New Pacific Charter, a new school initiative by Pacific Charter Institute (PCI) is a local, small-school approach to holistic TK-12 education for every child.
timothy ribota, Ed.s.
acting Principal, Arden Arcade Campus/PCI Director of education services
Mr. Ribota brings a career grounded in both the classroom and the full continuum of student support services.
Over the course of his career, he has served as a school psychologist, Director of Student Services, and Director of Special Education, with each role deepening his expertise in the systems, structures, and leadership practices that enable schools to serve all students well. As Director of Education Services at Pacific Charter Institute, he works across multiple school communities to strengthen instructional programs and student support structures.
Mr. Ribota holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Educational Psychology, and an Ed.S. in School Psychology. His academic foundation in human development and learning theory continues to inform his approach to instructional leadership and organizational design.
Outside of work, he is an enthusiastic traveler with a particular affinity for Italy, a devoted San Francisco sports fan, and a recent convert to golf, a transition he attributes to wisdom rather than circumstance. He is also a proud new grandfather, a role he consider among his most important to date.
Eric Garber, M.Ed.
Principal, Roseville Campus
For more than two decades, as a site administrator, curriculum coordinator, instructional coach, teacher, advisor and coach, Eric made an unwavering effort to empower young scholars to find their passions, build confidence, think critically and love to learn. Eric taught in schools in Southern California and Berlin, Germany for ten years before moving to Sacramento to help build an innovative secondary school in partnership with UC Davis and Cal State Sacramento.
After teaching at the new school for seven years, he continued to learn about educational systems and environments through his work as an instructional coach in Twin Rivers USD before becoming a site administrator at a middle school. Eric views his new role as principal at New Pacific School as an important next step to building a model of schooling that is centered around the needs and learning goals of each student. In addition to leading the start of the new school, he is currently completing his doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy at UC Davis.
Heidi Wilson, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal, Roseville campus
Ms. Wilson joins us with over 12 years in California education and over 11 years of prior experience in business management and administration in Northern California. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development, magna cum laude from California State University, Sacramento. She received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and her Master of Arts in Education from University of California, Davis.
She most recently served as Lead Teacher for Pacific Charter Institute’s Heritage Peak Charter School’s homeschool program. Ms. Wilson is especially passionate about early literacy and is an IMSE-trained educator. Heidi also serves as a teacher induction mentor through the Sacramento County Office of Education and is an Instructional Coaching Institute graduate. She is also a mother of 2 and resides right here in Roseville!
Heidi’s educational philosophy is based on her unwavering belief that all students can learn, given a positive learning environment, knowledgeable leadership, a committed educational team and a supportive community and family.
Please give her a warm welcome and extend a hello when you see her at school in the new year!
Principal, Rancho Cordova Campus
Jessica Phelps, M.Ed.
Jessica Phelps brings nearly a decade of diverse experience in education to her role as Principal at New Pacific Charter’s Rancho Cordova campus. With a strong foundation in classroom teaching and leadership, she is dedicated to creating student-centered environments that emphasize equity, engagement, and whole-child development.
Throughout her career in the Twin Rivers Unified School District, Jessica has served as a 5th grade teacher, Activities Director, and most recently as Vice Principal. In these roles, she championed restorative practices, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), inclusive hiring, and culturally responsive school wide initiatives. She has also overseen statewide assessments like CAASPP and ELPAC, and played a key role on her School Site Council and English Language Advisory Committee. Jessica’s leadership is rooted in collaboration, high expectations, and a belief in the power of strong school communities.
Jessica holds a Master’s in Education and an Administrative Credential from Concordia University Irvine, and earned her BS and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, cum laude, from National University.
At New Pacific Charter, Jessica is proud to lead a dedicated team of educators focused on innovation, relationship-building, and personalized learning. Her vision is to foster a school culture where every student is truly seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Outside of school, Jessica enjoys family time with her husband, Daniel, their children, and their dog, Cooper—whether watching movies or cheering on their favorite sports teams.
Assistant Principal, Roseville campus, 26-27
Trisha LOpez
Trisha Lopez joins us with over 14 years of experience as a School Psychologist, having dedicated her career to supporting students in diverse educational settings, including charter schools, alternative education programs, and the county Juvenile Hall.
Trisha holds an Education Specialist Credential, a Master’s degree in Education, and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. Her experience includes leading the Placer County Threat Assessment Team and facilitating the rollout of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) across various programs.
In addition to her professional life, Trisha is a proud mother of two – a high school-aged daughter and a middle school-aged son. She enjoys spending her free time surrounded by family and friends, music, antiques and vintage finds, as well as tending to her plants and garden. Her family home was built in 1876 and she enjoys learning about its history!
