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ABOUT US.
KairosPDX was established on the belief that every child is uniquely capable, innately curious, and inherently creative. KairosPDX cultivates and illuminates the next generation of diverse leaders to build a better future for all.
Our approach of dismantling structural racism to create lasting change includes policy advocacy, non-discriminatory training, and professional development services. We provide hands-on learning through our flagship school and serve our community via partnerships and family engagement programs.
Through culturally-competent teaching, intentional interaction, and exposure to diverse role models, we help break down fear and build empathy. We teach our children through our actions and our voices to reject stereotypes and above all, to see the humanity in one another.
KairosPDX is transforming education by catalyzing change and proving that a positive, loving, and secure community can prepare students for optimal learning and compassionate leadership.
Who Are We?
Leadership.
Key Staff.
Board.
Advisory Board.
Founders.
Leadership.
Terry-Ann Cabine
Key Staff.
Kevin Bacon is a seasoned educator who has dedicated his life’s work to student outcomes and community engagement. For 37 years, Kevin has taught in the classroom and served as a principal at all three levels of the Portland Metro-elementary, middle, and high school. At the moment, he serves as President of the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators.
He has worked in all sectors of the city with every community and student demographic. He has been a teacher, student management specialist, biotech education coordinator, vice principal, principal, and facilitator of Courage to Lead, a professional development series for school administrators.
Over the years, by building partnerships and focusing on the collective impact of the students and community, Kevin has ensured that his schools have had a healthy balance of support for whole-child development and health. Kevin has a wife and three children and loves spending his leisure time golfing and enjoying sports.
Tiffany Dempsey
Tiffany Dempsey is a passionate leader who focuses on people. She co-founded and lead the 1st Intel Oregon “Historically Black Colleges and Universities” Alumni special interest group that annually supports several community events geared towards the education and the promotion of attendance at HBCUs.
Missi Hasting
Missi is a passionate advocate for schools that serve young people that the traditional system has failed. In 1997, she helped write and pass the sweeping expansion of Texas’ charter school law. In 1998, she founded New Frontiers Charter School in South San Antonio, serving 500 K-5 students. In 2000, she founded charter schools in Dallas (South Oak Cliff), Midland, and Houston.
She later served as the Senior Vice President of Regional Opertations for Charter Schools USA, a Florida-based education management organizations, with eight campuses in her oversight portfolio. In 2009, she served as Chief Operating Officer of American Youthworks in Austin, Texas, a 30+ year old nonprofit that delivered a charter high school program, two Americorps programs, and a Youthbuild program, later serving as interim CEO.
As a consultant, Missi has served numerous educational and arts organizations in developing funding and operations strategies. Missi is a lover of roots music, and an experienced musician. She regularly plays throughout Oregon in her band Mojo Holler.
Jasmine Love has worked in education for over 25 years, working as a teacher and administrator. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jasmine came to Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2015 from Los Angeles, California where she had made the transition from writing for television [where she enjoyed working on The Jamie Foxx Show and Moesha among other shows] to working in education. She received her MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania in Counseling Psychology and her BA from Oberlin College in Psychobiology, with minors in African American Studies and Comparative Religions.
Jasmine loves teaching and creating educational atmospheres that are inclusive and filled with multicultural respect. Jasmine started her work in education as a 4th grade teacher at Westland School in Brentwood. She quickly moved into educational administration at Westridge School in Pasadena, California as their Director of Equity and Inclusivity. She then moved to Palos Verdes and joined the Chadwick School leadership team as their Director of Inclusion. At Chadwick, Jasmine also taught 8th and 9th grade World History. In 2015 Jasmine was invited to join the administration at Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon as their Director of Inclusion and Outreach. In that capacity she worked with KairosPDX in partnership with Catlin Gabel.
Jasmine has joined KairosPDX as their Director of Education, and looks forward to helping to align Kairos’s Mission and Vision across the Early Learning Academy, Learning Academy and the Training Academy. As an educator and counselor, Jasmine is committed to helping children and adults overcome childhood traumas and identity-based traumas. Jasmine is committed to seeing that Black children are seen for the brilliant, creative, resourceful beings that they are, and dedicated to cementing an excellent education for all students who attend KairosPDX.
Tara has been an educator, researcher, program administrator and school leader for over 20 years. Her work is grounded in social constructivism, and guided by a set of beliefs about children: they have rights and gifts that the world needs; they play a central role in their own learning; they are curious and creative pattern seekers who continuously make meaning through interactions with people, materials, ideas and the natural world; they are hard-wired for connection; they are capable problem solvers; and they use their natural learning strategy of play to develop and revise theories about themselves and others.
