Middle School Staff
- Jason Daniel, Middle School Director & Science Teacher
- Chalimar Brown, Social Studies Teacher
- Chris Day, Spanish Teacher
- Jaime DeBlanc-Knowles, English Teacher
- Lisa del Rosario, Dance Teacher
- Marshall Escamilla, Music Teacher & Head of Performing Arts
- Jaclyn Faulker, Athletics Director
- Mike Franz, Coach
- Suzanne Koett, Photography Teacher
- Marc Lionetti, School Counselor & Vocal Music Director
- Jack Montagna, Coach
- John Mulvany, Art Teacher
- Brandon Price, Math Teacher
- Constance Taylor, Math Teacher
- Alex Thomas, Film & Literature Teacher
- Etienne Vidal, Martial Arts & Health Teacher
- Liza Wilson, French Teacher
- David Yeakle, Drama Teacher
Jason Daniel, Middle School Director & Science Teacher
From a young age, I had the desire to become a teacher. Some of my most formative experiences occurred in the woods of Colorado at a summer camp. There I learned my love of the outdoors and respect for nature. For college, I attended the University of Oklahoma where I received my Bachelors of Science in Science Education. Directly after graduation, I moved to Colorado to work at an Outdoor Education Center. I then moved back to Oklahoma and began teaching high school Physics. After teaching in the public school system, I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Science Education. Besides teaching, I have: sky dived from over 11,000 feet; climbed eight “14′ers” in Colorado; lived in Germany for two months during high school; worked as a bellman and a ballroom/swing dance instructor. This year, my sixth at Khabele, I will continue my role as the primary Middle School Science teacher. In addition to teaching classes, I am also the Director of the Middle School. This is a position that I hold with great honor. It is with great pride that I take the reigns of the Middle School program and I am proud to work with such a great team and phenomenal students. It is so amazing to get up every morning and come to my dream job.
Chalimar Brown, Social Studies Teacher
I have had a passion for teaching for as long as I can remember. I graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in Business Administration, however most of my free time was spent working with students in economically-challenged areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Recently, I have headed community service efforts to contribute to Hurricane Katrina victims, soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, earthquake survivors in Haiti, and local Austinites in need. I love teaching, sports, reading, gardening, cooking meals from scratch, and photography. Most of my extra time is spent with my two dogs, Otis and Tyson, watching the History Channel, or playing soccer and sand volleyball with friends. I am excited to be a part of the Khabele School teaching faculty where they value creativity and dynamic learning environments.
Chris Day, Spanish Teacher
I am originally from Monroe, Louisiana. After graduating from Louisiana State University in 2006, I spent the 2006-2007 school year teaching English at an elementary/middle school in Toledo, Spain. I have worked as an adult ESL teacher and middle school Spanish teacher since returning from Spain. I am thrilled to be a faculty member at the Khabele School.
Jaime DeBlanc-Knowles, English Teacher
graduated from the University of Texas with a master’s degree in creative writing. During my time at UT, I wrote my first full-length novel and taught a creative writing workshop in fiction. I was also the fiction editor for UT’s literary magazine, “The Bat City Review.” Most recently, I’ve helped run the Citizen Schools afterschool program at Bedichek Middle School and I’ve taught creative writing workshops through Badgerdog Publishing. I love teaching reading and writing and feel very lucky to be able to teach at the Khabele School, where innovation and creativity are embraced. In my spare time, I love writing short stories and going swimming.
Lisa del Rosario, Dance Teacher
A native Texan, I trained at the Margo Marshall School of Ballet, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, and as a Presidential Scholarship student at the University of Texas. I went on to live in the Philippines and dance with the Philippine National Folk Dance Company, Bayanihan. My eclectic style is exemplified through my teaching modalities as well as in my choreographic work in performance. I teach at Ballet Austin Academy, Tapestry Dance Company Academy, and Core Therapy & Pilates. I also dance with local performing companies: DA! Theatre Collective, Califa Collaborative Arts, and The Sheep Army. I had the honor of being nominated for Best Short Work and Best Dancer for the Austin Critics Table Awards and Outstanding Choreographer for the B. Iden Payne Awards. In addition, I am also a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner.
