Our Board

David B. Kirk, Ph.D. P '24, '28

Dr. Kirk joined the Parker School Board in 2016 with 30 years of experience in the software and technology industry. For 12 of these years, Dr. Kirk served as chief scientist for NVIDIA, the world leader in visual computing. In this role, he led the development of graphics technology for gaming, professional, and consumer entertainment platforms. In 2009, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the California Institute of Technology and was elected into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2006 for his role in bringing high-performance graphics to personal computers. Dr. Kirk is the inventor of more than 60 patents and patent applications relating to graphics design and has published more than 50 articles on graphics technology. He also authored the popular textbook “Programming Massively Parallel Processors” along with co-author Wen-mei W. Hwu. Dr. Kirk holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the California Institute of Technology. He says, “I am very excited to be part of the Parker School community. The excellent quality of the education and the warm feelings of community make Parker School attendance a powerful life-enhancing experience for the students.” He and his wife Caroline Landry enjoy outdoor activities including skiing, bicycling, surfing, swimming, and paddleboarding. His two children are thrilled to attend Parker School.

Mimi Kerley '91; P '28, '31

Born and raised in Waimea, Ms. Kerley joined Parker’s Board of Directors in 2016 and is a graduate of Parker School, Class of ‘91. After a year in France, she attended the University of Colorado, Boulder and graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Information Systems and International Business. Ms. Kerley worked in Europe and the U.S. as a technology consultant with Cambridge Technology Partners, and as a freelancer analyzing, testing, and designing websites and computer software. In 2002, living in San Francisco, she became a partner in a company which specialized in the front-end design of complex software (mostly biotech) and transactional websites. In 2013, after the birth of her daughter (second child), Ms. Kerley left the partnership to focus on raising her children and contributing to the Waimea community. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors at Kahilu Theatre while also engaged in other community projects. She has two children, both of whom attend Parker School. Ms. Kerley shares, “I’m a proud Parker School graduate! Parker gave me the support and confidence I needed to successfully navigate the world beyond the confines of my high school ‘ohana.”

Max Ostner P '22, '26

Born in Tennessee, Mr. Ostner is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound. New to Parker School’s Board of Directors in 2018, Mr. Ostner is a private investor and has two boys, both of whom attend Parker School. He also serves on the board of directors at two other nonprofit organizations, including Gig Harbor Academy and Fox Island Community Association. Mr. Ostner shares, “Parker’s small school environment and well-rounded opportunities drew us to the school. Both of our kids are thriving academically, emotionally, and socially at Parker School and truly enjoy going to school every day.”

Gerrit M. Keator

Gerrit Keator served as Leadership Gifts Officer and Principal Gifts Officer at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts 2000-2018. He graduated from Andover and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Yale University. Mr. Keator served in the United States Air Force prior to joining the faculty at Greenwich Country Day School in Connecticut. He taught English and was Assistant Headmaster and Dean of Faculty at ‘Iolani School on O’ahu 1965-1972. Mr. Keator went on to serve as the Headmaster of Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia and Pomfret School in Pomfret, Connecticut. He currently serves on the board of International College in Beirut, Lebanon where from 1989-2000 he served as the President of the College and is now President Emeritus. Over the years he coached football and girls’ and boys’ ice hockey and lacrosse. The Keators, originally from Connecticut, moved from Vermont to Waimea in 2015. Mr. Keator said, “Marnie and I were immediately struck by the ‘ohana atmosphere of Parker School. The size of the school contributes to this as well as having the K-12 grades on one campus. Parker is a relatively small school with a big family spirit. As well, the strength of the academic program throughout the grade levels is clearly evident when one visits classes on any given day”. Their three sons and eight grandchildren live in Massachusetts and Utah.