Tara was born and raised in Honolulu, and now lives in Portland with her family. She has influenced the educational landscape through her teacher-research and leadership at Opal School, and by collaborating on a digital library for inclusive practices with Teaching Preschool Partners. Tara has facilitated professional development workshops for educators and administrators around the world. Since serving as a founding board member of KairosPDX, when the organization was establishing its charter with Portland Public Schools, she has held a deep commitment to its mission. Currently, in addition to being a director at KairosPDX, she is a professor at the Portland State University College of Education.
Board.
- David Anderson, Associate, Schwabe, Williamson, and Wyatt
- Brooke Brownlee, State Legislative Affairs Manager, Portland General Electric
- Kira Cador, KairosPDX Board Vice Chair – President, Rembold Properties
- Ashley Clinksdale, Commications & Brand Strategist
- Stuart Ellis, CEO & Founder, Charter School Capital
- Tyrone Foster, President, Precision Landscape
- Garmai Gorlorwulu, Perkins Coie, LLP
- Kaaren Heikes, KairosPDX Co-Founder, Board Secretary
- Melissa L. Naito, Community Activist
- Chris Nelson, Principal, Capstone Partners LLC
- Tiffani Penson, KairosPDX Board Chair – People & Culture Strategist, City of Portland, Portland Community College Trustee
- Kali Thorne Ladd, KairosPDX Co-Founder
- Mark Washington, KairosPDX Treasurer, Executive Vice President CBRE Capital Markets
- Marsha Williams, KairosPDX CEO & Co-Founder
Advisory Board.
- Michael Alexander, Past President Urban League of Portland
- Swati Adakar, Past President and CEO, Children’s Institute
- Jeffrey Camarillo, Assistant Director, Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP), Pablo Alto, CA
- LaTrece Gaither, Counselor/ Instructor, OHSU Avel Gordly Center for Healing
- Daniel B. Garrie, Esq, Senior Managing Partner & General Counsel, Law & Forensics, LLC
- Amy Han, Director of School and Systems Leadership Opportunities, Teach for America
- Margaret Hinshaw, President, Insight Center
- Megan Irwin, Administrator for Early Childhood Education, Beaverton School District
- Julie Mancini, Executive Director, College Possible
- Ben Sand, CEO, The Contingent
- Daniel Valliere, Chief Executive Director, REACH
- Fran Von Schlegell, Education Advocate
- Ken Weigel, Consultant
Founders.
What We Do?
Board.
The community we serve is reflected in our founders, our employees and our board. The building we are currently housed in intentionally serves as historical tie and space for the African-American community in North/Northeast Portland.
- David Anderson, Associate, Schwabe, Williamson, and Wyatt
- Brooke Brownlee, State Legislative Affairs Manager, Portland General Electric
- Kira Cador, KairosPDX Board Secretary – President, Rembold Properties
- Ashley Clinksdale, Senior Vice President, Communications, Community & Diversity and Executive Director of the Trail Blazers Foundation, Portland Trail Blazers
- Stuart Ellis, CEO & Founder, Charter School Capital
- Tyrone Foster, President, Precision Landscape
- Zalika Gardner, KairosPDX CECO & Co-Founder
- Kaaren Heikes, KairosPDX Co-Founder, Board Secretary
- Melissa L. Naito, Community Activist
- Chris Nelson, Principal, Capstone Partners LLC
- Larry Nelson, KairosPDX Board Treasurer – Finance Professional
- Tiffani Penson, KairosPDX Board Chair - People & Culture Strategist, City of Portland, Portland Community College Trustee
- Kali Thorne-Ladd, KairosPDX Co-Founder
- Mark Washington, Senior Vice President, Eastdil Secured
- Marsha Williams, KairosPDX CEO & Co-Founder
- Michael Alexander, Past President, Urban League of Portland
- Swati Adakar, President & CEO, Children’s Institute
- Jeffrey Camarillo, Founding Director & Principal, Luis Valdez Leadership Academy
- LaTrece Gaither, Counselor/Case Manager, Central City Concern
- Daniel B. Garrie Esq, Senior Managing Partner & General Counsel, Law & Forensics, LLC
- Margaret Hinshaw, President, Insight Center
- Julie Mancini, Executive Director, College Possible
- Ben Sand, CEO, Portland Leadership Foundation
- Daniel Valliere, Chief Executive Director, REACH
The KairosPDX Board of Directors generally meets on the second Wednesday every other month. The Learning Academy section of the meeting is public. To ensure access or request interpretation services, please contact us at boardsecretary@kairospdx.org.
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