Future Forward - Francis Parker School

Future Forward - Francis Parker School Future Forward Our students learn to balance deep in-the-moment focus with consideration for reaching and exceeding their long-term goals. And as a School, we are committed to advancing our programs, facilities, and support system when needed. Every way you look at it, we’re moving forward… As far as the mind can see. We are thinking about the students’ experience from the moment they step onto campus in the morning to the time they leave at the end of the day. We are constantly adapting and designing curriculum and spaces that ignite learning, spark innovation, and foster joy. Carrie Dilmore Assistant Head of Upper School Finding a Future that Fits COLLEGE COUNSELING Excellence across the board propels our students to attend some of the most highly-ranked universities in the world. Our college counseling office offers a wide array of resources to help each student find the college where they’ll thrive. Meet College Counseling Enriching the Educational Experience EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY The purposeful and age-appropriate use of technology supports deep learning and empowers our students to thrive in an interconnected world. Explore Technology at Parker Advancing the School as Far as the Mind Can See GIVING AT PARKER Annual giving helps us continually improve our curriculum, programming, and facilities while supporting professional development for our faculty and staff. Learn About Our Culture of Philanthropy Alumni You Need to Know: Marc Sherman, Marriage and Family Therapist Marc Sherman’s ’88 shift from the corporate world to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist followed a moment of spiritual intervention. One night, a crystal clear dream inspired him to change everything. “My transition to become a therapist was a divine intervention as God spoke to me vividly while I was sleeping and told me to become a therapist,” Marc said. “All my life, I have been the person that my friends, family, and random people would talk to and share with…so it was kind of a natural progression.” For 20 years, Marc worked in corporate America honing his skills in human resources before moving into business development and eventually operations. In his spare time throughout those years, he pursued opportunities in the entertainment industry, trying his hand at modeling and acting, but nothing quite fit. Despite Marc’s success, something felt incomplete. At first, he resisted such a major career change, uncertain about the financial prospects and the need to return to school to see the dream into fruition. However, over time, through prayer, encouragement from his wife, Meisha (his biggest supporter), and conversations with colleagues and mentors, Marc took the leap and dedicated himself to the field of therapy. Now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Marc finds fulfillment in helping his clients navigate their challenges and realize their potential. Marc enjoys the Family and Relationship side of his career, guiding couples toward recognizing negative cycles and making adjustments that lead to healthier communication, and helping individuals recognize that therapy isn’t just about hardship, it’s also about improving their lives overall. As a lifelong athlete, he is also passionate about working with athletes to help them understand how life off the field directly impacts performance. Marc was a 2006 Inductee into the Parker Athletics Hall of Fame for football and baseball—both sports he continued to play throughout college—and finds that his athletic experiences allow him to relate to clients on a deeper level. Currently, he competes at a high level in the Men’s Open/Pro Division in Over-the-Line, a bat-and-ball, San Diego-founded sport. “In 2015,  I was the first African American to ever win the World Championships tournament at Fiesta Island,” Marc shared. Some of Marc’s favorite Parker memories come from the field, including throwing a game-winning touchdown in the CIF Football Final, pitching and winning in the CIF Baseball title game as a sophomore, and competing at Jack Murphy Stadium for two playoff games as a freshman and junior. But Marc’s time at Parker wasn’t without its challenges. As one of the few Black students at the School during his years, he often found himself in an environment where he didn’t see many faces that looked like his own. Marc found belonging in sports and always came up with new games with his friends to pass the time. Beyond Parker, he found community through his church and competitive sports outside of school, which gave him a strong sense of identity and belonging. Over the years, Marc has given back to the Parker community in various ways, including mentoring Parker students, working with young athletes, and even occasionally serving as the Master of Ceremonies at the School’s annual end-of-year athletics award ceremony. Connect with Marc at momentumicft.com read about Alumni You Need to Know: Marc Sherman, Marriage and Family Therapist Winter Sports Wrap-up The 2025-2026 Winter Sports Season was a historic one for the Lancers, marked by rivalry wins, regional championship titles, state playoff runs, and All-League and all-CIF honors. Each head coach reflected on their team’s accomplishments, sharing highlights, challenges, and the moments that defined the season, and student-athletes offered reflection as well. Girls Basketball The