About Us
Embracing your child’s distinct talents and infinite potential
Nisa Frank
Head of School
I am pleased to welcome you to Prospect Sierra, a nationally and internationally recognized school for TK-8 students on two beautiful campuses in El Cerrito, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Prospect Sierra embodies several key assumptions in philosophy and daily practice:
- that learning is the pathway to personal growth;
- that school should be both challenging and joyous;
- that school is a community through which students, teachers, and parents develop trust, demonstrate cooperation, show respect, and acquire an understanding of the rights and needs of others;
- and that diversity, in its many human forms, brings quality and strength to our school.
A rapidly changing global environment requires that students develop skills and acquire knowledge while learning to define and solve problems creatively.
A Prospect Sierra education provides students with daily opportunities to engage in meaningful academic curriculum that also allows them to gain greater self-knowledge and to develop compassion and care for others. In a diverse and inclusive community, we provide a joyful environment that develops students’ lifelong passion for learning.
I encourage you to learn more about Prospect Sierra by exploring our website and visiting our campus.
Sincerely,
Where Every Person is Recognized and Valued
Core Values
Love
At Prospect Sierra we intentionally lead with love. We practice curiosity, compassion, and joy to build authentic connections with, and among, students so that everyone thrives as their full self and feels that they matter. Our teachers inspire students to seek deep, meaningful inquiry and understanding, leading to a love of learning for its own intrinsic rewards and personal growth.
Justice
Prospect Sierra is a community through which students, teachers, staff, parents, and community partners develop trust, demonstrate cooperation, show respect for one another, and develop perspectives that are founded on an understanding of the rights and needs of others.
As a learning community, we commit to diversity in our student body, teaching staff, and administration and take responsibility for centering the voices of those traditionally excluded because we know that diverse perspectives are necessary for academic depth and integrity.
Innovation
We approach innovation as a way of thinking, learning, and engaging that helps us clarify intention, take action, and practice responsive stewardship of our communities and the planet.
Our teachers, administrators, and staff prioritize the continual improvement of curriculum and learning experiences, in and out of the classroom, to be challenging, engaging, relevant to today’s dynamic world, and meaningful to our students’ lives now and in their futures.
Impact
As educators, learners, and community partners, we lead with the knowledge that we are all connected and that our care for one another is essential to achieve mutual benefit and serve the greater good.
Our students combine in-depth disciplinary knowledge with academic, cognitive, and relational skills in order to define and solve problems creatively, take action in a rapidly changing global environment, and contribute positive impact in the world.
Strategic Plan
Our visionary strategic plan focuses on shaping a 21st-century ecosystem where everyone thrives—our students and families, staff, and alumni. Learn how we’re charting new territory in community development, emotional intelligence, and the financial sustainability of our employees.
Strategic Priorities
We commit to cultivating mission and values-aligned ecosystem relationships within our school and across the broader community in ways that help us:
- Integrate across our efforts in change-making, equity and inclusion, social-emotional learning, and ecological literacy to deepen our rigorous program;
- Create more opportunities for students to gain agency and voice in their learning as true ecosystem partners;
- Design open pathways for educators to grow professionally and enhance their wellness;
- Strengthen financial sustainability by developing creative connections to Prospect Sierra learning.
Our Joyful Community of Learning and Doing
Equity and Inclusion
Our students learn to respect differences, engage in courageous discussions, and care deeply for one another
Faculty & Staff
Meet our incredible faculty and staff, who are dedicated to sparking each student’s passion for lifelong learning
Our Board
Meet the committed members of our Board of Trustees, each of whom helps ensure the ongoing vitality of Prospect Sierra
News & Events
There is always something exciting on the horizon at Prospect Sierra. Discover what’s next!
Campus Locations
Two vibrant, expansive campuses right in El Cerrito
Tapscott Elementary School
Avis Middle School
Student Transportation to Prospect Sierra
We are pleased to offer student transportation service with Dany’s Cars.
