSON AND ONLINE

The learning never stopped for Parker students during the COVID-19 pandemic and neither did your support.

Thank you for ensuring that Parker students reach “as far as the mind can see.” Plan your gift before Dec. 31 and be a part of advancing Parker’s mission and the bright futures of our students.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY FRANCISPARKER.ORG/GIVE