Lancers finished the year with an outstanding overall record of 23-7, competing against the most challenging teams in California. Throughout the season, the team earned several signature wins against top-tier opponents, proving they could compete with — and beat — the best programs in the section. The team finished the playoff season as the ninth-ranked team in the state. The defining moment of the season came in the CIF playoffs, where the Lancers captured the first Open Division Championship in school history. This milestone not only reflects the program's growth but also sets a new standard for excellence at Parker. The team carried that momentum into the CIF State Playoffs, competing in Division I — one of the most competitive divisions in California. The Lancers advanced past the second round and stood as the only San Diego Section representative remaining in Division I after three of the four San Diego teams were eliminated in the first round. We lost a very close game in the regional semi-finals to Rancho Christian, but the girls fought hard and represented the school well. Their resilience and composure on the state stage demonstrated the toughness and maturity this group developed all season long. Beyond the wins and championships, this team embodied what it means to represent Francis Parker — competing with discipline, unity, and purpose. They embraced adversity, responded to challenges, and consistently focused on what they could control. This season was not just about banners — it was about building a championship standard that will carry forward for years to come. Go Lancers. Kaitlyn Raagas, Class of 2026 : “This past season has been incredibly fun, as our team overcame a lot of adversity while competing through a very tough schedule. We built so many great memories together, both during practices and off the court, which made the journey even more special. The season ended with an amazing accomplishment—making Parker history by winning the CIF San Diego Open Division championship. I am extremely proud of our team and everything we accomplished through the ups and downs of the season, especially reflecting on how far our program has come since helping win Parker girls basketball’s first-ever CIF championship in Division II in 2024.” Boys Basketball The Lancers boys basketball team finished with an overall record of 21-11, playing the hardest schedule in San Diego (per MaxPreps). Our boys also finished 10-0 in Coastal League play and gave Parker their first undefeated league championship in over 30 years. This was also the very first open division championship appearance in Parker's history for the Boys where we unfortunately fell short by 3 points. Sports don't always have the storybook ending that you want as a player or coach, but one thing I know about this group is we always take accountability for our outcomes (SUCCESS & FAILURE) and never offer excuses or feel sorry for ourselves! And that is why these young men will be successful way past this beautiful sport we all love! Not many teams can start the season 6-8, finish 21-11, and make it to the biggest game of the year! Our boys went through adversity at the beginning of the season but continued to have faith, belief, and TRUST in each other! That is what I am most proud of. With that being said, the foundation is built, and the future looks bright at Francis Parker, and I'm so grateful for the young men and coaches in our locker room. Deven DuBois, Class of 2026 : “I was most proud of the team's ability to bounce back every time we were down. Our run to the open division finals was an unforgettable experience.” Rugby Last Saturday, our boys competed in the Southern California Youth Rugby (SCYR) Rugby Sevens Championship, the largest rugby union in the country. We took 3rd place, losing only to the two finalists, Lakewood and Santa Fe Christian, the team we beat last year to win the championship ourselves. As the season progressed, Parker showed progress. Early-season losses to JSerra turned into later-season wins. A huge turnout for Senior Night saw Parker beat Rancho Bernardo but lose to Valley Center with no time left. At the end of the season tournament, Parker beat Valley Center and then Rancho Bernardo. The RB game was highlighted by a come-from-behind victory after being down by 14 points in the 2nd half, then winning in “golden point” extra time. We would go on to lose by just 2 points to Lakewood, a multi-school team that was undefeated during the regular season, and then to Santa Fe Christian, the ultimate champion. Girls Soccer The Girls Soccer team finished the season with a 7-11-3 overall record, earning second place in the Coastal League—a strong accomplishment for such a young and developing squad. With a roster composed primarily of underclassmen, this season was defined by growth. The team battled through adversity, embraced challenges, and steadily built confidence and chemistry along the way. Each match provided valuable experience that strengthened both individual skill and collective identity. We graduated three seniors whose leadership and commitment helped lay the foundation for the program’s future. Looking ahead, we return one junior, six sophomores, and five freshmen—bringing back the core of a team that gained meaningful experience this year. This was a season marked not only by competition but by resilience, development, and joy. The future is bright as this young group continues building together. Boys Soccer The 2026 Parker Boys' soccer team was led by 9 seniors,  including 4 senior captains: Charlie Smith, Toby Litman, Eli Sagal, and Ethan Black.  