Parker Profiles | 2017-18 Viewbook

Parker Profiles

FRANCIS

PARKER SCHOOL

NO BORING DAYS FOR OVER 100 YEARS At Francis Parker School we believe when imaginations are ignited, assumptions are challenged, limits are pushed, and divergent minds collaborate... magic happens.

Parker isn’t just a school.

It’s a home to students who hunger to test their intellectual horizons, to wield new abilities, and to plug into the world around them.

It’s a community where apathy is rejected and identities are celebrated. Where competition fuels personal evolution, and failure is seen as an opportunity to try again.

It’s a launching pad for a-ha moments, enduring friendships, and lifelong passions.

It’s where bravery is forged, curiosity becomes discovery, and dreams are conceived

as far as the mind can see.

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WELCOME

Lower school auditorium in 1954

Let me start by saying thank you for your interest in Francis Parker School.

More than a century ago, Clara Sturges Johnson and her husband William Templeton Johnson dreamed of transforming education by providing a nurturing learning environment that would foster students into becoming confident, skilled, and socially-minded citizens.

They opened Francis Parker School in Mission Hills in 1912, committed to the educational ideals pioneered by the school’s namesake: Colonel Francis W. Parker, a founder of progressive education and proponent for whole-child learning.

We are passioante about preparing each child to live a meaningful, fulfilling life in an increasingly global society. At Parker, we begin by providing exceptional academic instruction and positioning students to expand their intellectual curiosity.

At every step, character education is embedded in the curriculum so that students develop personal responsibility, self-reliance and social awareness.

All of this happens in a nurturing, yet rigorous college-preparatory culture.

On the following pages, you will get to know the fabric of the Parker community: our people. Their stories of determination, curiosity, and compassion are what make our School’s history so rich—and our future, unbounded.

“The end and aim of all education is the development of character.”

COL. FRANCIS W. PARKER

Best, Opening of the Middle School Campus in 1986

Kevin Yaley Head of School

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DR. LAUREN WRIGHT ‘06 COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST / POLI SCI GURU

Intern for American legends Diane Feinstein and Meg Whitman.

Ph.D. in American government and political methodology from Georgetown University. Author of “On Behalf of the President: Presidential Spouses and White House Communications Strategy Today.” Lecturer in politics and public affairs for Princeton University. Director of Investor Relations at NV5 Global, Inc. and a member of the White House Transition Project.

After perusing through Dr. Lauren Wright’s impressive personal and professional repertoire (before the ripe age of 30, no less), one might be left asking, “How?”

“Parker helped me establish the high-level reading and writing comprehension skills I needed for Georgetown and beyond.”

“Parker helped me establish the high-level reading and writing comprehension skills I needed for Georgetown and beyond,” Wright notes. But she also emphasizes on a particular mentality that has helped her reach new career heights: “I realized early into my 20s that I was in an incredibly unique part of life where I had the time and responsibility load to work as hard as physically possible. I became fierce about protecting my time for what really mattered to me.”

That strict mindset, she acknowledges, requires passion. “I finished my doctorate in three and a half years and took my qualifying exams three days apart. I did it so quickly because I couldn’t wait to work in the real world and apply the tools I learned at Georgetown. If you’re lucky enough to identify early on what you’re truly captivated by, it’s easier to condense a large amount of work.”

Her advice to younger students interested in pursuing a similarly illustrious post-grad life? “I’m a really big believer in always having a five-year plan— there’s something to be said about consistently envisioning what you want for your future. I find that even if you don’t completely fulfill those goals, you’re often given new opportunities you didn’t even imagine for yourself.”

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AUSTIN MARTIN ‘13 SOCIAL CHANGEMAKER / HIP-HOP CONNOISSEUR

Austin Martin ‘13 comes from a dichotomy of backgrounds. His parents grew up in an urban neighborhood in Detroit, where they triumphed within an underserved school district and both received college degrees. After starting their family in San Diego, they decided to send Austin to Francis Parker School, understanding first-hand the importance of a top-tier education.

Austin describes continuously feeling connected to urban culture, which led to an intersection of identities: “I’ve always loved hip-hop music—the lyrics resonated with me from a young age—but I also recognized my privilege growing up in a place like San Diego,” he said.

Because of Parker’s strong focus on community service, Austin joined (and started) a multitude of socially-aimed clubs. “There was space here [at Parker] to discover what you’re really passionate about—and resources available to help your club meet its goals.”

