The APSI San Gabriel roots are embedded in College Board and Advanced Placement principles. The founding directors, Claire and Chuck Pelton, taught AP English in Palo Alto, California for more than 4 decades. After leaving public education, Claire worked as the Educational Director for the College Board’s Western Regional Office. After this, she and Chuck started running summer institutes. In 2011, the Pelton’s reached out to then Principal Sharron Heinrich, about moving the institute to Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel, California. As a former AP US History teacher, reader, presenter, and former College Board consultant and College Board Western Regional Office Educational Manager, Sharron understood the value of helping new and experienced AP teachers prepare students. Paul Heinrich, a former Pre-AP Math presenter was serving as the institute’s manager. After losing her beloved Chuck, Claire decided to retire and entrusted the summer institute to Paul, who continues the Pelton tradition of offering AP teachers the highest quality professional development.
In 2022, Paul retired after teaching mathematics in the San Gabriel Valley for over 37 years, where he also served as a math curriculum coordinator, content specialist, and department chair. In addition to working with Claire as the institute’s manager, Paul was a pre-AP consultant and content developer for the College Board.
Sharron and Paul Heinrich currently serve as the directors of the institute.
