Khavin brings expertise in Montessori and High Scope education, both of which use the student-centered, active engagement approach featured in Ashé Prep’s school model. He serves as a master teacher and teacher coach and provides expertise in Environmental Education. His passion as a teacher is fostering school readiness, social-emotional development, and environmental education in the teaching and learning process to address Nature Deficit Disorder.

James, “Jim”, has worked in education locally for over twenty years as a teacher and school administrator, in both parochial and public schools, in grades K-12, primarily with African American students, Latino students, and students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch in Seattle. He has a Master’s degree in Education and is certified as both a teacher and an administrator.

Marjon brings expertise in both early childhood education and K-12 education. As an
educational consultant she has dedicated her lifework to increasing the capacity and efficacy of families as their child’s first teacher and primary socializing agent. As co-founder of the Black Starline African Family Educational Collective, she has secured grants to support the organization’s sustainability and is deeply versed in aligning alternative education programs to Washington State Standards.

Casey Owens Castello is director, Brewed Coffee, at Starbucks Coffee Company. Casey joined Starbucks in September 2013 as Manager, Global Strategy, after earning an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior to her time at Stanford, Casey served as Special Assistant to the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue at the U.S. Department of Treasury. Casey joined the Treasury Department from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, where she was Special Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer. Casey began her career as an analyst at Lazard in Equity Capital Markets and Corporate Finance. She received her BA in Government from Harvard University. Casey is a sports enthusiast and a student of foreign languages.

Mr. Jefferson has worked in the capacity of teacher, department head, vice principal, and principal over the course of 30+ years with Seattle Public Schools. He holds a B.S. from Lincoln University (an HBCU) in Jefferson, MO and a Masters degree from Seattle Pacific University in School Administration. Mr. Jefferson has two children and enjoys skiing, reading, and cataloging his jazz collection of over 350 vinyl record albums and 400 CDs. He has served on the following boards: Atlantic Street Center, East Madison YMCA, and First Place Charter School. He is currently on the Board of the Seattle International District Rotary, chairing the Education Committee. Mr. Jefferson has participated in two Urban Principal Summer Training Programs at Yale University, learning how to implement the “Comer Restructuring Model” developed by Dr. James Comer.