They finished the Pacific League season in second place with a 5-2-1 record and the regular season with an 11-8-2 record. They qualified for the Division 4 play-offs with a #4 seed and lost in the semi-finals to Mira Mesa, 2-1. They outscored their opponents with a total of 68 goals and 3 conceded 4 goals. Scoring was led by Mark McKinney with 17 goals and 13 assists. We will return 14 players next season, including 10 seniors. Charlie Smith, Class of 2026 : “This season was incredibly special to our team, committed to a common goal, and we each believed in each other from the start. One of the biggest highlights from this season was our deep run in the CIF playoffs and the fact that we were able to do it on our home field. What I am most proud of is the connections we were able to build on and off the field. Everyone bought into the team, and that chemistry and camaraderie showed every time we played.” Girls Water Polo The Parker Girls Water Polo team delivered an impressive 2025-2026 campaign, finishing with a winning record of (15-11) and a runner-up spot in the City Conference – Eastern League. The leadership of Olivia Brennan and Isabelle Hong, Class of 2026, and junior team captain Genevieve Harrison, Class of 2027, guided the Lancers. The team closed out the year on an eight-game winning streak before falling to Coronado 8-11 in the CIF D2 Championship. Olivia led the offensive charge with 110 goals in 23 games. Her outstanding performance earned her team MVP honors, and she was selected as the Eastern League Player Of The Year. Beyond the results in the pool, the team’s commitment to the program's core values and inviolable culture proved to be a key component of its success. The Lancers built on everything they experienced as a team and now look ahead to the offseason as they prepare to carry this year's momentum into the 2026–2027 season. read about Winter Sports Wrap-up Alumni You Need to Know: Annika Meurer ’15, Event Operations, Global Sports Annika Meurer ’15 has long been passionate about sports. “I've always grown up around football. I was the girl who watched SportsCenter at five years old. Our dog was named Romo after Tony Romo.” As the new Senior Coordinator of Event Operations at the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission (LASEC), Annika oversees logistics for major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics. She and LASEC aim to showcase LA as a world-class hub for sports and entertainment. “Being able to impact my hometown community of Southern California was something that is really important to me. So when this chance presented itself, it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Annika shared. Annika initially discovered an interest in athletic operations when she was given the chance to work for Parker’s football team as a student. After graduating from Parker, she studied at the University of Virginia, where former Parker Athletics Director Phil Hunt connected her with Virginia’s Athletics Department. Annika met Virginia’s former Director of Football Operations, Gerry Capone, and started volunteering as an equipment manager. She soon fell in love with the role, working full-time for three and a half seasons and serving as head manager for her final two years. Annika grew more confident that she wanted to pursue a career in sports after college. During summers and breaks, Annika interned with the San Diego Padres and USA Football. After graduating, USA Football hired her full-time as an Events Coordinator. Annika then set her sights on working with a specific team, leading her to SDSU’s specialized MBA in Sports Management, during which she interned for a year with the Arizona Cardinals in community relations and youth football, coinciding with the state's hosting of Super Bowl LVIII. “Working the Super Bowl in Arizona…that's one of those pinch-me moments,“ Annika reminisced. After her time with the Cardinals, Annika completed a one-year rotational football program with the Miami Dolphins, becoming one of the first two women ever accepted into the program. Though Annika’s career has been exciting, she does not want to sugarcoat the daily challenges of the sports industry. Many factors are beyond one’s control, so she approaches each day with a positive attitude, striving to make a small, meaningful difference even in tough or tense moments. "You can always control how hard you work and how you represent yourself," she shared. Annika believes that even the smallest efforts can leave a lasting impact. Once her time with the Dolphins wrapped up, Annika spent a year with the Minnesota Vikings as a football operations and player personnel associate. “My boss and I always said we were the glue between the business side and the team side of the organization,” she said. With so many experiences, Annika is hard-pressed to pick a favorite moment. However, she counts a Christmas Eve game between the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys as a stand-out memory. The highlight wasn’t the game coming down to the wire or the Dolphins clinching the playoff spot, but her whole family flying out to support her. Everyone, including her father—a diehard Cowboys fan—showed up in Dolphins gear. read about Alumni You Need to Know: Annika Meurer ’15, Event Operations, Global Sports