Summit Prep

Mary Beth Thompson is the Executive Director at Summit Prep. St. Louis, MO native Mary Beth graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2007 from Loyola University New Orleans with her BA in Theater Arts and a minor in history. In 2011, she graduated with a 4.0 from the University of Southern California with a masters in teaching as well as her Social Studies and Drama teaching credential. She previously taught 4th and 6th-8th grade history for 4 years in San Mateo before she began teaching at Summit Prep High School in Redwood City. While there, she taught an SEL class and Modern World History I, was a cooperating teacher to 3 student-teacher residents and graduated 2 mentor groups. In 2020, she became Dean of Culture and Instruction. One of her main goals is to build a school culture where high expectations are the norm and all students and adults in our community feel seen, heard, supported, and loved.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alisa Gonzales has committed her career to enhancing educational outcomes for diverse student populations. Her journey in education began at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Special Education. During her time at LMU, Alisa was actively involved in a language learning research lab and programs that supported a diverse population of students entering higher education.

Currently serving as the Dean of Culture and Instruction at Summit Prep, Alisa is dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity and high expectations. Alisa began her work at Prep as a Learning Specialist, case managing and teaching 9th-12th grade, and continues to bring the diverse learner perspective to the school administrator role. She believes in the transformative power of education and is guided by her values of community, joy, and family.

I am a proud Native Mexican born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and a mother of 3 children who loves to go on adventures with my family. Professionally, I expanded my experience in charter schools for over 15 years, where I gained K-12 experience across various domains in education, including the Special Education Department (SPED), family support, and operations roles. Part of the joyful areas of my work is the commitment to finding solutions for students and their families.” Building relationships with the students and their families fosters strong connections within the community”

Matt is the Dean of Expeditions at Summit Prep. This position might as well have been made for him because he believes in helping students to develop their passions, understand themselves as individuals, and excels with the flexibility that the Expeditions program provides. When not working, Matt spends the majority of his time hiking and camping.