Office of the Superintendent

Dr. Prater has served as the Superintendent of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District since 2010. Previously, he was Superintendent of the Byron Union School District in the Bay Area. He enthusiastically served as a teacher, student advocate, athletic coach, and club advisor. His dedication to serve kids led him toward the field of educational leadership where he served as a school principal for nearly 15 years. During this time, he was honored to have his middle school selected as one of the top middle schools in the nation.

Dr. Prater earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from St. Mary’s College of California, Master of Science in Educational Leadership from California State University, East Bay, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne.

In addition to his work duties, Dr. Prater teaches graduate level courses for aspiring administrators at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO); served as a member of a State Advisory Board for the California Coalition for Educational Excellence (CCEE); served as an Executive board member for the Schools for Sound Finance (SF2) representing Basic Aid School Districts in California; and is founding member of Superintendents for Progressive Educational Leadership (SPEL). He is an active volunteer and supporter of several local non-profits groups in the Avila, Los Osos, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo communities.

He enjoys coaching youth sports, cooking on weekends, and engaging in multiple activities offered on the beautiful central coast. Dr. Prater lives in San Luis Obispo with his wife and three sons. 

805.549.1202
Email: eprater@slcusd.org

Lisa Yamashita began her career as an elementary teacher at Glendale Unified after earning her credential at USC. She has served as a principal in Los Angeles Unified, Claremont Unified, and most recently in Medford, Oregon, where she was the Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Gifted Education Programs. She’s also taught collegiately at Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State  Northridge and has spoken nationally on staff development and coaching. Lisa is excited to join the remarkable people at San Luis Coastal and be part of a team that inspires students and supports the next generation of leaders. She lives with her husband (and former prom date) Matt, their daughter Sarah, and a their Golden Retriever. In their free time, they enjoy golf, yoga, travel, and the pursuit of the perfect pie crust.

805.549.1205
Email: lyamashita@slcusd.org