Leadership

Our Team

Suzanne Herko

Suzanne Herko
Teacher and Student Agency Coordinator, Gateway Public Schools
Suzanne first came to Gateway in 1999, teaching humanities at the high school and most recently helping to design and start the middle school. Prior to Gateway, she taught at the Liceo Internacional in Quito, Ecuador as well as public middle schools in New York City, New York.

She earned her bachelor's degree in history, concentrating in women's history, at Stanford University and her Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. When not working on behalf of her students, Suzanne enjoys exploring the world with her husband and two children.

Kevin McCoy

Director of Technology, Gateway Public Schools
Kevin joined Gateway as the Director of Technology in 2002.  His university pursuits included flight school, earth & environmental sciences, and anthropology & archaeology.  After graduating, he left New York on an extended road trip, exploring national parks and camping while crisscrossing the country.  A quick stop in San Francisco became the end of the trip and Kevin's new home.  He was soon after employed by Ziff Davis Media as a Project Leader (for PC Computing and Smart Business magazines).  While at ZDM, Kevin designed usability and performance tests to evaluate products ranging from computers and cell phones to software and web services, providing lab conclusions to editorial for publication.

  He later worked as a technology teacher for Aim High's summer program, and was then employed by KDBS as a multimedia teacher and Support Specialist.  Kevin enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking and fixin' stuff from motorcycles and guitars to home appliances and computer networks.

Sharon Olken

Sharon Olken
Executive Director, Gateway Public Schools
Sharon is the Executive Director of Gateway Public Schools. In 2000, Sharon joined Gateway’s faculty as a Humanities Teacher. Since then, Sharon has been a Lead Teacher, Dean of Faculty, and served as the Principal of Gateway High School for seven years. During her tenure as Principal, Gateway was recognized as a California Distinguished School and as a top-performing charter high school by the US Department of Education. In 2011, Sharon helped launch Gateway’s second school, Gateway Middle School. Sharon is inspired by the potential of young people and by Gateway’s amazing teachers and staff who help students get on the road to college.

Sharon earned her B.A. from Harvard University, where she was captain of the varsity soccer team, and earned her M.A. in Education from Stanford University. Sharon taught a course in the Stanford Teacher Education Program called “Educating for Equity and Democracy,” and worked for Senator Feinstein for two years before beginning her career in education.

Sharon is proud of her Bay Area roots, her San Francisco Giants, and her very well behaved dog, Cody Ross.