Board of Trustees
Ginny Cusack, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Ginny Cusack leads the Board of Trustees. She is a longtime friend and advisor to Andrew, and with Andrew, has a valuable knowledge of the history of the School, as well as deep knowledge of the Montessori philosophy and mission.
Ginny holds a MA from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, NJ and a BS in Education from Alverno College, WI. Ginny is a New Jersey state-certified teacher and received an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) credential. Ginny has had experience as a teacher, an administrator, a founder of a Montessori School, a lecturer and a parent education specialist in both public and independent schools.
Ginny has achieved national recognition for her work in the development of the Princeton Center Teacher Education (PCTE) programs, which is accredited by Montessori Accreditation Commission Teacher Education (MACTE) and affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Ginny lives in Princeton, New Jersey, where, though retired, she continues her involvement in international Montessori School projects.
Andrew A. Kutt, President of the Board of Trustees, Executive Director
Andrew Kutt is the founder and Executive Director of the Oneness-Family School in Chevy Chase, MD. As head of the School, he is the President of the Board of Trustees.
In the fall of 1988, Andrew opened this Montessori-inspired school with a vision of incorporating peace education and conflict resolution into the curriculum in order to foster a new generation of leaders to become meaningful contributors to the society of the 21st century by expanding their consciousness, realizing their potential, and coming to feel and understand that the world is one family.
In order to achieve this vision, Andrew has relied upon his extensive experience in education. While in graduate school, Andrew taught French to undergraduates as a graduate assistant, and during the summers he taught English as a second language at Tufts University in Boston. After completing two years of the comparative literature program, Andrew decided to make a change in his path and pursue a career in education. He withdrew from the comparative literature program in order to obtain his Montessori credentials for the 6-9 and the 9-12 age levels while working closely with renowned Montessori educators.
Andrew’s world travels and experiences have also greatly enhanced the international aspect of the school. While enrolled at Assumption College, Andrew spent his junior year abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, where he received the William Marion Miller Prize at his university for his accomplishments in French. After graduation, Andrew traveled back to Europe where he spent the next two years living mainly in Germany. During this time Andrew studied the German language and literature, while working a variety of jobs which exposed him to the culture including teaching English, translating, working on an archeological dig, and even working as an assembly line worker at the Mercedes Benz factory.
Today, Andrew is able to boast a unique, international and progressive Montessori School offering curriculum programs in conflict resolution, positive discipline, values instruction, world religions, multicultural studies, self-discovery, multiple intelligences, and school traditions and festivals. In addition to publishing many articles, Andrew has authored and co-authored several books. Andrew brings his experience and stories with him as he conducts workshops for both teachers and parents on a wide variety of educational topics across the country. Andrew also founded Free Radicals, a vision of a world of harmony, sharing, and equality among all members of the human family, in order to share his musical and poetic creativity.
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
Mozella Ademiluyi is a parent of a graduate of the Oneness-Family School. Her son is currently attending high school in London and is still benefiting from his years at the Oneness-Family School. Mozella's experiences as a parent at the School allow her to provide a unique perspective to other membres of the Board of Trustees.
At heart, Mozella is a social entrepreneur, called to give service to young people who so urgently are also seeking their way 'through'. Mozella is an attorney by academic training and a member of the following Bars: District of Columbia Court of Appeals, United States Court of International Trade and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
At the age of 18, Mozella was fortunate to have been exposed to the 'power of thought' and from there was drawn into a wonderful world of education in the area of personal development and empowerment. From the results of this ongoing learning, Mozella founded Rising Sun Programs, a Maryland based nonprofit organization offering empowering opportunities for youth and young adults. The underlying principle of Rising Sun is that true wealth is well-being. Rising Sun Cultural and Educational Programs' purpose is to be a catalyst for development and growth, serving youth and young adults. This is facilitated by promoting a unique approach to building life skills and life enhancing experiences for personal empowerment. At the nucleus of its programming, Rising Sun believes that youth should be exposed to the concept of well-being through three levels of our core existence: mind, body and soul.
Patricia Dubin
From 1974 to 2006, Patricia Dubin helped GEICO grow from a relatively unknown auto insurer to its current position as one of most well-known brands in the insurance industry. As Creative Director of GEICO Marketing, she continually pushed the company to break new ground in its advertising. As GEICO grew, she became a "gate keeper" of the brand and never lost sight of the customer's needs: quality car insurance at a fair price.
While her work at GEICO is well known by most Americans who watch television advertising, Pat’s reputation is also distinguished by her courage and accomplishments as a young woman pioneering in the media field in the sixties and seventies and her commitment to social change and equality for women and minorities.
