Our Leadership Team
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We are a dynamic team of thoughtful leaders, driven by a commitment to providing exceptional 1:1 academic services to our students and their families. Our team is made up of educators, parents, and community leaders who are rethinking education in the 21st century. By setting the highest standards and continually forward-thinking, we are providing a space for our students to achieve their full potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.
Collectively, our team has over two decades of experience working with all kinds of K-12 learners, including those who are neurodivergent, twice exceptional, gifted, experiencing mental health challenges, worldschoolers, and students who simply benefit from a personalized approach.
Senior Administration
Founder & Head of School
Jesse founded Pacific Preparatory in 2002 and has carefully managed the growth of the school to ensure that all students are matched with truly exceptional teachers. He provides educational consulting services to schools and families, maintains thoughtful relationships with our community of education professionals, and supports the leadership team. Jesse is also the co-founder of the Tutor Corps Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides tutoring scholarships to under-resourced students. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University and holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Jesse has 15 years of teaching experience and has taught through the Teach for America program in East Palo Alto and at Menlo School’s academic summer camp. He served on the board of trustees of the Marin Waldorf School in San Rafael for six years and is active in the education community. When he’s not working, Jesse and his wife are kept busy by their three children, and together they love to hike and enjoy the nature around their neighborhood in Marin County, CA.
Assistant Head of School
Staci is a dedicated and detail-oriented Assistant Head of School who supports the daily operations and processes of the school. Her responsibilities include leading strategy on teacher professional development, student learning, and staff recruitment, hiring, and onboarding. Beyond her work at Pacific Preparatory, Staci is proud to lead school district partnerships at Tutor Corps and our scholarship program at the Tutor Corps Foundation, working to bring the gift of 1:1 education at free and reduced rates to over 200 students a year. Staci graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Western Michigan University before completing her Ph.D. in English from Syracuse University. At Syracuse, she taught college-level writing classes and trained new graduate teaching assistants. Before becoming the Operations Director at Pacific Preparatory, Staci taught students across the Bay Area through the organization. Her experience as a teacher has given her a unique perspective on the needs of both teachers and students in the 1:1 education space. Staci's attention to detail and strong work ethic have made her an invaluable member of the team. In her free time, Staci loves reading fiction, snuggling with her dogs, cooking, and going for hikes around Portland.
Chief Operating Officer
Mel is a seasoned educator with a passion for one-on-one instruction. As the Chief Operating Officer since 2015, Mel has overseen the work of the leadership team and managed the organization with great success. Her expertise in 1:1 education comes from her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education from Western Michigan University, her Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts, and her minor in political science. Before joining the Pacific Prep team, Mel taught middle school in Sacramento through the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in San Francisco, and served as an Instructional Coach through Breakthrough Collaborative’s summer programming at San Francisco University High School where she mentored aspiring teachers. Mel's passion for 1:1 education extends beyond her professional work. She is currently embarking on a journey into home education with her five-year-old daughter. Mel's other interests include spending time with her family, reading, traveling, taking in all forms of art, and dabbling in real estate investing.
Director of Admissions
Molly is an essential member of our team, bringing her wealth of experience in supporting individuals of all ages and abilities to her role in admissions and enrollment. She is responsible for ensuring a seamless process for our families, handling all the logistics with precision and care. Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a minor in Sociology from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. With years of experience in both non-profit and county sectors, Molly has developed a passion for serving families and individuals in need. She is excited to continue this work through our 1:1 academic programming. In her free time, Molly loves to travel, run, and spend time with her husband, daughter, and rescue dogs. One of her favorite memories is surprising her parents with an adventurous trip to Alaska.
Dean of Students
“I feel like at any given time I could just burst with delight at what our students and teachers are doing –it’s incredible!” As evident from that direct quote, Erika takes great pride in supporting our students, their families, and our teachers authentically. She uses her expertise in curriculum design, engagement, and learning differences (and giftedness!), in each conversation, thoughtfully connecting with families to make the 1:1 experience come to life. Her drive to support students as humans-first is evident in the work she does for anti-racism, LGBTQIA2s+ rights, disability advocacy, and more. As a naturally curious and innovative educator, she not only gets to know each of our students in our initial family curriculum meetings, but also collaborates with parents and facilitates events for our PacPrep community. She often jokes that she “geeks out” with respect to our students' learning, which truly shines through in her work. Erika holds a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis on Teacher Leadership. Oh, and did we mention she’s an author? Check out her latest book, Adalene Plays Many Ways.
Outreach Manager
Cory has been an advocate for families for many years, and her role at Pacific Preparatory allows her to expand on her work experience to collaborate with our community partners. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Emory University and a Master's in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin, Cory brings a unique perspective to her work. Her experience working in child protection and as a supervisor for a mentoring program for at-risk youth has given her a deep understanding of the challenges that families face. Prior to joining the Tutor Corps team, Cory founded a successful sleep consulting business to help families navigate the challenges of sleep and parenting issues with their children. In her current role, she enjoys collaborating with community partners to expand our student base and help more families access the benefits of 1:1 education. Cory lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, three school-age children, and a pandemic rescue dog named Dwight.
Executive Assistant
Maddi is a vital member of Pacific Preparatory, working behind the scenes to support the team in her daily administrative tasks and projects. With her Bachelor of Science degree in Imaging and minor in Communications from Western Michigan University, Maddi brings a strong background in design and communication to her role. Maddi worked as a graphic designer in Los Angeles for the wine and food industries for over a decade, before moving with her family back to her roots in Michigan. In her free time, Maddi enjoys cooking new foods, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with her husband and son.
Educator Coach
Karen supports our teaching team and hand selects the best instructor for each student. In collaboration with our teachers, she ensures that lessons are engaging, valuable, and individualized for the best learning experience possible. Karen holds a B.S. in Cognitive Science and M.A. in Legal and Forensic Psychology. Prior to joining the leadership team, she worked as a tutor and instructor for Tutor Corps and Pacific Preparatory, focusing on all things STEM: math, science, coding, etc. In her spare time, Karen enjoys dog training, hiking, and gardening.
Meet Featured Teachers
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