The summer of high school graduation, Austin found a way to merge his deep love for hip-hop with his mission to make a positive social impact: a nonprofit startup called Rhymes with Reason, which uses techniques and lyrics in rap music to help enrich students’ vocabularies.

“It started off as a weird hobby,” Austin said. “I wanted to see how many SAT vocabulary words you could find in contemporary hip-hop music—I found that 70 out of the top 100 SAT words were appearing in music I was listening to everyday. I knew something powerful could come out of that.”

Three summers ago Austin had the chance to run the pilot version of the program in Detroit, the city which held so much of his family’s story. There, he saw the incredible potential for Rhymes with Reason. “We were teaching this group of students who were really struggling,” Austin explains. “Within an hour, they had learned 15 new SAT words—and they couldn’t get enough. They didn’t want their session to end, and were asking to do more research afterwards. To grab these students’ attention in such a big way, I realized: I have a responsibility to take this program as far as I possibly can.”

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After his recent graduation from Brown University, Austin is diving into Rhymes with Reason full-time. This fall, he’s releasing the first “teacher’s starter pack,” a webbased app and workbook that will be accessible to private, public, and charter school educators. To learn more, visit rhymeswithreason.co.

“There was space here [at Parker] to discover what you’re really passionate about—and resources available to help your club meet its goals.”

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DARBY BYRNES, CLASS OF 2025 GRADE 5 STUDENT / RENAISSANCE LEARNER

Darby Byrnes’ love for learning is infectious. At the mention of writing, she lights up: “I love getting to pour myself into stories,” she said. She’s also fascinated with American history: “I think it’s so interesting to see how people used to live, and to study how much our nation has grown.”

She approaches academics from a 30,000-foot view, consciously making connections between the subjects and projects she tackles each day. “I guess I like history so much because I like to compare and contrast different countries, cultures, and time periods. One of my favorite things to do is draw Venn“[The teachers] help me diagrams, where you can actually see the differences and similarities with what you’re trying to compare.” to stay determined, to

be true to who I am, and Darby’s curiosity doesn’t end with humanities—she likes learning just about anything, from anyone. Her to feel like I accomplish favorite project so far at Parker has been the grade anything I set my mind 4 “Be An Expert” unit, where students pick a topic of their choice, research it extensively, and then do to. They’re my favorite a presentation of their findings in front of the class. part about Parker—I feel Darby chose to research lacrosse, the sport she plays, incredibly lucky to have and dived into studying about its history and modern day presence, as well as her favorite professional the teachers I do.” teams and players. She loved becoming an expert, but even more so, learning from her peers. “My classmates did such cool presentations on subjects like guitar, narwhals, the Washington Nationals, the abyssal zone…oh man, I learned so much! I never wanted that project to end.”

While Darby’s enthusiasm for school seems intuitive, she doesn’t hesitate to attribute this quality to Parker: “Going to school here—it’s full of unique learning experiences, and I feel like the teachers care about making class fun,” she describes. Her affirmations for her teachers don’t stop there. “They help me to stay determined, to be true to who I am, and to feel like I accomplish anything I set my mind to. They’re my favorite part about Parker—I feel incredibly lucky to have the teachers I do.”

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DR. RAI WILSON UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER / SANKOFA STORYTELLER

Upper School history teacher Dr. Rai Wilson is a strong believer in the West African word, “Sankofa,” which roughly translates to, “go back and get it.” But to historians, its significance means something deeper: to not go forward without having learned the lessons of the past.

“My hope is that Parker is shaping leaders of tomorrow who are empathetic, understanding, and curious. Whether they become business owners, politicians, or teachers— if they can become empathetic people who value other humans, I feel like I’ve done my job.”

Sankofa drives much of Dr. Wilson’s history curriculum, which culminates in a class project in which students present arguments for how America should progress as a nation based on historical examples. The topics, which range from civil rights to economic collapses, instill deep critical thinking skills and prompt students to consider what works and doesn’t work in society.

Dr. Wilson “hates when students feel that history is sterile,” and makes a strong point to tell history’s stories in a way that is relevant to high schoolers.

His class often includes critically analyzing movies, music, photography, poetry, and even court cases.

Students search for the narrative being pushed, whether or not the historical event was correctly portrayed, and other underlying themes. “I try to come at history from different angles,” Dr. Wilson explains. “It triggers different parts of the brain and reaches students who have different interests and backgrounds.”