Paul Keefer, MBA, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Paul Keefer bridges the business and educational worlds through his vast experiences in both. As a charter school leader, Dr. Keefer is able to couple the experiences from UPS and dealings with Fortune 500 companies and apply them systematically to scholars in public education that are continually left behind.
Dr. Keefer co-founded Pacific Charter Institute in 2005 and works with a team supporting six charter schools, including New Pacific School Roseville, New Pacific School Rancho Cordova, Rio Valley Charter School, Heritage Peak Charter School, Sutter Peak Charter Academy, and Valley View Charter Prep. The six schools serve over 3,000 scholars collectively in sixteen counties with an operating budget of $40 million. In addition to leading Pacific Charter Institute as the Executive Director, Dr. Keefer was elected to the Sacramento County School Board of Education in June 2018 for a four-year term representing Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, College Glen, Antelope, North Highlands, and Sacramento (Area 3). Dr. Keefer was reelected in 2022.
Paul and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children and live in Carmichael. He is a board member for the Rotary Club of Sacramento and is a volunteer for Carmichael HART Student Buddy Program. Paul is an avid cyclist and hiker and recently hiked 140 miles of the John Muir Trial.
Principal, roseville Campus
Laura Sloan, M.ED, ED.D
Dr. Sloan holds a Master’s degree in Teaching from Southern Oregon University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Northridge. She also possesses a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a CLAD Certificate, and an Administrative Services Credential. With 25 years of experience in the field of education, Dr. Sloan has served as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and assistant superintendent.
In her personal life, Dr. Sloan is the proud mother of two daughters and has two rescue dogs. A devoted Dodgers fan, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, reading, playing card games with her family, and spending time with friends.
Assistant Principal, Roseville campus, 26-27
Trisha LOpez
Trisha Lopez joins us with over 14 years of experience as a School Psychologist, having dedicated her career to supporting students in diverse educational settings, including charter schools, alternative education programs, and the county Juvenile Hall.
Trisha holds an Education Specialist Credential, a Master’s degree in Education, and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. Her experience includes leading the Placer County Threat Assessment Team and facilitating the rollout of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) across various programs.
In addition to her professional life, Trisha is a proud mother of two – a high school-aged daughter and a middle school-aged son. She enjoys spending her free time surrounded by family and friends, music, antiques and vintage finds, as well as tending to her plants and garden. Her family home was built in 1876 and she enjoys learning about its history!
Paul Keefer, MBA, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Paul Keefer bridges the business and educational worlds through his vast experiences in both. As a charter school leader, Dr. Keefer is able to couple the experiences from UPS and dealings with Fortune 500 companies and apply them systematically to scholars in public education that are continually left behind.
Dr. Keefer co-founded Pacific Charter Institute in 2005 and works with a team supporting six charter schools, including New Pacific School Roseville, New Pacific School Rancho Cordova, Rio Valley Charter School, Heritage Peak Charter School, Sutter Peak Charter Academy, and Valley View Charter Prep. The six schools serve over 3,000 scholars collectively in sixteen counties with an operating budget of $40 million. In addition to leading Pacific Charter Institute as the Executive Director, Dr. Keefer was elected to the Sacramento County School Board of Education in June 2018 for a four-year term representing Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, College Glen, Antelope, North Highlands, and Sacramento (Area 3). Dr. Keefer was reelected in 2022.
Paul and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children and live in Carmichael. He is a board member for the Rotary Club of Sacramento and is a volunteer for Carmichael HART Student Buddy Program. Paul is an avid cyclist and hiker and recently hiked 140 miles of the John Muir Trial.
Pacific Charter Institute
An Experienced Partner Dedicated to the Success of All Children
New Pacific Charter was developed by caring and experienced educators at Pacific Charter Institute utilizing the latest research on scholar learning and well-being.
Established in 2005, PCI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation committed to serving scholars of all academic abilities, with a strong track record of working successfully with both homeschooling families and at-risk youth.
The PCI governing board members represent community colleges, real estate, STEM, finance, and non-profit leadership. In addition to an exemplary Board of Directors, PCI also has an exceptional leadership team with over 80 years of combined experience.
PCI currently partners with six school districts in Northern California to serve almost 3,500 scholars in grades TK-12. PCI is a large, stable organization with over 300 employees and an operating budget of over $33 million, including $9 million in reserves. PCI adheres to the same standards for teacher credentialing, state testing, accountability, and transparency as a public school district.
PCI is dedicated to moving scholars in mindset and outcome to the college and career of their choice. PCI graduates have pursued higher education at the University of California, West Point, and various other top institutions. Additionally, scholars at PCI have successfully competed in Project Lead the Way competitions, Poetry Out Loud, and other local and national competitions.