Faculty

James comes to USAP Community School from Abaarso School of Science and Technology in Somaliland (Somalia), where he was the Head of School from 2015 - 2019. During his time there, Abaarso students received over $10M in international scholarships and the school was featured in major media publications across the world. His work at Abaarso earned him recognition as a 2019 Global Top 50 teacher by the Varkey Foundation. He grew up in New York City and received his BA from the University of Virginia.

Sibongile is the Chemistry faculty as well as the first aid coordinator at the school. Prior to joining the USAPCS team, she spent 5 years at Harare Polytechnic College as a lecturer in the Science and Technology Division, where she was head of labs and workshops as well as coordinator for the Pharmacy technology program. She is a USAP alumni with a BS in Chemistry from Reed College, an MSc in Physical Chemistry from Bindura University of Science Education as well as nursing studies from University of Illinois.

Rufaro is a recipient of the Makomborero Zimbabwe and MasterCard Foundation Scholarships. She graduated from United States International University-Africa in Kenya with an Honors degree in Finance with a concentration in Investment Management. Rufaro has found purpose in working with young people from low-income backgrounds helping them identify their passions and talents and linking them with opportunities that can change their lives positively. When not crunching numbers or analyzing financial markets, Rufaro loves singing and meditating on the hammock!

Geraldine/Ms. G is the Reasoning and Research Methods Instructor. She is a member of the African Leadership Academy class of 2009. She holds a BA in English and Africana Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Geraldine is obsessed with African literature and enjoys running book drives for local libraries. She belongs to a silent majority of people who cannot distinguish between their left and their right.

Since graduating with an Engineering degree, Alex has been fortunate to enjoy a range of occupations, including research assistant, medical instruments engineer, bicycle messenger, unemployed rock climber, and mathematics teacher, not necessarily in that order. Most recently he worked at Abaarso School in Somaliland teaching Precalculus and Calculus to Upper School students. At USAPCS he teaches mathematics, co-heads the archery club, and fixes (or attempts to fix) the myriad of tech issues that plague a new school. He is known for likening maths concepts to 'tools' (shovels, hammers, and rulers, to name a few) and for encouraging students to wave their hands around during class to explain and reinforce concepts. Alex is a strong proponent of the honor code and the culture of integrity and accountability at USAPCS.

Gift Hove's curiosity for cooking started when he was a teenager. Soon after completing his Ordinary Level studies, he joined Zim Son Hotels, where he trained to become a professional Chef simultaneously gaining managerial skills whilst serving in housing & booking, bars & lounges and restaurants. Following this, he worked for a number of companies as a Chef and Sales Manager. These include TV Sales and Home, Wayne Rose, Chicken Inn, Marylin's Restaurant, Old Mutual Canteen and F Neil & Sons. He then worked at Hunyani Hills, where he first served and interacted with past USAP students. Working close with the USAP students gave him joy and he expressed his interest to join the USAP Community! Besides cooking, Gift also loves playing soccer, gardening and travelling.

Siboniso Meki is a mother to 2 sons. Her passion for cooking was discovered through the work she did helping out different families and was mostly motivated by her mother. Prior to beginning her work at the USAP Community school, Siboniso was working as a Chef at the Cheltenham Park Lodge for 2 years. Siboniso loves gardening and has maintained the schoolyard beautiful through her unique flower skills.

John Chilimanzie is a father of four children and loves spending time with his family. John has enjoyed exploring a varied range of interests thus his multitalents! Over his career journey, he has worked for a number of companies which include Semi Levy, Enego Project, Mafi Maintenance and Irvine's in different roles involving being a driver, messenger and builder. His skills and wide range of experience has proven to be an invaluable asset as he contributes greatly to the maintenance and operations of the USAP Community School. John also loves fishing.

An entrepreneurial engineer and a passionate activist of sustainable development in Africa, Alistar's ultimate desire is to touch and/or save a life, change a lifestyle and bring hope to many around her through the use of innovative and technology-driven systems. Having graduated from Ashesi University with a mechanical engineering degree, she worked on a technology that incorporates recycled plastics to enhance asphalt and concrete for construction purposes. Ultimately, Alistar's ultimate passion is in Green Technology Systems - sustainable and innovative methods that do not only increase quality and efficiency but also decrease energy use, wastage and environmental pollution. At USAPCS, Alistar is a Physics and Maths teacher. A USAP alumni herself, she harnesses her STEM skills in logical thinking and problem solving to bring up the next generation of scientists, CEOs and problem solvers. Outside class, Alistar co-heads the Chess Club and the First Aid Club. She, also, loves reading, travelling, hiking, and voluntary work. Determination, integrity, diligence, personal growth and continuous learning are the main key motives for all the work that Alistar does.

Collence is a USAP alum from the 2009 Zimbabwe cohort. He graduated from Haverford College, Pennsylvania, with a BS in Physics. In past lives, Collence worked as an Applications Engineer for a gas analyzer manufacturing company and taught high school physics in Philadelphia. When not assisting students or behind the lens of his camera, Collence is the inhouse expert on kale and the nurture of vegetables in arid conditions.

Rebekah Bell is an English teacher with a love for language, justice, and multitasking! Currently, she is teaching and developing the curriculum for the Humanities Course at the USAP Community School. She graduated from Calvin College with a BA in English (Honours) and History and a Michigan State Teaching Certificate. She is currently completing a Masters in Education with Bath University. Returning home to Zimbabwe in 2010, she has taught English Language and Literature at several high schools in Harare, including Arundel School and St Christopher’s School. She has been teaching SAT English to USAP students since 2010 and started to work formally for Education Matters, running the Yale Young African Scholars Programme, in 2016. When not working on lesson plans, Rebekah can be found alternating between running after a three year old and pursuing her next side hustle market project... fresh crepes or kids’ books?

Having taught in classrooms in Coastal Kenya, Northern California and Chirumhanzu, Zimbabwe, Rebecca has devoted her professional life to college equity and access for talented, low-income students. She founded USAP in 2000 and has long dreamed of transforming USAP from a college access program into a model high school. At school Rebecca is currently the college counselor, working with the inaugural class to enroll in universities in 2022. She teaches Research Methodologies and supervises students' Capstone projects. She coordinates the Media Club and enjoys working with the gardening work crew. Rebecca holds a BA in Anthropology and African Studies from Brown University and MAs in International Development Education and English and World History Secondary Education from Stanford University. When not trying to save the world from itself or hanging out with her daughters, Rebecca enjoys cooking, Arsenal FC and dreaming of beaches from her landlocked home.