Caprice Young, Chief Executive Officer
Caprice Young is the President and CEO of KC Distance Learning and was formerly Vice President of Business Development and Alliances of Knowledge Universe.
Prior to joining KU in September 2008, Caprice was President and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. Under Caprice's 5-year leadership, the number of California charter schools grew by more than 300 and student enrollment grew by more than 100,000. From 1999-2003, Caprice served as a member and President of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Her career has included leadership roles in business, higher education and government. She also serves on numerous boards, including the Governor's Advisory Committee on Education Excellence, the Chime Institute and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She is a recipient of the Coro Foundation Crystal Eagle Award for Achievement in Public Service.
Caprice earned her bachelor's degree from Yale University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and her Doctorate of Education from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Cathy Mincberg, Chief Academics Officer
Cathy Mincberg joined KCDL in May, 2009. For the four years prior to KCDL, Cathy served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Portland Public Schools (PPS). Prior to joining PPS, Cathy was the Founder and President of the Center for School District Effectiveness (CSCE) assisting reforming school systems with their business operations. In May 2004, she completed four years as Chief Business Officer for the Houston Independent School District (HISD). From 1982-1995 Cathy served on the HISD Board of Education, serving as President in 1987 and 1990. She co-authored the board's guiding document: "A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions" which led HISD to become the first recipient of the Broad Prize for Excellence in Urban Education.
With a Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Texas and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Houston, Cathy has also served as a board member trainer for Region IV Educational Service Center as well as the Director of HR for Flagship Properties. While Cathy served on the Houston School Board, she also served 8 years as a Trustee of the Houston Community College. Cathy began her life long involvement in education as a biology teacher at Lamar High School, serving from 1975-1979.
Holly Files, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Holly joined KCDL in April, 2009 as the company's Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining KCDL, Holly was the COO at Clinicient, Inc. overseeing all operational aspects of the business, and before that, she was COO at Chockstone, a leading provider of loyalty marketing solutions. Holly's prior experience includes serving as Senior Vice President at NetIQ, a leading systems management, security and web analytic software supplier; Chief Information Officer for 800.com; Vice President of Worldwide Services for WebTrends and Vice President of Technical Services for Clientele Software (now Epicor Software). Holly also built a successful consulting business focused on helping both early-stage and mid-size companies grow their leadership and organizational capacity.
Holly serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN), and she works with several service based organizations focused on childhood development.
Michael Axtman, Vice President, iQ Academy
Michael Axtman joined KCDL in January 2007 when Aventa Learning, a company he co-founded with Jim Benitez, was acquired by KCDL.
Michael has been working in online high school education since 2001, and has been the President of Aventa Learning since 2002. During this time, Michael was a driving force behind the growth of Aventa Learning's online course offerings to more than 100 subjects.
Prior to Aventa Learning and KCDL, Michael was a Vice President in charge of Content Development, Technology and Sales at Apex Learning.
Kathi Littmann, Vice President of School Operations, iQ Academy
Kathi Littmann joined KCDL in March of 2009. Prior to KCDL, Kathi's leadership background covers both private and public sector experience. Her ability to lead coherent and diverse teams and stakeholders was recognized in 2003 by the Engineering News Records annual Award of Excellence (the highest industry honor for program and project management leadership). Kathi launched the implementation of a $3 billion schools construction program for Los Angeles in 2003. She recently served as SVP Governmental Relations for the California Charter School Association, and Executive Director of the alternative iDivision under Superintendent Ray Cortines at LAUSD. Kathi holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola and a Master's Degree in Education from Marymount University. She holds a California Administrators Credential and is a 2005 graduate of the Broad Urban Superintendents Academy.
Timothy J. Magner, Vice President, The Keystone School
Tim Magner joined KCDL in February, 2009. Prior to joining KCDL, Tim served as the Director for the Office of Educational Technology for the U.S. Department of Education and was responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Department's educational technology policies to maximize technology's contribution to improving education.
Tim's work experience includes serving as the Deputy Executive Director for the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Deputy Director for the Office of Educational Technology, the Executive Director of K12 Education for the Microsoft Corporation and the Director of the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). He also served as the Director of Technology for the Framingham Public Schools in Framingham Massachusetts, and taught graduate courses in educational technology at Framingham State College and George Mason University. Tim began his career as a social studies and theater teacher at the middle and high school levels in the US and Europe. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary and a Master's Degree in Education from Harvard University.
Gregg Levin, Vice President, Aventa Learning
Gregg Levin joined KCDL in March 2009. Prior to KCDL, Gregg was Vice President, School Services for Educate Online where he established the company as the leading national provider of online tutoring services supporting No Child Left Behind. Under Gregg's leadership, Educate Online grew to serve over 200 school districts nationally supporting 25,000 students.
Prior to Educate Online, Gregg held leadership positions at Bright Horizons, KnowledgeWorks and VCampus Corporation. He holds a B.A. from University of Rochester and an M.B.A. from University of Maryland.
Jim Benitez, Vice President of Business Development
Jim Benitez joined KCDL in January 2007 through the acquisition of Aventa Learning, a company he co-founded with Michael Axtman.
Jim has worked in online education since 2000. Prior to co-founding Aventa Learning in 2002, Jim oversaw the development of business in the eastern United States for Apex Learning.
Jim earned his B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Yale University in 1994. Jim currently lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife and three daughters.
Pamela Kislak, Vice President of Marketing
Pamela Kislak joined KCDL in April 2006. Pamela has over ten years of experience in product management and marketing for educational technology products. Prior to joining KCDL, Pamela was the Director of Marketing for Northwest Evaluation Association and the V.P. of Consumer Services for Englishtown.com.
Pamela received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and her M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley.
Jim Snell, Vice President of Technology
Jim Snell joined KCDL in February 2008. Jim has more than 15 years experience managing IT organizations in quickly growing technology oriented organizations. Prior to joining KCDL Jim held leadership positions at Genesis Financial Solutions, Digimarc, and OrCAD.
Jim received a degree in Math from The Colorado College and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Denver.