Jonathan Mitchell

Mr. Mitchell is Vice President – Land & Asset Management at Parker Ranch Inc. Prior to joining Parker Ranch, Mr. Mitchell worked at Apple Inc. and Janus Capital Group. Originally from Colorado, he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University with a multidisciplinary degree in astronomy, psychology, and systems theory, and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Mr. Mitchell is a Pacific Century Fellow, serves on the Board of Directors at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Committee of the Hawai’i Leeward Planning Conference, and is a fellow of the Consortium for Graduate Study of Management, The Toigo Foundation, and Management Leadership for Tomorrow. He and his wife Dr. Janet Mitchell OD, are astronomy and science enthusiasts and enjoy traveling. With a passion for education and learning, Mr. Mitchell says, “I am excited to be a part of the special sense of place and building the unique learning community that Parker School fosters among its students, faculty, and staff, and parents. I am inspired by Parker School’s focus on creating opportunities to engage in experiential learning and making real-world connections with the curriculum, making education impactful for its students, and building their capacity to create meaningful change in the world.”

Gregory R. Mooers

Gregory Mooers founded and has served as managing member and president of Mooers Enterprises, a land planning consulting firm, since 1994. He graduated from Whittier College in California with a double major in chemistry and biology and earned his master’s degree in education, also from Whittier College. After moving to Waimea in 1972, Mr. Mooers held numerous roles at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy over the next 13 years including chemistry teacher, basketball coach, director of athletics, associate dean of students. Greg returned to the academy as a trustee from 2003 until 2018. Mr. Mooers then worked as deputy managing director for the County of Hawai’i for five years, followed by five years as vice president in project development for Nansay Hawai’i, Inc. He has served on numerous boards including the Maunakea Management Board for seven years, and the Hawai’i Leeward Planning for 10 years, in addition to Hawai’i Preparatory Academy Board Chair and Vice Chair. Mr. Mooers says, “Parker School’s mission statement resonates with my own beliefs about education (Excellence, Integrity, Compassion), is an excellent independent day school, and an important part of the island’s educational infrastructure.” Mr. Mooers has been married for more than 44 years to Sharon Peterson, a celebrated UH-Hilo volleyball coach who is a five-time recipient of national coach of the year, two-time Olympian, and inducted into seven Hall of Fames, including UH-Hilo Hall of Fame and Hawai’i State Hall of Fame.

John Richards P '21, '27

John Richards has been a member of the Parker Board since 2010 and has served on the finance committee and as Board President. Mr. Richards currently chairs the board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee and is a member of the Hawai‘i Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund. Formerly the operations and visitor manager for Kahua Ranch for 12 years, Mr. Richards is currently managing partner in Waimea Water Services and President of Makani Ua Ranch Limited. The sixth generation of his family to live in Hawai‘i, he received a bachelor of science degree in Animal Science from Washington State University before serving in the U.S. Army, with deployments in Macedonia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. He is also a machinist and welder. His two children attend Parker School. Mr. Richards enjoys motorcycles and SCUBA diving. About his involvement on the Parker Board, he says, “Parker School is a great place—outstanding academics with one of the most learning-friendly environments imaginable. I have the honor to be on the board in this exciting time of growth and get to help make great even better.”

John Colson

Mr. Colson has extensive experience in education leadership having served as Headmaster at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, Founding Head of School at Maui Prep Academy, and Head of School at Hualālai Academy. He also served as Executive Director of Kīhei Charter School. In addition to his impressive career as a school leader, Colson has also held various administrative positions, including Director of Institutional Advancement at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, Chief Education and Executive Officer at Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School, Middle School Principal at Kamehameha Schools – Hawaii Campus, and Assistant Dean of Students and basketball coach at Chaminade University. Mr. Colson holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Chaminade University, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Radford University and post graduate work in educational administration from the University of Utah. Mr. Colson shares, “I greatly appreciate the opportunity to further strengthen the Parker School experience.”

Board of Directors Emeriti

Saundra Gulley, served 2005-2018 (Board Chair 2015-2018)
Kenneth J. Fischer, O.D., served 1995-2018 (Board Chair 2001-2009)
Carolyn Stewart, served 2012-2021