Marshall Escamilla, Music Teacher & Head of Performing Arts
After graduating from Bowdoin College with an English degree in 2002, I quickly relocated to Austin, where I have lived ever since. I soon started a band, the Unbearables, with which I have recorded and released three albums, and performed all over the country. In the summer of 2003, I found a position at the Khabele School and I decided that this was the job for me, and that this school would come to transform my life. Originally hired to teach Math, I quickly discovered that my true educational passion lay in sharing music with students, and have managed to build Khabele’s music program from the ground up. I have turned Khabele’s music program into a cornerstone of the Khabele method. Our music program has won several awards at the TAPPS District and State competitions, has performed for school and public events, and features three jazz ensembles, a choir and drum ensemble, and a world music ensemble. I am proud to be Khabele’s “first hire” outside of the three founding members and to enter my ninth year of teaching here.
Jaclyn Faulker, Athletics Director
Fitness and competition is my life’s passion. I have been an athlete for as long as I can remember, and my dedication to swimming earned me a scholarship to study and compete for the University of Texas here in Austin. I graduated in 2007 as a decorated athlete and with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. I have always had the desire to work with people and to inspire others. A career in education has always been something I wanted to pursue, but this community inspired me to make it a reality.
Mike Franz, Coach
Born and raised in California, I received my B.S. degree in Psychology from U.C. Santa Barbara. After finishing my undergraduate education, I traveled the world for ten years, seven of which were spent managing a bicycle tour company in Paris, France. Now settled in Austin, I am thrilled to be teaching and coaching at Khabele. In the classroom, I am passionate about inspiring others to learn and seek knowledge. On the sporting field, I emphasize hard work, teamwork, and understanding the strategy of sports. I am honored and grateful to be part of the Khabele staff and community.
Suzanne Koett, Photography Teacher
My obsession with art, photography and making pictures began at 14. Since then I’ve applied the camera as a tool to create a visual language, mostly demystifying the human condition, life and also to be understood. Originally from the SF Bay Area, I graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Fine Art Photography in 2001. As a contemporary fine art photographer, I show my work both locally and nationally. (http://suzannekoett.com/). I feel fortunate to be a part of a community where I can instill passion, creativity, self-awareness and to foster an environment where students are free to experiment with their ideas and to be understood through their art.
Marc Lionetti, School Counselor & Vocal Music Director
I received my undergraduate degree in Music Education from Northwestern University, and spent the following few years touring around the country performing at colleges with an a cappella singing group. Eventually, I grew weary of traveling (and the fact that there wasn’t much good vegetarian food to be found on the road), and settled down to become a full-time music teacher at a small progressive high school near San Francisco called The Athenian School. After eight years of directing the choral program at Athenian, I felt an inner calling to interact with students as a counselor in addition to as a teacher. That calling ultimately led me to the Educational Psychology department at the University of Texas at Austin, where I received a Masters of Education in Counselor Education. I began serving as Khabele’s school counselor in 2009. These days, in addition to counseling and directing the chorus at Khabele, I regularly perform around town as lead guitarist and backup singer with The Lost Pines, a bluegrass/Americana band. I also teach a weekly Kundalini yoga class at Yoga Yoga, and have a daily yoga & meditation practice.
Jack Montagna, Coach
More about Jack coming soon.
John Mulvany, Art Teacher
I am an artist, teacher, and writer, originally from Ireland who has been living and working in Austin for eight years. I graduated from the College of Art, Design and Print in Dublin, Ireland in 1990 before completing a second diploma in art and design education at Crawford College of Art in Cork, Ireland. I have been teaching art and design for 14 years. As an artist, I have exhibited in Ireland, the UK, Germany and the United States and my work is in many private collections throughout the world including that of the former Irish Prime Minister. In addition to my work as an artist and teacher, I am a founding member and editor of Cantanker Magazine, Austin’s only full-color magazine devoted exclusively to visual art. I live and work in east Austin with my wife, my two sons and two cats.
Brandon Price, Math Teacher
My passion is helping young people form Mathematical questions—to develop a curiosity about numbers, structures, and relationships. Even (or perhaps especially) the most trivial question can lead a student down a rabbit hole that might one day change the world. I still possess a journal entry from fourth grade that described a completely unique way of testing whether one number was divisible by another. I held on to my strange invention until a college professor finally helped me algebraically prove its truth, and my hope is that I can also provide learning opportunities for my students to create and invent. As far as my professional background, I earned my BA in Mathematics from Baylor University, and an MA from the University of Texas in Mathematics Education. I worked as a statistical analyst while attending graduate school. I have also led summer robotics courses for elementary-aged children. I oscillate among teaching Algebra, Geometry, Statistics and Middle School Mathematics.
