Upper School: Opening Fall 2023

Mark Silver is the Head of School at Hillbrook School, a JK-8 independent school located in Silicon Valley. Since his arrival at Hillbrook in 2009, Mark has deepened the school’s connections to its historical roots as a leader in innovation and best practices in elementary education. As part of the school’s ambitious strategic plans, Visions 2015 and 2020, Hillbrook has launched the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship, established itself as a leader in the use of technology, earning designation since 2012-13 as an Apple Distinguished School, and placed itself at the forefront of conversations about the Maker’s movement, social entrepreneurship, learning spaces, and co-teaching.

Prior to his arrival at Hillbrook, Mark spent a number of years as an administrator, teacher, and coach in independent schools, including Holland Hall School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough, California, and Francis Parker School in San Diego, California. Mark graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Amherst College with a degree in American Studies, and later earned an M.A. in American History at Stanford University and a Ph.D in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego. Mark was a fellow at the Heads of School program at the Klingenstein Center at Teacher’s College Columbia University in 2014. He currently serves as a Board member for the California Association of Independent Schools, the Elementary School Heads Association and Los Gatos Safe Routes to School, and is also a member of the CalWest Advisory Board.

Mark has three children and his wife, Carla, is the Executive Director of Leadership & Design, a non-profit organization that “designs experiences for the people who design the future of education.” They live in Los Gatos, and can be seen running on the trails or sitting on the sidelines of various Los Gatos youth activities including soccer, basketball, swimming, and rowing.

Charlotte (Charley) Burkly is our founding Director of College Counseling. Before joining Hillbrook Upper School, Charley spent six years at University School in Ohio as Associate Director of College Counseling. Prior to her work in college counseling, Charley served as Assistant Director for MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School and as Assistant Dean of Admission at Princeton University. Her work on both sides of the college counseling process ensures she understands how best to support students navigate the competitive world of college admissions, and at Hillbrook Upper School she will be instrumental in laying the foundation for an exceptional educational experience - one that prepares students not only for school, but for life. 

In addition to her main work in college counseling, Charley has led a range of student initiatives, including overseeing advising, participating in the Student Life Committee, and also coaching Track and Field and Cross-Country. She has also been a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, participating in and co-leading SEED seminars for faculty and serving as a Freshman Seminar and Conscious Community Conversations facilitator. She started her career teaching 7th and 8th grade science as part of the New York City Teaching Fellows. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate University with a BA in Chinese, and later earned an MS in Science Education from CUNY-City College and an MA in Higher and Post-Secondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

 

Charley joins the Hillbrook community along with her husband, Woli Urbe, and her two children