The Khabele School is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, and is run by a Board of Directors. The Board serves without compensation. Our board members are professionals in the community who are committed to The Khabele Mission.

Our Board Members believe that the growth and expansion of The Khabele School is what is needed to revolutionize education. One step at a time, The Khabele School Board is committed to expanding the school and sharing this unique method with other public and private schools.

The Khabele School Board of Directors 2010-2011

Catherine Benouis received her B.A. from Indiana University in 1986, graduating with distinction, Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated from law school at the University of Illinois in 1990, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif. She was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 1990 and obtained her license to practice law in Texas in 1992. Cathy began practicing law with the international law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis, & Pogue. In 1994, she chose to focus on family law and has been practicing in this area exclusively since that time. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Fellow of Texas Bar Foundation, the College of State Bar of Texas, Travis County Family Law Advocates, Travis County Bar Association, Austin Collaborative Family Lawyers, and the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. She served 4 years as the Chair of the Travis County Bar Association People’s Law School and is entering her sixth year as a member of the Khabele School Board of Directors as the Chair. She is also a certified Bikram Yoga Instructor, and proud mother of two future Khabele students, who are now 7 and 4 years old.

With fifteen years of experience practicing craniosacral work and a master’s degree in occupational therapy, Willow Dea’s background enables her to meet both the structural and energetic aspects of the body and mind. She holds certifications in Visionary Craniosacral Work, Neuroenergetic Release, Myofascial Therapy, Biodynamic Cranial Work and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She just finished editing and contributing to an anthology on integral education, in partnership with Next Step Integral, an international non-profit organization that was founded in 2003. The book features an introduction to integral theory and a series of memoirs to inspire teachers to personalize the lessons and methods presented. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Next Step Integral. Willow is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Integral Institute, The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, and the Austin Independent Business Alliance.

Linda Dickens holds a Ph.D. in adult and organizational learning and currently works at The University of Texas at Austin assessing curricula, evaluating programs, and consulting faculty and administrators. With her extensive organizational development experience and dedication to fostering learning, she has helped individuals hone their communication, decision-making, critical thinking, and leadership skills. Linda taught and supervised graduate students in organizational change and research methodologies for ten years, has published numerous articles, and has received national and international awards for her research and writing.

Khotso Khabele grew up in Lesotho, Southern Africa and came to Austin at age 12. He graduated from U.T. with a B.A. in Economics. After college and a lot of soul searching, he began teaching Social Studies and Science. During his time as a teacher, he discovered his love for developing learning environments. He comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and educators. His parents were both college professors and his grandmother Bertha Means owns and operates Austin Cab Company. After founding Khabele, he continued to teach and evenually moved into the Director position. As Director, he is responsible for designing the educational methodology, overseeing the curriculum, managing the faculty, hiring, creating the student, teacher and parent training programs, and ensuring that the mission of Khabele is being fulfilled. He has led the school from being a tiny experiment in education with 9 students and a $110,000 budget to 160 students and a $2 million budget with a downtown campus of 5 exquisitely remodeled buildings. His main intention is to create and maintain a positive school culture in which students, parents, and faculty members connect with the community and rediscover their love of learning. He is also a dedicated father and volunteer and board member for several nonprofits that support aid work in Africa.

Moya Khabele graduated from The University of Texas with a BBA in International Business and Spanish Language. After a brief stint in the international corporate world, she decided to re-enter the world of education. She had taught dance for four years and had always been energized by working with young people. She began a high school Spanish teaching career and was nominated Teacher of the Year for the private school in which she worked. As the story goes, her husband Khotso and later colleague Lisa came to work at that same private school that eventually closed down. The three of them decided to band together and start a new program….one founded and run by teachers, those individuals who understand young people and are connected with the healing power of education. After Khabele’s humble beginning, she soon reconnected with her business background – the genre of work she thought she was leaving behind. She naturally developed herself in the world of marketing, recruiting, admissions, public relations, program management, and fundraising. This time around the “business” side of things was inspiring and enlivening. She found her true calling, which is the hybrid and perfect mix of the business world with public service and education. She has participated in various school administrator trainings, leadership courses, and development seminars. She spearheaded the State accreditation process, oversaw the acquisition and remodeling of the two new buildings and the studio, managed all of the finance and certain operations, as well as exceeded our Annual Fund goals for the last two years. She is also an active member of The Association of Fundraising Professionals and a visiting accreditation team member for the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools. In her free time, she performs with a local West African dance company, practices Yoga, enjoys the Classics that she never got to read in her business education, and spends time with her family. She also has the travel bug that plagues most of our staff... she has lived in Mexico, Columbia, and Spain as well as traveled through Brazil, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela and backpacked through all of Western Europe. She also spent a summer and got married in South Africa almost 10 years ago to the gentleman mentioned above.

Rey Madolora holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the University of Texas. His work experience includes: Research Manager at AFA and GLG, Accountant at Deloitte, Financial Analyst at AXA Advisors, VP of Services at Consero Global Solutions, and Consultant at Rey S. Madolora Business Solutions. He is also a Fine Arts Photographer and owns rEy Shaun Madolora Fine Arts Photography. In addition to laying the financial reporting foundation for the Khabele School as the Board Treasurer for the last 5 years, he also serves on the Board of Directors of Austin Green Art and Lannaya West African Drum and Dance Company and volunteers for Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the Muscular Sclerosis Society.

Milad Taghehchian is a certified financial planner and wealth management advisor. With a passion for promoting financial education, Milad is expanding his expertise in financial advisement from supporting Khabele staff members to serving the Khabele board of directors. A background in economics and experience conducting cost-benefit analyses prepped him for the tasks of implementing comprehensive financial plans and managing portfolio strategies. He has seven years of financial analysis experience and nine years of investment management experience. Working with American Express and United Lighting and Trading, he succeeded in increasing revenue on an exponential scale. In addition to Khabele, Milad is a board member to the Foundations for Family Financial Education, United Pioneer Ventures, and EMSPowered.com. He currently is a Wealth Management Advisor and Registered Investment Advisor to Pioneer Wealth Management Group.

Jodi Zipp is a mother of two Khabele graduates, Jodi has been instrumental in the fundraising and development of the Khabele School.  With a Degree in Law from U.T., Jodi has extensive experience in the local nonprofit sector of Austin. She has worked as a volunteer coordinator for the Khabele School, Meals on Wheels, Rollingwood Swim Team, and various public and private schools.  She also lead a large-scale capital campaign for All Saints' Episcopal Church and was  a founding board member and president of Seniors' Respite Service (now knows as Family Eldercare.)  She taught various legal courses at the University of Texas Law School.  Her most notable contribution to the Khabele School is the founding of the school's Development Committee, which is responsible for raising approximately $300,000 per year for the school's Annual Fund.