Constance Taylor, Math Teacher
As the daughter of a P.I. in the Air Force, my early childhood involved a lot of travel. I’ve lived all over—everywhere from large, vibrant cities like Tokyo, Japan to microscopic Midwest towns like Knob Noster, Missouri. For the past ten years I have resided in Austin, which I find to be a delightful mix of “city life” and “small town familiarities.” I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in education and a certification in elementary education. Soon after, I accepted a job with KIPP Austin College Prep teaching fifth grade mathematics. Because the campus itself is relatively small, I was able to make connections with many of the older students over my three years there. However, I was still anxious to explore different teaching styles and methodologies. Upon voicing this, one of my former co-workers suggested I do some research about the Khabele School and see if the mission statement aligned with what I was after. After meeting with Khotso and seeing the campus, I knew I had found a school that would allow me to plant my roots and grow into a well-rounded teacher. I teach Pre-algebra, Algebra I, Well-being 101, and Global Science. In my free time I love to hang out with my Chihuahua, Junior and try out new recipes in the kitchen.
Alex Thomas, Film & Literature Teacher
I studied English Literature and Film Studies at the University of Kentucky before coming to the University of Texas at Austin for an MFA in Film Production. Since arriving at Khabele in 2010, I have absolutely loved getting to form relationships with and teach students in 6th grade English, Middle School Film, and High School Film. We make movies, play grammar games, read, write, and edit—all of my lifelong passions. What I value most about Khabele is that we get to learn in a community that cultivates high expectations and hard work as well as love and tons of laughter in the classroom.
Etienne Vidal, Martial Arts & Health Teacher
My heart-centered approach to youth facilitation and teaching has opened doors for me all around the world. Within the past eight years, I have been fortunate enough to travel to over five different countries teaching Capoiera Angola classes and facilitating youth programs for schools and non-profits. I have developed and led service projects, camps, after school programs, international exchanges, conferences, youth groups, healing arts classes, talking circles and now curriculum development, and teaching at the Khabele School. My focus has been to inspire and encourage young people to engage in self-discovery. Guided by the teachings of my ancestors, I have devoted myself completely to creating safe, healthy and empowering spaces for youth to recognize their inner potential and their own personal design. All of this is done through the creative and healing arts of dance, musicality, self-defense, and awareness of holistic health. My teachings are rooted in the principles of responsibility, courage, appreciation and respect. This is my second year at Khabele and I will be teaching Capoiera Angola and High School Health. My wife and I have had the wonderful opportunity of developing the character curriculum that will be offered to the Khabele staff and students this year. I am very enthusiastic about the infinite potential of life and all that is being offered to us right now.
Liza Wilson, French Teacher
I have a Master of Arts in Foreign Language Education from UT Austin, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Rhodes College. Before I came to Khabele, I was a Field Support Specialist for Region XIII Service Center, which gave me the opportunity to observe and support first year teachers in the alternative certification program. I have also consulted for Head Start in Austin on the subject of coordinating childcare services among Head Start programs, public pre-Kindergarten programs, and day care centers. I am the former director of Le Lycee Francais d’Austin, a French pre-school and elementary school in Austin. This is my first year at Khabele.
David Yeakle, Drama Teacher
Back in the 20th century, I was an active company member with Fort Worth’s innovative Hip Pocket Theatre for a dozen seasons. Since 1995, I have been the Producing Artistic Director of Tongue and Groove Theatre in Austin where I have produced and directed more than 30 productions. My stage adaptation of The Red Balloon received two Austin Critic’s Table Awards and five B. Iden Payne awards in 2008, plus a special citation for outstanding achievement in original animation. I remounted The Red Balloon in May, 2010, at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Austin. I have studied commedia dell’arte at the Dell Arte School of Physical Theatre in California and Mask technique with Donato Sartori at Centro Maschere in Abano Terme, Italy. An associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, I hold a BFA in modern dance from Texas Christian University and an MFA in directing from the University of Texas. Since 1986, I have been on the Texas Commission on the Arts Artist-in-Education roster. I have directed and taught workshops across the country and have been on drama faculties of the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Wesleyan University, and am currently an adjunct associate professor in the Drama department at Austin Community College.