Dr. Wilson isn’t reserved about his love of teaching at Parker, which is visibly reciprocated amongst students and alumni. On weekends and during summer, you’ll often find him hiking with students and their families, or going to brunch. “The family feeling here isn’t a brochure statement—it’s real,” he says.

Sankofa is not just about avoiding mistakes of generations past. To Dr. Wilson, the greatest lesson he can give students is to help them see life through perspectives that are different from their own. “My hope is that Parker is shaping leaders of tomorrow who are empathetic, understanding, and curious.

Whether they become business owners, politicians, or teachers—if they can become empathetic people who value other humans, I feel like I’ve done my job.”

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LOWER SCHOOL AT-A-GLANCE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE

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SPECIAL SUBJECT CLASSES ART DRAMA INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (BAND) ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER LIBRARY MANDARIN CHINESE MUSIC (CHORAL) PHYSICAL EDUCATION SCIENCE SPANISH STRINGS WOODSHOP / DESIGN

CHARACTER EDUCATION The Parker Code of Ethics: S.T.R.I.V.E. frames our expectations for students’ conduct, attitude, and citizenship.

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.

ECONOMIC DIVERSITY This year, Parker committed more than

$4.7 MILLION in financial assistance to the student body.

What are Parker students like?

THE MCGRATH FAMILY GLOBETROTTERS / LIFELONG LEARNERS

Meet Parker Middle School teacher Chris McGrath and two of his children, Shea, Class of 2023, and Anne, Class of 2020.

What do you like about going to school at Parker?

Shea: The people—I was a little nervous about making new friends after moving from Miami. But everyone was so welcoming. From the very first day, I felt like I had instantly made a bunch of friends. And, I know this is going to sound weird but I never wake up going, “Ugh, I don’t want to go to school today.” I love seeing my best friends and the other students every day.

Mr. McGrath: Wait a minute—does class ever factor into this?

Shea: Well, yeah! All of my classes are really interesting. One of my favorite things is that I get to have music four times a week. I had never played the violin before Parker, and now I’m in advanced strings and am a concert master.

Anne: For me, it’s about the experiences Parker offers. The Global Learning Program is unique to Parker—in Grade 8 I went to Peru for Discovery Week, and my sister has been “Parker students celebrate to Croatia and Paris. I also feel like I get to do everything here. I did drama club in Middle each other’s strengths.

School, I participated in History Day, I’m on the Also, I feel like all of us are cheer team, I play guitar. Parker helps you find out what you’re good at and what you’re really determined—we don’t give interested in. up. The teachers play a

big part in that, they help Mr. McGrath: It’s kind of neat to see the arc of that growth—from Grade 6 and 7 students encourage us to do our best, sampling different classes, to upper schoolers and to stay positive.” diving deeply into subjects or sports. And when you have kids who have found what they truly love to do and have had the chance to become really good at it, they start to make connections to other parts of their life. You have students who are aware of what it’s like to achieve and produce at high levels—and you end up building their sense of who they are and what they can contribute to the world.

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Mr. McGrath: The great thing about Parker kids is that there’s no uniform example or stereotypical student. The one quality they tend to share—which is partially due to the community itself, as well as the admissions department—is they’re the kind of kids who want to come to school. They have almost this lust for learning, and they push themselves to think deeply. (looks at kids) But you guys can fill in on this—I think I’m talking too much.

Anne: Parker is a melting pot of different kids and perspectives and interests and backgrounds. Here I have the most diverse friend group I’ve ever had, and I think that’s really important in influencing my own learning. They challenge my way of thinking, and I appreciate that.

Shea: Parker students celebrate each other’s strengths. Also, I feel like all of us are determined—we don’t give up. The teachers play a big part in that, they help encourage us to do our best, and to stay positive.

Anne: Yeah, I agree with that. Competition is different here—it’s more like, we feed off each other’s successes. When we see one of our classmates doing well, it pushes us to be better too. And we figure out ways to work together, because we all like seeing each other succeed.

Ok, this one’s for the kids. How weird is it having your dad work at the school you go to?

Anne: Ooooh, it feels like EVERYONE in my grade has had my dad as a teacher.

Sometimes if a friend comes over to my house, I can tell it’s weird for them, because my dad will be grading their paper or something. Also, whenever I walk by his classroom, well—let’s just say that dads really like to embarrass their kids.

