Board of Directors 2011-2012
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.
Jerry Aubin is the father of two Khabele School students. He holds a BS in Engineering from Tufts University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. His work experience includes stints at multiple technology startups in both Boston and Austin. He is currently the VP of Product and Technology for BountyJobs.
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 Khabele students, who are now 10 and 7 years old.
Shawn Colvin is the proud mother of a Khabele student as well as a professional musician. She has won three Grammies, including Best Contemporary Folk Album, Best Song of the Year, and Best Record of the Year. She and her music have been featured in various movies and television programs over the years.
Willow Dea, M.S. OTR, is deeply inspired by the impact of transformational practices in emerging educational systems. Her thirst for working with systems began with the human body. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in occupational therapy, the science of human performance. As a relentlessly curious learner, she was certified in five additional modalities of human integration which facilitate sustained peak performance and conscious embodiment. Willow has used an integral approach with her clients in private practice and in educational settings for 15 years, providing leading edge services for people of all ages. Willow is the Editor of Igniting Brilliance: Integral Education in the 21st Century, and serves on the Board of Directors for Next Step Integral, an international non-profit.
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.
David Gottfried is a 19-year resident of the Austin community and lives with his wife Anita and daughter Sadie Rose in Clarksville. He is a business and real estate trial attorney, as well as a mediator of civil disputes. He is a graduate of Emory University.
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. Soon after this time, he had a profound awakening about his unique commitment to education, which prompted the emergence of The Khabele School. After founding Khabele, he continued to teach and eventually moved into the Director position. He has led the school from being a tiny experiment in education with nine students to more than 400 students with two campuses. 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. His most recent accomplishment is beginning a new Ph.D. program in which he will be pursuing a doctorate in Human and Organizational Development.
Moya Khabele graduated from the University of Texas with a B.B.A. in International Business and and a B.A. Spanish Language. She began her career in education as a high school Spanish teacher and eventually helped to found the Khabele School. At Khabele, she is responsible for marketing, recruiting, admissions, public relations, program management, major projects, and fundraising. She spearheaded the state accreditation process, oversaw the acquisition and remodeling of all four school buildings and the studio, as well as managing our major gifts program. 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. She has three children who attend Primavera Montessori at The Khabele School.
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.
Joy Standefer graduated with honors from University of Wisconsin with a double major in Business and Economics. She is a local entrepreneur, most recently the owner of Plum Blossom Wellness Center. She has served on the board since May 2008, and served on the fundraising committee for a year before that.
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.
Jennifer Tyson‘s love for education began as a child, witnessing her mother teaching second grade, and later becoming an Elementary school principal. Her dad was a chaplain in the Army, and still serves the military by running a spiritual retreat center in Lampasas, Texas. She experienced many cultures growing up, as well as many schools. She had the great pleasure of not only living all over the United States, but also spending four years in Germany, where she attended an International Baccalaureate high school in Frankfurt. She started her college life at Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C. as a Woman’s Studies major, and graduated from St. Edward’s University with a degree in Psychology.
She never lost her love for learning, and feels very grateful for all of her life experiences, which have definitely had an impact on what Primavera has become. She was raised to truly value the importance of community, and wanted to create a school where not only were the children nurtured and adored, but so were the parents! She sees our school as an extension of one’s own family, and she feels honored to be involved in helping parents raise their children. She has three sons at Khabele; one in Elementary, one in Middle School, and one in High School.
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.