WE PREPARE GLOBAL LEADERS

Rod Gilbert

Head of Schools

Rod Gilbert brings a fresh perspective as SFC’s new Head of Schools. As a strong leader with a shepherd’s heart, Rod encourages SFC’s faculty, coaches and staff to strive for excellence in all they do. At his core, Rod is an educator who wants children and their parents to see the world as something lovely, worth exploring and redeeming through Christ.

Prior to joining the SFC team, Rod led Regents School of Austin for fifteen years. While in Texas, he served on various boards and associations, wrote numerous journal articles and grant proposals, and conducted dozens of workshops on leadership and education. Rod holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, a Masters of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and is near completion of a doctoral thesis from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rod and his wife of 27 years, Angie, have two adult children. Ryan, their son, is a senior at High Point University and Katie, their daughter, lives with her husband in New York City. When away from the office, Rod and Angie can be found soaking up the North County beach culture. In his free time, Rod also enjoys Cold War spy novels, and he is learning to surf and paddleboard.

Read Rod’s Latest Blog Post

Hannah Park

Lower School Principal

Living in Los Angeles, Principal Hannah Park was not looking for a new position. As a favor for her sister, Mrs. Park started researching schools in San Diego for her nephew. She became so impressed with Santa Fe Christian Schools, she decided to apply for the Lower School Principal opening. And the rest is history.

Mrs. Park is now in her ninth year as SFC’s Lower School Principal. With a MA in Education Administration and Curriculum Design, a BS in Public Administration plus California Administration and Multi-Subject Teaching credentials, Mrs. Park is well prepared to lead SFC’s Lower School. She was also an Assistant Principal at a prep school and has taught in all grades K–6 in both public and private schools. During her tenure, SFC’s Lower School was awarded the Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education for 2011, a five-year designation.

As a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) addict, Mrs. Park refinishes furniture, restores kitchen cabinets and has personally repainted her family room and kitchen three times. This creative streak spills over to work. She enjoys the challenges of creating a Lower School program that can meet the diverse needs of the students.

Educators run in the family. Mrs. Park’s husband of 21 years is also a school principal. They have two daughters and a dog who isn’t convinced she’s a dog. On the weekends you can find Mrs. Park digging in the garden, knitting, painting or researching more DIY ideas on Pinterest.

Dr. Todd Deveau

Middle School Principal

When Dr. Todd Deveau felt called to Santa Fe Christian Schools in 2013, his goal was to ensure God’s vision for the Middle School. Two years later, SFC’s Middle School was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education for 2015. SFC is the only Middle School in California to receive this designation.

As a K–8 Principal in Orlando and Head of School at a gifted school in Houston, Dr. Deveau was well prepared to lead SFC’s Middle School to receive this prestigious award. He also spent 14 years teaching Middle School Spanish and coordinating curriculum. Dr. Deveau has a Doctorate in Education and a M.A. in Spanish.

What excites Dr. Deveau is seeing students try new things and watching as they discover their passions. He feels privileged to come alongside an amazing faculty and administration, as they guide SFC’s Middle School students each day.

Married for 17 years, with one daughter and son, the Deveau family jumped head first into beach living, buying both paddle and surfboards. When he finds extra time, Dr. Deveau likes to play golf or spend quality time in God’s creation, fishing pole in hand.

Matt Hannan

Upper School Principal

Growing up in Big Bear, California, Principal Matt Hannan spent winters snow skiing and playing hockey, and the summers water skiing. Always looking towards the goal, Mr. Hannan’s role as SFC’s Upper School Principal is a perfect match. He still plays ice hockey twice a month with his two younger brothers.

With 17 years of educational experience, 10 years in high school administration and an MA in Education Administration, Mr. Hannan is well equipped to lead SFC’s Upper School. Before joining SFC eight years ago, Mr. Hannan was the Assistant Principal at a high school in one of San Diego’s top school districts.

Mr. Hannan encourages Upper School students to take action to engage their passions, experience authentic learning and develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. And there’s a special place in his heart for SFC’s Upper School Missions Program. For the last three years, he has chaperoned SFC students as they ministered to 100 children at Grace Home, an orphanage and school in New Delhi, India.

Mr. Hannan’s been married 20 years, has two daughters and a Labrador-Retriever who keeps him company on early morning walks. He feels blessed to work alongside and lead the faculty and staff that make SFC exceptional.

Scott Travasos

Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Scott Travasos is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational and business activities as SFC’s Chief Financial and Operations Officer.

With 21 years of finance and operations experience, Mr. Travasos’ career spans for-profit and non-profit organizations both domestic and international. In 2012 he received the Ventana CFO of the Year Award in 2012 and also appeared on the cover of CFO magazine. He earned a MBA from Wake Forest University and a BA from Wheaton College. Finding ways to improve business and technology practices via innovation is his business passion.

Married for 19 years, Mr. Travasos has  a son and daughter. On the weekends, he spends most of his time at the soccer field watching his kids play or coaching SFC’s women’s team. He is grateful to be part of the SFC community of staff and families that care about each other so deeply.

Ari Petersen

Chief Development Officer

On the weekends you can find Ari Petersen with his sleeves rolled up, working on his latest home improvement project, or taking a spontaneous road trip with his wife of 16 years and their two kids.

A perfect fit for his role as SFC’s Chief Development Officer, Mr. Petersen has over 13 years of philanthropy experience, serving as the Vice President of Development for the USS Midway Museum in San Diego and the Director of Development for Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village. He has a BA in History from UCSB and completed all the courses for his Teaching Credential from Chapman University.

As Chief Development Officer, Mr. Petersen leads a team that secures the financial resources needed to improve SFC’s campus and programs. But what excites him most is working alongside co-workers and families who follow Jesus, believe in SFC’s Mission, and want to positively impact the world for Christ.

Passionate about helping kids learn to have a positive attitude, Mr. Petersen helps coach 6th grade flag football at SFC, has volunteered his time in a variety of youth ministries, and visits an orphanage in Tijuana with his church regularly.  A former ‘avid’ golfer, Mr. Petersen still plays as often as he can.  He lives in North County with his family, eight chickens, and their newly acquired pot belly pig.

Claudia Lewis

Preschool Director

Two years ago, Claudia Lewis was teaching fourth grade in Northern California, leading neighborhood Bible studies and enjoying Tuesday dinners with her dad when her husband announced a job transfer to San Diego. The Lewis’ left their home, friends, church and three of their four children to move to San Diego.

In San Diego, Mrs. Lewis worked as a part-time supervisor to new teachers at Point Loma Nazarene University while pursuing a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction. A lifelong learner, she is always taking classes and reading.

Mrs. Lewis was awarded “Teacher of the Year” in 2013 and has over eleven years experience teaching fourth and fifth grade in the public school system. While teaching fourth grade, she offered parenting classes in her school district. When the SFC Preschool Director position opened up at SFC, working with both teachers and parents, she knew it was a perfect fit.

In her spare time, Mrs. Lewis likes to spend weekends at the beach and eating fish tacos at Encinitas Fish Shop. She plays the piano, paints, gardens, reads and goes to concerts with her husband. Married for 34 years, she has four grown children and two grandchildren. What brings her joy is to sit around a table with all her children, spending time talking and laughing together.