Mr. McGrath: Wait, are you saying you don’t like it when I walk past your lunch table and ask how you’re doing and what the latest gossip is?

Anne: (laughs and shakes head) I guess at the end of the day we’re thankful though, Dad, that you’re a really great teacher and everyone likes you.

Mr. McGrath: Aw—likewise, kids.

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GET TO KNOW PARKER STUDENTS FAITH TOMLIN ’17

ALEXANDER GALINDO CLASS OF 2024

Favorite part Definitely the people. I’ve been here for 13 years about Parker: and I feel like I have really close relationships

Favorite part All the nice teachers, and all of the special about Parker: classes you get to do, like drama, woodshop, art, and design.

Favorite class: Writing—I love writing fiction stories and essays.

with all of my peers and my teachers—it’s definitely a community here.

Advice to new Everyone here is very welcoming—just be students: yourself, and you’ll naturally make a lot of

Best quality in a Someone who is motivated. I think all the people classmate: who are here want to be here and that’s evident

friends.

in how hard they work and the way they treat others.

Dream job: Entrepreneur.

Advice to new Join as many clubs as possible—get involved in students: any way you can. Anything you’re interested in, don’t hold back—dive in!

Fun fact: I can list all of the presidents in order.

NINA MANNING CLASS OF 2029

LAIRD ANDERSON CLASS OF 2029 Favorite part I get to play with all of my friends. I also about Parker: like learning and writing everyday.

Favorite classes: Mandarin, Spanish, and Tech.

Fun fact: I can do a cartwheel...and a roundhouse

Favorite part Writing! I love to write stories. I also love about Parker: playing outside.

Friends at My friends at Parker are really, really nice!

Parker: Fun fact: I’m really good at making goofy faces.

kick! It’s easy.

SEVRIN KAESE CLASS OF 2024

Favorite part I like that there are a lot of different classes about Parker: you can choose from. Also, all of my friends are really nice here.

Favorite class: Tech—I love working on computers!

Advice to new There’s no need to be scared when you first students: start at Parker. There are so many different

personalities and interests here, so you’re definitely going to find people you’ll get along with.

Fun fact: I’m in a band—I play the keyboard and I do backup vocals.

Dream job: I’d love to be a professional soccer player.

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RODRIGO GALLARDO CLASS OF 2020

Favorite part The variety of opportunities you can take about Parker: advantage of here. For instance, next year

I’m tripling up on my sciences—I’m taking AP Chemistry, AP Physics II, and Advanced Computer Science.

Favorite class: Physics, because you get to learn about how the world works.

Advice to new Start with good study habits—take advantage of students: the Academic Resource Center, because they’ll

help address your organizational stretches. Also, join as many things as you can—DO IT ALL.

Dream job: Entrepreneur or engineer.

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ZACH TEUTSCH ’17

Favorite part Definitely the teachers. They are much more about Parker: supportive and kind than what I was used to

GET TO KNOW PARKER STUDENTS

at public school. They’re always willing to take the time to help you when you need it.

Favorite part There are so many different classes you get to about Parker: choose from, during school and after school. I’ve

Favorite class: Advanced programming with Mr. Maunu.

Computer science is what I plan on studying in college, and Mr. Maunu helped me dive so much deeper into the subject.

Advice to new Before you worry about fitting in or finding students: friends, pursue what you’re passionate about;

IAN BRADY CLASS OF 2024

participated in the after school program and I got to do coding, animation, and a lot more.

Favorite class: I love tech, because I get to work on really cool

digital projects. Right now I’m working on a music video, where we use Garage Band for the audio, and a green screen for our video.

the rest will fall into place.

Advice to new You’re not going to get lost when you start at students: Parker. There are a lot of friends and teachers who will help you feel comfortable here.

Favorite part I love all of the specialty classes, and I about Parker: love PE. There are tons of sports I get to

ISABELLE KHOURY CLASS OF 2024

Fun fact:

I’m a really good go-cart racer!

I want to be a Formula One race car driver, so I

Dream job: can travel the world… and live large.

play here!

Advice to new There’s all different types of people here, students: so don’t worry—you’ll fit in!

Fun fact: I play basketball and I do horseback riding.

Dream job: I’d love to be an interior designer.

Favorite part The community. As soon as I came to Parker about Parker: in Grade 7, I was welcomed with open arms.

Teachers wanted to make sure I fit in and was comfortable with the material.

