Leadership

List of 12 items.

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  Nola-rae Cronan

  Head of School
  Nola-rae Cronan is honored and humbled to serve as the Head of School at Carlthorp.

   

  Nola-rae has two decades of experience in independent schools, including The Williston Northampton School, Cranbrook Schools, The Columbus School for Girls, and most recently at The Langley School. Nola-rae has served in a variety of capacities in education, including as a teacher, student advisor, dorm parent, coach, school counselor, Dean of Students, Director, and Head of Middle School. Her vast experience touches all aspects of school life, including curriculum development, technology integration, faculty professional development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, student leadership, and student programming. She has also received distinction for her work with innovative teaching practices after being selected as one of 26 educators in the first cohort of TED-Ed Innovative Educators. Nola-rae has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Ursinus College and a master’s degree in clinical social work from Smith College School for Social Work. 
• 

  Steve Springer

  Associate Head of School and Principal
  Steve is honored to serve as Associate Head of School and Principal. Steve’s seven-year tenure at Carlthorp School began first as a classroom teacher and then as an administrator, providing him with a uniquely holistic understanding of the operations of the school.   

  
  

  During his more than 29 years of experience as a professional educator, Steve Springer has been a teacher, an administrator, and a curriculum developer. He earned a MA degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in the fields of science and art. In addition, he co-authored and illustrated ten teacher resource books published in McGraw Hill’s “The Organized Teacher” series. While teaching in grades K-6 and in Adult Education, Steve also had an adjunct faculty position at Cal State LA in the areas of classroom management, language acquisition, and cultural diversity. Additionally, Steve designed and directed cross-aged tutoring programs, as well as after-school programs for LAUSD. A huge advocate of service learning, Steve spent three years in Peace Corps Guatemala and back home became a founding board member of Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles. Finally, he has worked with Covenant House of California to help homeless youth get off the street. Steve enjoys spending time with his husband Mark, swimming, running, biking, and paddleboarding in his spare time.

   
• 

  Amanda Sasso

  Assistant Head of School
  Amanda, a proud Carlthorp alumna, has been a dedicated member of the Carlthorp School community since 2002. As the Assistant Head of School, she oversees all aspects of the academic program, including curriculum development, support services, testing, technology integration, teaching methodology, faculty coaching and evaluation, recruitment, and professional development. Amanda also manages scheduling, student performance data analysis, and service learning. Her deep understanding of Carlthorp’s traditions allows her to effectively support all key stakeholders.
  
  

  Amanda holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Spanish from Southern Methodist University, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Cal State University, Northridge,  and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Cal State University, East Bay. Outside of her professional life, Amanda is a dedicated mother of two who enjoys cooking, reading, and staying active through exercise.
• 

  Pat Yahnke

  Assistant Principal Emeritus
  A native of Santa Monica, Pat attended Loyola Marymount University.  After that she earned a Master’s from Seattle University. She came to Carlthorp School in 1984 and, among other duties, taught Advanced Math. Pat is joining us again this year as the Vice Principal Emeritus and will continue to inspire us at Flag Line with her “Thought for the Day,” which students hear during Morning Assembly. Her extracurricular activities include crafts, reading, and walking with friends.
• 

  Tommy John Gaio

  Director of Technology
  Tommy John Gaio is thrilled to work at Carlthorp School as the Director of Technology. Originally from Chardon, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland, he graduated from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. He then worked as a civil engineer and as a wedding and portrait photographer before spending the last decade-plus in the field of education. He moved to California in 2011. Before his most recent position at Mirman School, Tommy served in a variety of roles at Fusion Academy, teaching and mentoring students while also pioneering the school’s virtual education program for 80 campuses.
  
  At Carlthorp, he integrates technology into all aspects of school life to improve the teaching and learning experiences of everyone on campus. In his free time, he enjoys spending time in nature, playing music with friends, watching sports, and building community connections.
• 

  Jeff Goodman

  Director of Communications
  Jeff oversees communications at Carlthorp School in a role that combines his writing, editing, and media experience with his passion for education. With a background in journalism, he has previously worked in communications at Geffen Academy at UCLA and Crossroads School. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jeff graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in political science. His social-emotional learning children’s book, Feel Like Eggs?, was published in 2021. In his free time, Jeff enjoys playing basketball, spending time with his three brothers, and exploring LA with his wife and children.
• 

  Nicky Meyer

  Program Integration Director & Head Librarian
  Nicky has held several positions since starting at Carlthorp School in 1999. She began as a P.E. teacher, moved to 1st grade for six years, followed by 3rd grade for eight years and has now worked in the Library for over nine years. Additionally, Nicky has stepped into the role of Program Integration Director, overseeing the school's COVID return plans, coordinating parent education workshops at CS, and collaborating with fellow faculty and staff on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion curriculum. She holds an Administrative Credential, a Masters of Art in Elementary Education, a Clear Credential in Elementary Education, and a B.A in Sociology with a minor in Family Studies. Nicky enjoys yoga, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. She has always been devoted to helping children achieve their potential, knowing that they need to be well-prepared for the complex world in which they will live.
• 

  Shetal Parikh

  Director of Admissions
  Shetal joined the Carthorp School leadership team in 2024 as the Director of Admissions, and she is honored to support families as they begin their journey with Carlthorp. Shetal received her bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s in social work from the University of Southern California. Shetal has worked in education for over 18 years as a therapist, clinical supervisor, and most recently as the Director of Admission at Marburn Academy in Columbus, Ohio.

   

  Shetal brings with her the unique skill set of her clinical expertise combined with a deep knowledge and appreciation for admissions work. Her goal is to make sure all families feel seen and heard throughout the admission process. In her free time, Shetal enjoys exploring the city with her husband and young daughter. She can be found either on the hiking trails or experimenting in the kitchen with new ingredients found at the farmers market.

• Ken Parr

  Director of Finance and Operations
• 

  Maureen Pollack

  Director of Advancement
  Maureen ’90 is a native of Santa Monica and a proud Carlthorp School graduate. The daughter of a former Carlthorp School teacher, Mrs. Dowling, Maureen has been connected to the school for decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College in the fields of English and communication. Prior to working at Carlthorp School, she worked in advancement at Brentwood School and as marketing director at Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Maureen is the proud mother of two Carlthorp School alumnae.
• 

  Cyreeta Sharp

  Director of Community Engagement and Belonging
  Cyreeta Sharp has over a decade of experience in education, consistently working with faculty, staff, parents, and students to create environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Cyreeta actively engages with all members of the school community to ensure everyone feels welcomed and valued, contributing to a sense of belonging and unity at Carlthorp.
  
  

  With bachelor's and master's degrees from La Salle University, Cyreeta previously served as Director of Student Life, Inclusion, and Belonging at Marymount High School. She also worked with the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles as a Regional Support Manager. At Carlthorp, she partners with students, families, and colleagues to support inclusion through events, programs, and professional development.
  
  

  Cyreeta has two teenage children, Mae’son and My’Lee, and three fur babies: Chloe, Thor, and T’Challa. She enjoys all things NFL football, the Marvel universe, writing, traveling, and crafting.
• 

  John Wallace

  Director of Security
  John is a former Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and has an advanced P.O.S.T. Certificate with over 33 years of combined law enforcement and executive protection experience. He has worked at Carlthorp for more than 14 years. John attended LA Valley College and received a football scholarship to attend Prairie View A&M University of Texas and Carroll College of Montana. John has a wife, Donna, two sons, and a daughter as well as one dog and four cats (all rescued).