Our People

Harold Pearson has been SPAAT’s CEO since 2008. He oversees the organization’s strategy. Under his guidance, Bay Area student-athletes have secured millions of dollars in academic and athletic scholarships.

Harold draws on his own experiences as a highly recruited athlete, community college transfer and a Division 1 football player to address the challenges faced by student-athletes adjusting to life from high-school to collegiate level and beyond.

He has served as assistant commissioner for the CIF Oakland Section and was a partner at a San Francisco litigation-outsourcing firm. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Harold received a BA in Business whilst being a three-year letterman for the California football team.

Harold is an active member of the Western Association of College Admissions Counselors (WACAC), and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Denzale Johnson is a SPAAT alum from the class of 2009. He's responsible for creating college and career plans for middle and high-school students. Born and raised in Oakland, he experienced first-hand the reality of struggling communities, the lack of social justice and educational equity.

His upbringing developed his passion for community development and youth empowerment, leading him to become involved in diverse community-based and student organizations in the Bay Area.

Denzale attended the University of California, Berkeley with a full-ride academic scholarship and obtained his BA in public policy and city planning. He worked for UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corp and is also the Head Male Counselor for Upward Bound’s Trio program.

Coach Peters has served as a high-school coach, mentor and champion for youth in Oakland, especially at the McClymonds Educational Complex, for over 25 years. Michael has developed college eligibility criteria that support a student-athlete's holistic academic success. He has assisted over 100 Oakland student-athletes in securing college scholarships through academics and athletics.

Peters was awarded the California Coaching Association State Coach of the Year Award, the 2018 Oakland ESPYS Coach of the Year, 2018 Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year and was a finalist for 2019 National Coach of the year. Coach Peters, is also well-known as the father of All-Pro NFL cornerback and SPAAT alumni, Marcus Peters.

Gregg Zaire has spent his career working on a range of management, analytical, and technical assignments, supporting both operations and programs.

Working at the intersection of education, employment and social justice, Gregg has led local, regional and national youth education and community development programs. He has spearheaded capacity-building efforts at organizations and agencies and played instrumental roles in developing comprehensive social services systems.

Gregg holds an MA in Sociology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.