Favorite class: ASB, because I love being able to represent

JACQUELINE GHOSH CLASS OF 2019

Favorite part Parker puts so much into the visual arts about Parker: curriculum, and as someone who really needs that creative outlet, it’s been great for me.

Favorite class: My favorite class is SCRIBE, where students create and publish a magazine.

Advice to new I promise you, people are nicer here than students: anywhere I’ve ever been. You’ll make a ton of friends, no matter what you’re interested in.

Quality you like I appreciate someone who is reliable— in a classmate: someone you can trust to get work done.

Dream job: Something in the multimedia field.

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students at Parker, communicate with the admin, and plan school events. There’s nothing better than seeing students have fun at an event you planned.

EMILY POTTS CLASS OF 2018

Advice to new Try new things—at my old school I didn’t students: participate in much. As soon as I got here I

joined cheer and lacrosse, and attended as many games as I could. It really immerses you in the student body and allows you to meet more people.

Fun fact: Almost everything I own is monogrammed with my initials, and I love bows!

Dream job: Neurosurgeon. I love being able to help

people—and when I’m crazy busy, I thrive.

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MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL AT-A-GLANCE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE

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STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO

9:1

2017 SENIOR GPAs Highest Achieved: 4.96 75th Percentile: 4.36 25th Percentile: 3.54

767

AP TESTS TAKEN IN 2017

GLOBAL PROGRAM Middle School Discovery Week and Upper School Global Studies Program destinations: CHINA PERU MONTREAL & QUEBEC COSTA RICA CUBA CROATIA INDIA SOUTH AFRICA THE PHILLIPINES FIJI

OVER 60 CLUBS Like Model UN, Rowing, Science Olympiad, and Improv

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CIF VARSITY SPORTS

LAURA CRABTREE ’00 SPACE ARCHITECT / ASTRONAUT TRAINER

When Laura Crabtree ’00 was eight years old, she proudly told her mom that when she grew up, she wanted to be a space architect—she literally wanted to design and build houses for space. Her mom chuckled and replied, “You can grow up to be whatever you want to be, Laura.”

It turns out that Laura’s foresight was spot-on: at Parker, she had a reputation for pushing herself intellectually and academically, taking as many AP courses as possible.

“I really liked hard classes—ones where I got to experiment and develop my own way of thinking about the subject,” she said. Prior to graduating, Laura worked with her college counselor at Parker to figure out how to stay on her ambitious track. “I told my counselor that I loved space, and that I wanted to pick the hardest major I could think of.” When her counselor advised her to consider Astronautical Engineering at the University of Southern California, Laura jumped at the idea. “I’ve never shied away from a challenge,” she said.

Today, Laura works for SpaceX as their Senior Space Operations Engineer, developing the training and operations for the astronaut crew as they make their way to the International Space Station. The Space Operations team works on everything from designing the astronauts’ suits to working with the crew on the ISS. Engineers may have a reputation for black-and-white thinking, but Laura’s position requires her to live in the gray space. “With operations engineering, I’m constantly having to use both sides of my brain. For instance, part of my job involves running simulations for the operators in mission control. I have to understand the ways the parts of the vehicle could possibly fail in flight. I don’t just have to understand how the vehicle works, but how it affects all of the other parts that are connected to it. All of that takes creativity and supports our effort to ensure mission safety.”

Laura is now married to a fellow engineer, and together they have two boys who have already picked up the tinkering gene. Her advice to her children and students at Parker? “This is going to sound cliché, but I’m a big believer in finding what truly makes you happy. Don’t always think about an end goal, but rather, what makes you tick. Then, believe you’re capable of accomplishing anything.”

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“I told my [Parker] counselor that I loved space, and that I wanted to pick the hardest major I could think of...I’ve never shied away from a challenge.”

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DEON RANDALL ’10

LAUREN ST. JOHN LOPEZ

BULLDOG RECEIVER / NFL SCOUT

LOWER SCHOOL DESIGN TEAM LIAISON / SCIENCE WHIZ

When wide receiver Deon Randall ’10 reflects on his time at Yale University, he doesn’t boast about his Ivy League honors, or Yale all-time records (219 receptions, 17 touchdowns, and 2,323 yards)—he discusses the honor of being elected captain of the Yale football team, and how he used that leadership role to pilot a mentorship program called Next Future Leaders, or “NFL”.

