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Faculty & Staff
Christopher Keck-Director Chris
founded Palo Alto Prep in 1987 and has been the director of the school
since its founding. His goal was to create a school where learning
would be fun for kids. The philosophy is that great teachers and a
positive environment hook kids on learning for life. This philosophy,
combined with a focus on outdoor experiential learning has created a
productive and enjoyable environment conducive to learning. There is
nothing more critical than the link between student and teacher; it is
the teacher's relationship with the student rather than the subject
matter that gets a student to stretch out of his comfort zone and take
the risk to learn new concepts, ideas and skills. Chris taught
chemistry and biology at PAP from 1986 to 1998 while developing and
leading all outdoor education programs. As a former EMT he
maintains current emergency medical training certificates, research
diving and advanced scuba diving certificates, ski patrols at Northstar
Lake Tahoe, and holds a current pilots license. He uses the
outdoors as a classroom and believes that "Mother Nature" is truly the
best teacher of all.
Andrew Fryer-Vice Principal-Social Studies
Andrew
has two important goals (1) Help students to live in the moment and (2)
help students connect history to events that define who they are. He
feels it is important that when a student leaves Palo Alto Prep he or
she can comfortably move from their primary discourse to a secondary or
college discourse. Andrew's satisfaction in teaching is derived from
bringing the subject matter to life in such a way that students are
excited by it. His leisure activities include bowling, guitar playing,
surfing and motorcycles, but his highest priority is his family and
spending time with his two daughters. Andrew received an AA degree from
Foothill College and a BA degree and teaching credential from San
Francisco State University.
Dylan Rich-Vice Principal-Math/Science
Dylan
believes every student has the desire to be successful, and he helps
students find the inner resources they need in order to master their
own learning. As a graduate of Palo Alto Prep in 1999, Dylan is
particularly attuned to the mindset and concerns of the students, and
he embodies the spirit and pride of the school. Students identify with
his youthful perspective. Dylan's hobbies are surfing, golfing,
cooking, guitar and he is currently working on getting his pilot's
license.
Katherine Lighty-English/Social Studies
Katherine
has been working in education since 2001, and is in her third year of
credentialed teaching. She has credentials in both English and Social
Science, and is excited to be teaching English and U.S. History this
year at P.A.P.
While growing up in Santa Cruz, Katherine did well
in school until she hit high school. A traditional high school just
didn't fit for her and she tried several. After a number of attempts
to be the square peg in the round hole, she left school and took
control of her own education. A big job for a 16-year-old.
After
some time at community college, Katherine attended Antioch College,
located in lovely Yellow Springs, OH. During college, she participated
in a number of education-related internships both in and out of Ohio,
and was able to avoid most of the snow. Katherine graduated with a BA
in Education Studies (and a deep hatred of blizzards) in 2003; and
hightailed it back home to Santa Cruz and its mild weather. Katherine
earned her teaching credential and an MAT from UC Santa Cruz in 2006.
Go Banana Slugs!
Katherine worries that her hobbies make her sound
like an 85 year old. She likes to bake, (especially cupcakes) spends
too much time knitting, and the rest of the time reading (duh, she is
an English teacher), and creating the perfect itunes mix.
Robert Ramirez - Spanish / P.E.
"Students don't care how much
you know until they know how much you care."
Robert is an enthusiastic, fun and knowledgeable teacher. He grew up
and completed all of his professional studies in Mexico. Robert knows
what it takes to become a professional educator in a different
country, he had to go through a lot of struggles in order to
accomplish that goal. Because of that, he understands the struggle
that students have to go through when they're trying to learn a
foreign language. He always encourages students to practice
conversational Spanish at home or anywhere outside the classroom so
that they get familiar not just with the language but the culture as
well. "Language Goes Along with Culture", he says; he believes that
when someone tries to learn a new language it helps him break down
some of the cultural barriers that currently exist between different
cultures or countries.
Robert has a unique way of building relationships with parents and students. He truly believes that every student can become successful in school if the moral values are set in place first.
Robert has experience working with students and families of different cultures and backgrounds. He has worked in different school districts in southern California and now the bay area which has given him valuable experience as an educator. He has taken leadership position and has always stood out as a professional wherever he has worked. He has also worked in dual language programs and believes is one of the most effective ways to teach subject matter.
Robert is a very talented soccer coach and soccer player; he likes sports a lot. He also enjoys playing basketball and he is a huge fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. This helps him to have a better connection with Palo Alto Prep students and all students wherever he has worked. For hobbies, he likes to travel (especially to other countries), play the guitar, spend time with his friends and family and his cat "Garfield" who's been with him for about 14 years now.
One of Robert's goals in life are to professionally interpret for the United Nations, Television or Radio broadcasting networks. He knows Spanish and English and he is currently working on learning Portuguese and French. He also wants to open a dual language school to help those families and students who are struggling to adapt themselves to the American culture so that they can become truly bilingual and bicultural. One of Robert's favorite saying is: "Everything is possible in life if you set the goals correctly; you have solid discipline and perseverance".
