Where People Come First
The staff, students, and families at GPS are as diverse and vibrant as the Greater Sacramento area we serve. Case in point: Our staff is made up of over 60% people of color, and among us we speak Hmong, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Thai, and Farsi.
Mission & Vision
GPS breaks away from a one-size-fits-all approach to education, serving students individually to truly prepare them—emotionally, socially, academically—for the changing world. We provide an educational experience that develops the whole child—their heart, their relationships, their brain—to support students as they blaze their paths and create fulfilling lives.
Above all else, we believe people come first. And as we strive to learn and grow as humans, we believe we will, in turn, develop a better world.
Our GPS Team
Taylor Hickam
Kindergarten Teacher
Education: Fresno Pacific University and UC Davis
Specialties: Social Emotional Learning, International Studies
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My strongest HEROIC value is: Relationships
Jennifer Petersen
Kindergarten Teacher
Education: Sacramento State University
Specialties: Child Development, Social Justice, Literature for young learners
Language(s) spoken: English
My strongest HEROIC value is: Community
Aliyah Blue
First Grade Teacher
Education: San Diego State University and UC Davis
Specialties: Social Emotional Learning, Science
Language(s) spoken: English
My strongest HEROIC value is: Relationships
Paul Perkins
First Grade Teacher
Education: Azusa Pacific University, Sacramento State, University of the Pacific
Specialties: Diverse and Inclusive Teaching, Culturally Responsive Teaching
Language(s) spoken: English
My strongest HEROIC value is: Community
Amanda Vang
2nd Grade Teacher
Education: Sacramento State and Brandman University
Specialties: Teaching and Learning Theories, Classroom Feng Shui
Language(s) spoken: English, Hmong
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Optimism
Jake Hatten
2nd Grade Teacher
Education: Sacramento State
Specialties: Creative Thinking, Problem Solving, Special FX
Language(s) spoken: English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Optimism
Jorge Anthony Castillo
3rd Grade Teacher
Education: CSU Stanislaus
Specialties: Educating the future minds of America, Pizza Connoisseur
Language(s) spoken: Spanish, English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Relationships
Sable Pedro
3rd Grade Teacher
Education: University of Nevada, Reno and Humphreys College
Specialties: Elementary Education, Social-Emotional Learning, Super Mom
Language(s) spoken: English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Empathy
Bao Lor
4th Grade Teacher
Education: UC Irvine and Sacramento State
Specialties: International Studies, Multiple Subjects with a Social Justice Lens (K-8)
Language(s) spoken: Hmong, English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Hard Work
Ely Pitcher
4th Grade Teacher
Education: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Specialties: Elementary Education and Special Education (K-6)
Language(s) spoken: Spanish, English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Empathy
Emily Petersen
5th Grade Teacher
Education: California State University, Monterey Bay
Specialties: Teaching English as a Second Language
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Empathy
Ardalan Gharachorloo
Music Teacher
Education: Sacramento State
Specialties: Music, Instrumental, Choral, Music Theory and Literature
Language(s) spoken: English, Farsi, Arabic, Turkish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Community
Brittany Wright
Art Teacher
Education: American River College, Sacramento State, WGU
Specialties: Art, Community Building, Social-Emotional Learning, Forward Thinking
Language(s) spoken: English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Community
David Mena
Associate Teacher - Special Education
Education: UC Davis
Specialties: Language Development and Language Preservation
Language(s) spoken: Spanish, English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Empathy
Realyn McDaniel
K-5 Education Specialist
Education: First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities
Specialties: Special Education, Learner Equity
Language(s) spoken: Tagalog, English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Hard Work
Yosselin Ramirez
Front Office Manager
Education: Glendale Community College
Specialties: Spanish Translation, Office Organization and Beautification
Language(s) spoken: Spanish, English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Hard Work
Tim Tararug
School Support Manager
Education: De Anza College and San Jose State University
Specialties: Restorative Practices, Relationship Building, Facilities Upkeep, Top Chef
Language(s) spoken: English, Thai, Lao, Vietnamese, French
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Community
Kisha Lottie
Executive Assistant
Education: Everest College
Specialties: Art, Dance, Karaoke, Listening and Problem Solving
Language(s) spoken: English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Relationships
Shawn Gubala
IT Coordinator and Tech Teacher
Education: University of Houston and Defense Language Institute
Specialties: IT, Computer Science, Rock n Roll, Crime Fighting
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Optimism
Alyssa Palermini
Assistant Principal
Education: Azusa Pacific University and Loyola Marymount University
Specialties: Conflict Resolution, Restorative Practices, Differentiation, English Language Development
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Relationships
Moriah Haworth
Instructional Coach & Founding Teacher
Education: University of Louisville and Loyola Marymount University
Specialties: Literacy Instruction, Project Based Learning, Curriculum Development, Drama Queen
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Empathy
Somer Lowery
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships
Education: Loyola Marymount University
Specialties: Community Engagement and Partnerships, Social-Emotional Learning, Visioneering
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Integrity
Audria Johnson
Principal/Executive Director
Education: Oglethorpe University and Sacramento State
Specialties: Early Childhood
Education, English Language Arts & Literacy (K-2), Social-Emotional Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Baseball Mom
Language(s) spoken: English
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Integrity
David K. Richards
Founder
Education: UC Berkeley and Stanford University
Specialties: Social-Emotional Learning, Leadership Coaching, Education Innovation
Language(s) spoken: English, Spanish
My Strongest HEROIC Value is: Optimism