Deon and a group of his fellow Bulldogs worked with elementary and middle school students at the nearby Amistad Academy, offering athletic and academic advice. Through NFL, Deon provided lessons about physical fitness, the importance of setting goals, and balancing life as a college athlete at one of the most prestigious academic settings in the country.

“Yale was tough, don’t get me wrong—but honestly, I never felt unprepared to go to school there,” Deon said. “Parker made sure I was ready to be a student athlete in college. While there were differences between the schools, Parker’s workload and learning environment was incredibly similar [to Yale’s].”

After graduating from Yale and spending the past few years in investment banking, Deon is tackling a whole new adventure: working as a college scout for the Denver Broncos. Deon notes that the transition is a leap of faith—he’ll be working his way back from the bottom, and moving to an area he’s not familiar with. However, his work ethic and “Parker made sure I was positive attitude stands out amongst the uncertainty.

“If I’m going to be grinding long hours, I want to do ready to be a student I’m really passionate about, which has athlete in college. While something always been football. All I can do is be the best scout I there were differences can be.”

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between the schools, Parker’s workload and learning environment was incredibly similar [to Yale’s].”

Deon’s advice to aspiring student athletes is simple, and consistent: work, and work really hard. “My personal motto is: luck is when hard work and opportunity meet. Never see a ceiling for yourself—the only thing stopping you from achieving your goals is your own mindset.”

In addition to teaching 4th and 5th grade science, Lauren St. John Lopez is the Lower School Design Team Liaison, where she acts as a bridge between specialty classes and homeroom teachers on design thinking projects.

In its simplest form, design thinking is a process—applicable to all walks of life—of creating new and innovative ideas and solving problems. “One of the things I love about design thinking at Parker is it doesn’t mean, ‘Okay, now I’m going to science class where we’ll memorize content and watch a demonstration,’” St. John Lopez said. “The curriculum here crosses all of the different specialty subjects and classrooms—so no matter what your strengths are, there is something for you to contribute.” She emphasizes that design thinking allows teachers to reach students all along the spectrum of learning styles. “If you struggle understanding the content with science, we find a way to include art or woodshop into the topic.

“If you have practiced all You’re never pigeon-holed into one area.”

through adolescence how to creatively look at problems and come up with solutions, you are going to be a far more successful adult in whatever field you go into.”

A perfect example of a design thinking project is Grade 3’s investigation of birds that migrate through the Tijuana Estuary. After choosing a species to study, each student moves from class to class, focusing on different physical and biological aspects of their bird. In the library, they begin researching for their presentation. In the design lab, they create specific types of levers to mimic their birds’ beaks. In science, they explore the different mechanisms of eating, and how the shape of their bird’s beak determines what they eat. To cap off the project, the students visit the Tijuana Estuary, and assemble a design showcase where they present their findings.

The cross-pollination of learning that happens within these projects is authentic and intentional: “Whenever all of our departments are collaborating on a project, we like to say that we’re ‘all in,’” St. John Lopez said. “Our main focus becomes helping that grade work towards whatever their design showcase will be.”

To St. John Lopez, the important part of design thinking isn’t just the cross-curricular learning students are exposed to, but also the skills they develop in the process. “I think with all of the challenges our world faces today, design thinking is going to be the key to finding solutions,” she said. “Having the open-mindedness and flexibility that comes with being a design thinker is essential to function in a professional environment. And if you have practiced all through adolescence how to creatively look at problems and come up with solutions, you are going to be a far more successful adult in whatever field you go into.”

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JACOB GARDENSCHWARTZ ’14 POLITICAL JOURNALIST / ACTOR-VIST

Jacob Gardenschwartz ’14 is getting ready to graduate from University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in communications and public service, and a master’s in public administration. In typical Parker fashion, that’s only the beginning of his current repertoire. Over the past two years he’s interned at NBC’s New York offices covering the election, spent a semester in DC writing for Vox, worked for Meet the Press—oh, and another small thing—started his own successful nonprofit, ImpACT on Stage.

Jacob notes that his fervent passion for politics, community, and education stems from Parker: “It was during my time in high school that I became really interested in character education and diversity programming.” During his first year at Parker, he saw a casting notice for ImpACT, a school acting group that used performance for social change. He was instantly hooked, and helped grow the small club into a fully-functioning 501c3 by the time he graduated.