In addition to her marketing expertise and experience, Pat has a strong interest in education. Both her children attended Montessori school, an experience that she considers to have been extremely valuable. Based on her firsthand understanding of the effectiveness of the Montessori approach and her desire to continue to make a difference in the world after retiring from GEICO, Pat is excited to join the Oneness-Family School community. She brings marketing expertise, an understanding of how to build a strong “brand,” and a passion for social justice, creativity and a better world.
Pat has a strong interest in the arts and is always open to new things. Pat currently lives in Arlington, VA.
Bette George
Bette George is a leadership coach and organizational strategist who works with executives, business leaders, and teams to bring forth their best gifts—courageously, creatively, and productively. Bette’s clients include Fortune 500 and small organizations, both public and private; profit and non-profit, as well as entrepreneurs, business owners and individuals committed to personal and professional mastery.
Bette’s coaching practice is built upon thirty years of experience as an educator, business owner and management consultant. She combines organization development experience, including groundbreaking work in diversity, with a new appreciation for the power and potential of the purposeful conversation – conversation that helps clients embrace the conflicting demands, emotions and challenges in a workplace and world that require extraordinary presence.
Within the framework of appreciative inquiry, Bette’s clients embark on a journey of self-discovery that is both developmental and transformational. She has developed a pragmatic, outcome-based approach to coaching that builds on the natural strengths of the leaders with whom she works. Partnering with her clients, she encourages innovative thinking and supports the creation of a vision and plan for the future based on personal and organizational goals.
Bette received her Masters of Science degree in Organization Development from The American University/NTL Institute and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Virginia. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Certificate Program and serves on the faculty of that program as a Learning Circle coach. She has achieved the designation by the International Coaching Federation of Professional Certified Coach.
Bette is co-author of two books: A Practical Guide to Working with Diversity and Honoring Boundaries: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. She is a certified user of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and the Bar-on Emotional Quotient Inventory.
Bette lives in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area where she enjoys her family, friends and grandchildren. She is an avid reader, and with her husband, Vern, enjoys the theater, travel, and collecting art. She is passionate about the vision and potential of the Oneness-Family School and looks forward to contributing to its future success as a member of the Board.
Benny Nordahl
Benny Nordahl grew up in a small village in the south of Sweden. He majored in Science in High School. He was drafted to the Swedish army where he served a year as a Sergeant in an artillery-engineering unit. Thereafter he earned a “Civilekonom” degree in Marketing at the prestigious Swedish University of Lund. He moved to the US in 1987.
Benny has extensive experience in publishing, new business development and direct marking from his experiences as a senior leader at companies such as Time Life, Reader's Digest and International Masters Publishers. His experience covers all media and channels. Benny has worked in many countries on five continents and has started new companies in the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Australia, Japan and Taiwan. In the US he has been based in Los Angeles, CA, Stamford, CT, New York, NY, Fairfax, VA and most recently, Purcellville, VA.
Currently Benny holds the position as President of Greetings Direct North America. GDNA is a subsidiary of the British Flying Brands group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Benny is married to Jane, with whom he is working to found a Montessori school in Virginia.
Jane’s brother is an old friend of Andrew and introduced them to him. Andrew is a senior advisor to the Springdale Montessori Project.
Among Benny’s interests are working out at the gym, running, reading, sailing and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Jan Kearce
Jan Kearce is a leadership coach, organizational development consultant, team-building facilitator, human resources professional and trainer. She is passionate about engaging the potential of leaders to create and sustain fulfilling lives, successful organizations, vibrant communities and healthy ecosystems through practices that embody respect for the planet and people, no matter where they live, work or play.
Jan has worked with leaders and staff from organizations with a wide variety of missions, including outdoor education, healthcare, international finance, art, real estate marketing, high tech solutions, building materials, environmental protection and others. The common thread is that leaders and their teams have the power to define their present and future. Together, they can create a vision and establish a culture that embraces, integrates and achieves new goals. The focus of Jan’s work is coaching, consulting and collaborating to achieve individual, leadership, team and organizational potential.
Jan’s internal work experience spans three decades and includes leadership roles in manufacturing, outdoor education and environmental protection. She has led initiatives to engage employees at every level of the organization in defining and delivering a new vision, meeting quality and safety objectives, solving front-line problems, and establishing collaborative work processes. She has also led a variety of activities - strategic planning, organizational consolidation, human resources, quality through employee engagement, union negotiations, fundraising, communication, training, scheduling of manufacturing operations, managing customer service, and over-seeing program delivery. Previous roles include Production Scheduling and Customer Service Supervisor, Human Resources Director, Development Director, Acting President of Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, Director of Program Delivery and Safety, Transition / Consolidation Director. This breadth of experience has provided insights into the potential, both fulfilled and unfulfilled, for individual, leader, and organizational success, regardless of the mission or role.
