Dr. Jacqueline Olivier

Rolling Hills Preparatory School is an independent middle and high school where students benefit from small classes and a faculty that understands and appreciates varying learning styles. Dr. Jacqueline Olivier joined Rolling Hills Prep in 2019 as an educational consultant and became head of school this year. She has worked in education for three decades. In 2017 she founded Blue Marble Learning and Consulting.

Tell us about your school. 

Rolling Hills Prep (RHP) is an independent college prep middle and high school. Our mission states our commitment to high expectations for students with unparalleled student support. The faculty, leadership team and administrative team are top-tier professionals with extensive experience, as well as training in the Universal Design for Learning. Our families are supportive, positive and wonderful partners in educating our students—the next generation of leaders. For a relatively small school, our boys’ and girls’ sports teams are stellar; one big boast is having a Division I basketball team that ranked 12th in Southern California last year.

What sets Rolling Hills Prep apart from other local schools?

RHP is an accredited independent school, which means it is a nonprofit school run by a board of trustees. Our model is unique in that we offer three levels of support for students with varying needs. For example, one of our current seniors is taking three AP classes in the math/computer science arena yet struggles with writing. That student has a dedicated support teacher for one of their classes for writing support. Other students benefit from support blocks if they have extensive after-school commitments or if they have a learning profile that makes learning difficult in a large, uniformly paced classed. 

In what ways do you stand out in the field of education?

The ways I personally stand out in the independent school leadership arena are the breadth of my experience, my education and my philosophy toward children and education. Besides holding senior leadership positions in several independent schools, I founded a school, placed heads in schools through conducting executive searches, worked with boards and chaired accreditation committees—all of which adds to my repertoire of best practices in crafting a Tier 1 school community at RHP. 

Philosophically, I continually examine educational trends and ask myself what qualities and experiences are most important for future success and independence at the college level and beyond. The world is changing so fast for the job market, families and students; what do they really need to be learning outside traditional coursework? 

What is one of your goals this year?

It is my goal that RHP will be known throughout the country as the top school for college-bound students who might need extra academic support. With support in whatever subjects they may need or with executive functioning or organizational skills, students can access honors and AP classes so that they can dream their biggest dreams and be accepted to the college of their choice. 

What are the latest trends in education?

One that I continue to be curious about is the use of AI in education and in the classroom. AI isn’t going anywhere, so how do we harness its power in the most appropriate and forward-thinking way at the high school level? Our academic leadership team just finished a retreat in which AI was the primary topic; it’s the intention of RHP to stay ahead of technology trends and use technology and AI as a tool to aid learning. 

Describe your dream student.

Any student who deep inside has a dream that they want to dare to dream. At RHP we love students who, from past school experiences, feel they aren’t strong learners or students. These students shed that baggage and raise their grades significantly, and that raises their self-esteem and self-knowledge.

Speak about the importance of community on Rolling Hills Prep.

The theme this 2024–2025 school year at RHP is, in fact, “community.” When families and students feel supported, included, appreciated and important, they thrive and want to be at the school, take part in events and meet others. Every member of our school community—from student to teacher, caregiver and grandparent—is a vital member of our Husky family. I encourage each of them to attend our many school events and sports games and become part of our Family Association. 

What is your current passion project?

Mine and my husband’s passion projects are our horses—training them, training with them, and making sure they are healthy and living their best lives. We are the owners of the Lomita Feed Store, run by Bill, my husband, so we are immersed in the horse community on the Peninsula. Our horses are at two wonderful local clubs, the Empty Saddle Club and the Pony Club. Our human kids are out of the house, and our small herd of horses has trotted in to take over!

Photographed by Fabien & Laura Castro