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Employee Directory

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  • Photo of Arlie Parker
    Arlie Parker
    English Teacher
    Bio
     
    Mr. Parker joined the Sage Hill faculty in 2002. He has more than 30 years of experience as an English teacher, writer, and poet. His fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. Prior to Sage Hill, Mr. Parker taught at the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Louisiana where he was recognized as Teacher of the Year and was the recipient of the senior class’s yearbook dedication. Some of Mr. Parker's other teaching awards include: Modern Haiku’s Kayfa Roshi Award for Outstanding Haiku Teaching, The Faulkner Society’s Teaching Award for Fiction, and the Academy of American Poets Prize. Mr. Parker’s students regularly win awards in writing contests throughout the U.S. Here at Sage Hill, Mr. Parker has served as a Lead Class Advisor, as the faculty advisor for the literary magazine, and as an assistant cross country coach. He is an avid longboarder. Mr. Parker completed his undergraduate work at Towson State University. He earned his master’s degree and MFA from McNeese State University.
  • Photo of Adam Patterson
    Adam Patterson
    Safety and Security Manager
    Bio
     
    Mr. Patterson joined Sage Hill in 2016 as the School’s Security Supervisor. He is a professional security expert with 20 years of experience in loss prevention, law enforcement and emergency response. Most recently, he worked as a loss prevention supervisor, managing the undercover security team for a national chain department store. He worked for the State of California as a Community Service Officer with California State University Fullerton Police. Prior to that, Mr. Patterson was a guest control lead at Disneyland Resort. Mr. Patterson was Captain of the cadet training group for the California Highway Patrol for six years also spending time on patrol in Orange County. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from California State University Fullerton and an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Santa Ana College. He is licensed by the California Dept. of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Security & Investigative Services.
  • Photo of John Paulsen
    John Paulsen
    English Teacher
    Bio
     
    Mr. Paulsen joined the Sage Hill English department in 2007 after teaching at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand and Century High School in Sykesville, Maryland. After he completed his bachelor’s degree in both English and European cultural studies at Brandeis University, he earned his master’s degree in English at Northeastern University. For two years, he was Sage Hill's Service Learning Coordinator, overseeing all grade level and independent public purpose programs and projects. He has coached JV soccer and chaperoned Spring at Sage trips to England, Russia, France, Germany, Austria, and Belgium during his tenure at Sage Hill School.
  • Photo of Nadine Phares
    Nadine Phares
    French Teacher
    Bio
     
    Madame Phares joined Sage Hill in 2019. She has taught French professionally for several years, both within the school system and privately. She taught students of all levels from elementary through high school. After earning a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology with a specialization in public relations, Madame Phares held a French teacher position for four years where she taught the official French curriculum at elementary, middle and high school levels. Madame Phares speaks fluently three languages and enjoys traveling. 
  • Photo of Kyle Pheasant
    Kyle Pheasant
    Facilities Supervisor
    Bio
     
    Mr. Pheasant joined Sage Hill’s maintenance team in August 2011. In 2017, he received the school's Elizabeth A. Resnick Award for his significant contributions and tireless efforts for the school. He has over 10 years of school construction management experience. He also specializes in installation of pre-fabricated equipment like projection screens, whiteboards, etc. Mr. Pheasant coaches his children in baseball and football and resides in Fountain Valley with his family.
  • Photo of Lauren Popkowski
    Lauren Popkowski
    Associate Director of College Counseling
    Bio
     
    Ms. Popkowski joined Sage Hill in 2016. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our community through her nine years of work guiding students through the college admissions process. Popkowski served for five years as a College Counselor at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California. In addition to her role as a college counselor at the high school level, she worked at the University of Southern California beginning in 2008 as an application reader and as Assistant Director in the Office of Admission. She was also an admissions counselor at Azusa Pacific University prior to her USC employment. She holds a master’s degree in post-secondary education and student affairs from USC, as well as bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and French from USC.
Sage Hill School complies with Federal Transparency in Coverage regulations by providing a link to machine readable files related to the health plans offered to our employees. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data including negotiated service rates, and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. Click here for the Blue Shield of California - Health Plan Transparency in Coverage.

Sage Hill School

20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Phone: 949.219.0100  |  Fax: 949.219.1399
Sage Hill School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other School administered programs.