Born and raised in Waimea, Ms. Kerley is a graduate of Parker School, Class of 1991, joined Parker’s Board of Directors in 2016 and recently became President of the Board in 2024. After graduating from Parker School, Ms. Kerley spent almost 20 years away from Hawaiʻi, earning her bachelor of sciences degree in information systems and international business from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and working in the field of technology consulting which took her around the world. Since moving home in 2009 and after the birth of her second child, Ms. Kerley shifted her focus to raising her children and contributing to the Waimea community. She has served on the Board of Directors at Kahilu Theatre since 2011 and is actively engaged in other important community projects. Both of Ms. Kerley’s children 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.”
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. He is the 2019 Seymour Cray Award Recipient “For outstanding leadership in developing GPU computing and in engendering its rise to the mainstream of HPC.” 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. He is a current Parker parent and a parent of an alumna.
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.”
Mr. Mitchel joined the Parker School Board of Directors in 2017 and is currently serving as Director of Asset Management for the ‘Aina Pauahi Group with Kamehameha Schools. Previously, Mr. Mitchell was Vice President of Land & Asset Management, for Parker Ranch, Inc. and has also previously worked at Apple Inc. and Janus Henderson Investors. 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 enjoy being 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.”
Ms. Dougherty joined the Board in 2024 and brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, educational innovation, and equity-focused initiatives to Parker School’s Board of Directors. With over 15 years in education, Ms. Dougherty has been at the forefront of driving systemic change in public schools, particularly through her roles at KIPP Public Schools Northern California. As the Director of Strategic Initiatives, she led cross-departmental teams to improve operational efficiency and address critical challenges such as teacher shortages and personalized instruction. As an Innovation Manager, she oversaw the scaling of blended learning models across 14 schools, earning her recognition as a Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year in 2014. Ms. Dougherty’s dedication to education is rooted in her early career as an English teacher, where she successfully elevated the academic performance of students in underserved communities. In her consulting role, Ms. Dougherty continues to influence educational practices by advising on strategic projects and providing thought leadership on key initiatives. Ms. Dougherty holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy & Women’s Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
A Waimea resident since 2014, Mrs. Henderson joined the Board in 2024, is a parent of three Parker School students (‘30, ‘33, and ‘34), is lucky to call the Big Island “home” and raise her family here. As a realtor with Aloha Sotheby’s International Realty, Mrs. Henderson is grateful that she gets to help clients find their dream home in paradise. Prior to this, she was an executive recruiter, focusing on CEO, COO, CFO and Board of Directors’ recruitment across multiple industry sectors, including Fortune 50 companies. Mrs. Henderson earned a bachelor of arts in English literature from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, after which she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Iceland by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and cooking.
Shelli Meneghetti was raised in Kona, Hawaii, and is a graduate of Parker School, Class of 1982. She divides her time between Kona and San Francisco. Shelli holds a bachelors of arts from Lewis & Clark College, where she played intercollegiate soccer, and a master of business administration from Santa Clara University. Her professional experience spans both finance and technology. Shelli began her career in international equities for a Boston-based financial services firm and later served as Director of Human Resources for a Silicon Valley technology company. An active member of the San Francisco community, Shelli has coached youth soccer for over 20 years and served on the board of the San Francisco Vikings Youth Soccer Club. She has also held board positions with The Little School of San Francisco, the San Francisco Marina Community Association, and the Kona Bay Estates Association. Additionally, she was a member of the San Francisco City Fields Foundation. Shelli and her husband, Tony, are the proud parents of three daughters. A fun fact: in 1981, Shelli’s family donated the Bull statue that still stands in Parker School’s main hall that is the focal point of the beloved school tradition where the senior class steals, decorates and unveils the bull each year. In her free time, she enjoys cycling, traveling, and fostering senior dogs for the San Francisco SPCA/Muttville. Shelli is looking forward to celebrating Parker’s upcoming 50th Anniversary and looks forward to this full circle experience with Parker and its community, past and present. She proudly adds, “Once a Bull, always a Bull.”
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 worked as deputy managing director for the County of Hawai’i for five years, followed by five years as vice president for project development for Nansay Hawai’i, Inc. He has served on numerous boards including the Maunakea Management Board where he was Chair 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 48 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 California State University at Long Beach’s Inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Inaugural Hall of Fame, UH-Hilo Hall of Fame, and Hawai’i State Hall of Fame. Sharon is currently the Girls and Boys Volleyball coach at Parker.
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. He is a current Parker parent and a parent of an alumna. 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.”
Kenneth J. Fischer, O.D., served 1995-2018 (Board Chair 2001-2009)
Saundra Gulley, served 2005-2018 (Board Chair 2015-2018)
David D. Higgins, served 2015-2024
Carolyn Stewart, served 2012-2021
Parker School
65-1224 Lindsey Road
Kamuela, HI 96743
Parker School
65-1224 Lindsey Road
Kamuela, HI 96743
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