People & Contacts

List of 5 items.

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  Alona Scott, Head of School

  A native Angeleno and alumna of Marlborough School, Ms. Scott holds an AB in religion from Princeton University (cum laude) and two masters in education – the first in reading and literacy from Bank Street College and another in private school education from Columbia University, Teachers College. Since 2013, she has been the Head of School at Keys School in Palo Alto. Prior to that, Ms. Scott served as the Director of Middle School at the Hackley School, in Tarrytown, New York, and the Head of the Lower School at La Jolla Country Day School, in La Jolla, California. As a trustee at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos, she served as co-chair of the rabbinic transition and vision committees and a member of the strategic planning and trustee nomination committees.
  
  

  Alona may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext. 701 or by email at ascott@buckley.org.
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  Gregg Sacon, K-12 Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning

  Gregg Sacon has been at Buckley for over 15 years – first as a Middle School math teacher and then as assistant head of Middle School before taking on the role of K-12 Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning in 2021. While assistant head, Gregg worked closely with the Lower School to bridge the divisions and ease the fifth to sixth grade transition. He also piloted the eighth grade Passion Projects program, developed the Design Lab elective, built out the Exploratory program, and created the Middle School Makerspace. He has also renovated the Nature Trail in recent years, working with students to maintain it and build an outdoor classroom. Before coming to Buckley, Gregg taught at the Churchill School in New York City. He is a Boston native and a graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia University.

  
  

  Gregg may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext. 774 or by email at gsacon@buckley.org.
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  Sherrie Singer, Head of Upper School

  Sherrie Singer brings with her tremendous experience at local and global independent schools. She will come to Buckley having spent the last 10 years as the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Flintridge Sacred Heart. There she has led the school to evaluate curriculum and introduce new courses, including a four-year program in research. She’s also been a lead voice in their DEI initiatives and has been responsible for recruiting, coaching, and evaluating faculty. Prior to Sacred Heart, Sherrie served as the Director of General Studies at Yeshiva University of Los Angeles High School, as the Dean at The Webb Schools, and as a teacher at The American School of the Hague and Middletown High School in Rhode Island. She’s also a regular presenter at conferences, former track coach, and current trustee at High Point School in Pasadena. 

  
  Sherrie may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext. 730 or by email at ssinger@buckley.org.
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  Don Smith, Head of Middle School

  Don comes to Buckley with 17 years of experience in education, having taught as a lower school assistant teacher at The Oaks, a seventh and eighth grade humanities teacher and advisory coordinator at Wildwood, and, most recently, the assistant director of middle school at Brentwood. Don is excited to join Buckley’s efforts to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where students are known and recognized, and where teachers are passionate about incorporating innovative, project-based teaching practices into their classrooms. With experience overseeing advisory, creating faculty professional development to support the transition to remote learning, and developing systems for curricular audits, Don brings rich leadership experience to our community.
  
  

  Don may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext. 775 or by email at dsmith@buckley.org.
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  Adrienne Parsons, Head of Lower School

  Adrienne Parsons began as a second-grade teacher in Buckley’s Lower School in 1988. She was named assistant principal in 1993, and she directed the Buckley Preschool from 1997 through 2004. In 2001, she became principal of the Lower School. Adrienne holds a bachelor's degree in education from Northwestern University and a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. For six years she served on the school board of Good Shepherd School in Beverly Hills. She now serves on the Culver City Unified School District Tri-Selpa Committee.
  

  
  Adrienne may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext. 760 or by email at aparsons@buckley.org.