OUR TEAM
Where Passion and Dedication Meet
DEE DEE COOPER
President
Dee Dee is the President of the Botswana School Project. She is also a founding member and the lead teacher coordinating the programs in the United States and African schools. She oversees teacher projects and manages the programs day to day costs and activities. She was an elementary librarian, taught science school-wide K-5, and now teaches first grade with over 25 years experience as an educator.
BOBBI THOMASON
Treasurer
Dr. Bobbi Thomason is an award-winning professor at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. She studies inclusion and mechanisms of overcoming inequality. Her work has appeared in top academic journals and outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time, and Harvard Business Review, and on NPR, among others.
RINDY EICKS
Recording Secretary
Rindy is a founding member of Botswana School Project and a retired teacher who taught in Southern California for 32 years. She was a Special Education teacher for 10 years and taught middle school English and US History for the other 22 years. She taught life skills and peer mediation to middle and high school students and conflict resolution to 12th graders. Rindy was Teacher of the Year at her school.
PAT CAIRNS
Honorary Board Advisor
Pat is co-founder of Botswana School Project and has taught elementary, middle school, and high school students. She has also taught at the community college and university levels. Pat was a finalist for California Teacher of the Year. She served as an elementary principal, middle school and high school assistant principal.
BROOKS KAMANAKAO
Director of African Programs
Brooks was born in Botswana’s Bushland and is known as one of Botswana’s most outstanding safari guides. Visit https://africaquest.co.bw to book a safari with Brooks! He oversees the educational programs in Botswana and is responsible for working with local artisans whose products are sold through the project.
MARIBETH MAJEWSKI
Director of US Programs
Maribeth has been directing US Programs for ten years. She was an Instructional Coach in Southern California working primarily with TK-8 educators for the last ten years. Prior to this position, Maribeth spent 16 years teaching in Florida where she earned National Board Certification and a master’s in reading with over . 30 years experience as an educator.
CHELSEA COOPER
Director of Communications
Chelsea is Director of Communications for Botswana School Project - leading web, social media, and promotional efforts. Chelsea holds a BA in Media and Communications from UC Berkeley and works as a Marketing Specialist for a global technology company.
DAN COOPER
Lead Graphic Designer
Dan Cooper is an established graphic designer based in Yorkshire, UK with 15+ years of experience in the industry. His varied skills and attention to detail have allowed him to work with a variety of brands including Mercedes Benz, Kraft Heinz, Hasbro, Jaguar Land Rover and Arsenal FC. Want to work with Dan? Email him at dannycoop@hotmail.co.uk