While Jan is originally from Florida, she has lived in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Maine. She graduated from the University of Georgia’s School of Journalism with a degree in Radio, TV and Film; has a Master’s Degree from American University / NTL in Human Resource / Organizational Development; and received Leadership Coaching certification from Georgetown University.
Additional training and experience includes:
- Leadership Maine – Building Community Leaders
- The Principles and Techniques of Fundraising
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®
- Quality, Team Building and Problem Solving
- Quality Circles
- Malcolm Baldrige for the not-for-profit (assessment and action plan for increasing effectiveness of the organization)
- Six Hat Thinking
- Kepner-Tregoe – Decision Analysis, Potential Problem Analysis, Analytic Trouble Shooting
- Breakthrough Thinking (Creativity)
- Project Adventure – Group Facilitation
- Outward Bound Program Management and Facilitation
Peter Novick
Peter Novick's daughter, Megi, entered Oneness-Family School in its second year of existence and Peter has stayed involved with the school ever since.
Peter participated in early strategic planning sessions, volunteered to create the school’s first student database system, attended school events, and provided some financial support through The Novick Family Foundation. Over this time, he has maintained both a professional relationship and friendship with Andrew Kutt.
Peter holds a BA in English/Philosophy from University of Binghamton (NY). In the 1970s, he attended a graduate program for progressive education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and received high school teaching certification.
In the 1980s, Peter embarked on a new career path. He received his BS in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1983, he joined Deltek Systems in its infancy as one of the two original designers of this popular large-scale accounting and project management software. He continued to serve as senior systems analyst and head of data modeling.
Peter left Deltek in 1997 in order to pursue philanthropic, educational, and business interests.
Immediately afterwards, Peter created the Novick Family Foundation and joined several philanthropic associations. This gave him the opportunity to attend countless seminars over the years on world development, grant-giving and philanthropy. He developed relationships with many local non-profits and consultants, and has volunteered his services to several of these organizations.
From 1999-2005, he created and managed the “Smart Card Project,” an international member database with photo ids, smart cards, card readers, and a multi-language website (volunteer position, with dozens of staff worldwide).
In 1999, Peter became co-owner of Benham Protective Services and two smaller companies, both based in Florida. He remains actively involved in these businesses.
Peter has always gravitated towards opportunities offering the challenge to “create something good out of nothing”, whether it’s a business or charitable venture.
He has a life-long passion for “learning how to live” – how to transform lives so that they are fulfilled on all levels (intellectual, financial, health, relationships, spiritual). He has had the chance to practice this with his three daughters, his 35-year meditation practice, Landmark Education, and many other groups. With a friend, he is currently taking an online course “The Awakening of Joy,” and he recently finished the book: “Geography of Bliss”.
Peter lives in Bethesda, MD with his partner Nancy, a high school teacher and education journalist. They share a passion for education, sports/fitness, natural foods, and their children.
Katherine F. Ebner (Advisor/Organizational Consultant)
Katherine Ebner, founder and president of The Nebo Company, is a leading business strategist, change leader and coach. Formerly Dean of Commons at Middlebury College and a senior officer at an international strategy consulting firm, Katherine brings more than two decades of front-line experience as a decision maker in high-performance organizations to her creative work with individuals, teams and organizations. Katherine is a parent of a current student Wynne, who is in the Peace Academy.
Katherine’s practical approach and highly-developed intuition mean that clients feel the benefit of her insight and substantial experience – the perspective of someone who has led major organizational and cultural change initiatives and who understands not only the challenges, but also the best practices of leadership work. She enjoys working with leaders who want to make a difference through their leadership and in their lives.
Katherine is a member of the faculty at Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program and is a thought leader in the areas of organizational development and leadership coaching. A long-time leader of Women in Technology’s Mentor-Protégé Program, she has a strong history of working with organizations to establish mentoring as a core value, supported by creative and distinctive mentoring programs. Katherine also has created an innovative model for working with professionals to help them improve their work/life balance, delegation, prioritization and self-mastery. Called “Coaching for Leverage,” this approach addresses the common struggle with work/life balance by providing a new way to manage responsibilities, set boundaries and establish a sustainable and effective method of leadership.
Katherine is committed to working toward global peace and a sustainable future for people and the earth. She is a member of Peace x Peace, an international organization dedicated to connecting circles of women around the world for the purpose of improving the status of women and building a sustainable model for peace.
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