Lisa Maureen O'Hearn-Keck-Dean of Students As Dean of Students Lisa's goal is to assure that
Palo Alto Prep supports our students and families in every way we can. She is a
part of each student's educational process from the interview and enrollment,
working with families and students on course selection, transcripts, and college
choices and on to graduation. She is faculty liaison for the parent advisory
board, as well as works with alumni and the community. She coordinates our
international trip each year, and knows that there is no better teacher of
culture and people than actually being there first hand. Lisa relishes the time
spent with students and is constantly amazed at how much she learns from them
each day
A graduate of Menlo Atherton High School and
University of Santa Clara, Lisa held the position as Executive Director of the
Muscular Dystrophy Assn/San Francisco as well as management positions in media
sales, advertising and fundraising for over twenty years. In 2001 she co-founded
The Windermere Group, an outdoor education and team-building company. She is
still very involved in organizing outdoor adventures and team -building for
schools in the area as well as for Palo Alto Prep.
Lisa is a mother of two daughters, and treasures
time with her family. However she will jump at any chance to travel. She loves
to water-ski, snow ski and scuba dive and has recently become a devotee of
meditation and yoga.
Leslie Gunterson - Special
Education Leslie Gunterson was raised in Hemet, California. She is the
mother of four amazing boys she raised in So Cal who are now 3 of 4 in
college (UCLA,UCI, UCSD) and one in High School. In helping her own
children overcome learning differences, Leslie became interested in
learning, brain development, limiting and empowering belief systems
and motivation. She is a certified performance and leadership coach,
as well as a martial arts instructor. Leslie has worked in community
education for over 19 years, both in the public and private
sector. She has a Master's Degree in special education from Brandman
University.
Leslie is the educational specialist/coach managing the special education department and assisting students to access the services/skills that they need to be successful at Palo Alto Prep and in their college programs in her study skills class. More than just a study skills class, she works with students and their parents to create successful goals and transitions from high school into college, career and or trade school. She also helps students identify their life purpose and career opportunities that line up with their purpose and values.
Her life purpose is to creatively lead, teach and inspire herself and others toward excellence and possibilities while having fun. She enjoys laughing, playing, travel and vacation with family and friends, music, writing, science, martial arts, water sports, fitness and coaching.
Lindsey Pratx-Science
Lindsey
was born and raised in the small, agriculturally-based Central Valley
town of Reedley, CA. She grew up in a family consisting of her
mother, younger sister, and numerous cats, dogs, and assorted
pets. From an early age, she had a love for animals, nature, and
the ocean. In 2001, she left home for the first time to attend Stanford
University. During her undergrad years she spent a quarter in
Australia studying coral reefs and rainforests, as well as two quarters
in Monterey at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station. She graduated
with a Bachelor's degree in Human Biology in 2005, and has spent her
time since helping young people develop wonder and curiosity in science
classrooms. She currently lives in Mountain View with her husband and two cats, and in her free time enjoys gardening, travel,
reading, and dancing.
Jon Pabico-Math/Music
Jon
Pabico is originally from Reno, Nevada. He received his BA/BS degrees
in Philosophy/Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno (GO
WOLFPACK!) in 1999. After completing his teaching credential
requirements in 2000, he began his career in education as a chemistry
teacher. Along with teaching his classes, Jon got involved outside the
classroom with students and school activities as an adviser for several
groups including student body government, speech/debate, and national
science competitions. He has also taught in Prague and Kiev as an
English teacher, experiencing the unique differences and similarities
between international systems of education. He believes every
person can accomplish anything one step at a time, and that a strong
education allows one to take bigger steps. Jon enjoys sleeping,
NBC's Office, YouTubing, reading, exercising, and traveling. At
this time, he only has time for YouTubing.
Tara Theobald-English/Gender Studies
Originally a Chicago native, Tara moved to San Francisco with her partner in May 2008 and quickly became a part of the San Francisco Bay Area community. She graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois at Chicago with departmental honors in both of her two Bachelors degrees: Teaching of English (secondary education) and Gender and Women's Studies. Tara considers herself to be a punctuation princess, as well as a believer that every student loves to read (and just hasn't found the right book yet). (Tara frequently finds herself having to defend this position in "conversations" with her students.)
Before Palo Alto Prep, Tara spent her last year teaching in East Oakland in an alternative education program designed for "at-risk" youth and non-traditional learners. She is excited to continue working in a non-traditional school environment here at Palo Alto Prep.
This year, Tara brings a love of reading and writing, an entire new Gender Studies curriculum, and references to seasons and the grid system to Palo Alto Prep. She enjoys biking; photography; writing; camping; all of the beautiful, non-flat California scenery; cuddling up on her couch with an old movie and her new kitten; and drawing out her long "a" sound Chicago accent even fuller for these West Coast students.
 Keith Costas-Internet Technology Specialist
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