Board Members
Ben Fung
President, Appointed 07/06/2021
Ben is a Physical Therapist turned Entrepreneur, now in the space of Marketing Strategy and Business Development. Co-founding three companies, he serves in a c-level capacity with a present focus in healthcare, health-tech/health-optimization, and human capital management through organizational excellence. In the course of his career, he has earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Masters of Business Administration, and an undergraduate degree in Bioengineering and Psychology. In his free time, Ben enjoys tough fitness challenges, cooking, and coffee.
Jessica Ackermann
Secretary, Appointed 03/05/2020
Jessica joined the Pacific Coast Academy Board of Directors in March of 2020 and has been serving as Board Secretary since August. As someone who would have liked to have been homeschooled as a child, the decision to homeschool her own children was an easy choice. Jessica taught her two sons throughout the entirety of their education and hopes to continue in the homeschooling community for many years to come. She is passionate about homeschooling and started an online community for North County San Diego homeschooling parents that currently boasts over 1,700 members. Before serving on the Board, Jessica was the treasurer for the North County San Diego Booster Club for Inspire Charter Schools. In her life before kids, she practiced architecture in San Diego and recently Jessica has taken up the cello in her free time.
Kim Gill
CFO/Treasurer, Appointed 07/01/2022
Kim is an entrepreneur and unexpected teacher who found herself homeschooling two boys during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Professionally, Kim spent over a decade in New York working for a “big-four” public accounting firm focusing on tax and accounting issues for large and small businesses. She currently owns her own tax and consulting practice based in San Diego serving a variety of clients. Her strong financial, tax, and accounting background adds a great breadth of expertise to the board.
Eric Banatao
Member, Appointed 07/01/2022
Eric Banatao is a professional educator with over 25 years of experience in traditional public schools, at all levels, from grades TK-20. Dr. Banatao's professional experience in brick-and-mortar schools includes leading and collaborating as a teacher, teacher-coach, administrator, leadership coach, and university professor. To complement, Eric and family opted for family-choice to homeschool four children, while graduating one of them from a comprehensive public high school, too. This unique and diverse parent, educator, practitioner, and researcher perspective provides Dr. Banatao the ability to successfully advocate and collaborate with Pacific Coast Academy and its wide array of stakeholders. To contact the school board, please email board@
Rose Arevalo
Member, Appointed 07/01/2022
Rose has ben on the homeschooling journey with her husband and four children for ten years. Directing, coaching, and serving in the homeschool community she is passionate about helping families in alternative education. As a parent and teacher, Rose appreciates Pacific Coast Academy's belief in supporting independent study, fostering student leaders, and developing a unique educational structure for all families. Rose loves to read life-giving books in her spare time, bake with her daughters, and run marathons. Devoted to mentoring and connecting families on their learning journey has been a great joy for her.
PCA Board Member Summary of Position
PCA Board Member Summary of Position
If you are interested in a future position as a board member, email board@pacificcoastacademy.org.
To contact the school board, email board@pacificcoastacademy.org.
Board Meeting Calendar, Agendas & Materials
Board meeting agendas are posted here 72 hours before a regular scheduled board meeting and 24 hours before a special board meeting.