Over the past three years, Jacob and ImpACT have worked with over 7,500 high school students in San Diego, sharing stories of bullying and inclusion and providing strategies to help students resolve conflict situations. “We begin by talking with school administrators about what kind of issues are most prevalent on campus,” Jacob said. “We have a database of around 30 topic areas that we can cover, “It was during my time in about different kinds of bullying behaviors, identities that may be targeted, and high school that I became situations students might find themselves really interested in in.”

character education and diversity programming.”

Once a customized curriculum has been established, ImpACT provides insight about bullying and inclusion through roleplay and improvisation performances. “We don’t pretend we have all of the solutions,” Jacob admits. “Really, it’s about having a two-way dialogue with students—we want to have a conversation and come to the solution together.”

This year, ImpACT will expand to the collegiate level, with programming focused on anti-violence education. To learn more, visit impactonstage.org.

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A LAUNCHING PAD FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL You’ve met inspiring athletes, nonprofit starters, spaceship builders, design thinkers, and community activists. Excellence across the board is what propels our students to attend some of the most highly-ranked universities in the world. Here is a sample of some of these schools from the graduating classes of 2013 to 2017.*

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American University (4) Amherst College (2) Arizona State University Bard College (2) Barnard College (5) Bates College (2) Baylor University Belmont University Bentley University Boston College (2) Boston University (12) Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brigham Young University (10) Brown University (5) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (8) California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Chico California State University, San Marcos Carleton College (2) Carnegie Mellon University (2) Case Western Reserve University (3) Catholic University of America Chapman University (8) Claremont McKenna College (3)

Colorado College Columbia University (6) Cornell University (5) Creighton University Dartmouth College (4) Davidson College DePaul University DigiPen Institute of Technology Dominican University of California Duke University (2) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Emerson College (2) Fairfield University Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles Fordham University (5) George Washington University (4) Georgetown University (2) Georgia Institute of Technology Global College at Long Island University Gonzaga University (4) Harvard University (7) Harvey Mudd College Indiana University at Bloomington (2) Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lafayette College (2)

Lehigh University (2) Lewis & Clark University Loyola Marymount University (10) Lynn University Macalester College Marist College Marymount California University Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2) Middlebury College Muhlenberg College Musicians Institute New School New York University (19) Northeastern University (8) Northern Arizona University Northwestern University (2) Oberlin College Occidental College (2) Ohio State University Oregon State University (2) Pace University Pitzer College Point Loma Nazarene University (3) Pomona College (2) Princeton University Purdue University (5) Reed College (4) Regis University

*Numbers denote the number of 2013-2017 Parker graduates attending that university.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University (2) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Saint John’s University, NY Saint Mary’s College of California (2) San Diego City College San Diego State University (7) San Francisco State University Santa Clara University (7) School of the Museum of Fine Arts Scripps College (4) Seattle University (3) Seton Hall University Skidmore College (2) Sonoma State University (2) Southern Methodist University (5) Stanford University (12) Stony Brook University Susquehanna University Swarthmore College Syracuse University (2) Texas Christian University (7) Trinity College Tufts University (3) Tulane University (3) United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School United States Military Academy University of Arizona (7) University of Bath University of California, Berkeley (18) University of California, Davis (4) University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles (19) University of California, San Diego (5) University of California, Santa Barbara (6) University of California, Santa Cruz (6) University of Chicago (2) University of Colorado, Boulder (8) University of Denver (4) University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Miami (2) University of Michigan (12) University of Montana, Missoula University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2) University of Notre Dame (7) University of Oregon (6) University of Pennsylvania (5) University of Portland (2) University of Puget Sound (5) University of Redlands (2) University of Richmond (2) University of Saint Andrews University of San Diego (13) University of San Francisco University of Sioux Falls University of Southern California (24) University of the Pacific (2) University of Tokyo University of Virginia (2) University of Washington (4) University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Washington College Washington University in Saint Louis (2) Wellesley College (2) Wentworth Institute of Technology Wesleyan University Westmont College (2) Whitman College Willamette University (3) Woodbury University Yale University (5)

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JOIN THE LEGACY Francis Parker School has over 100 years of accomplishments, discoveries, and relationships. Interested in adding your story to the Parker legacy? Begin the process by applying online, scheduling an interview, and registering for testing at francisparker.org/admissions

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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.

To learn more, go to francisparker.org

Mission Hills Campus Lower School 4201 Randolph Street San Diego, CA 92103 619 / 298-9110

Linda Vista Campus Middle/Upper School 6501 Linda Vista Road San Diego, CA 92111 619 / 298-9110