Our Team

Founders

Marjorie and John Oxaal

Marjorie and John Oxaal are longtime residents of Durham County who believe that education has the power to transform lives. John is an entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist who has started and/or funded more than 15 High-Tech and Life Science based companies. Marjorie has had a long career on Wall Street and in corporate appraisal. She currently manages a real estate and property operations firm.

Head of School

Tiffany Alrefae

Tiffany Alrefae joins Durham Aspire Academy as the founding head of school. Her career spans over eighteen years and three countries. She has been a founding member of four schools and held various leadership roles, including Assistant Head of School, Principal, and most recently Dean of Orlando Science High School, ranked by Niche in 2023 #19 for the Best Charter HS in America and #1 for the Best Charter HS in Florida.

Jeff Clark

Board Member

Anjanette Miller

Board Member

Tom Nechyba

Board Member

The next board meeting will take place on January 9 from 12 - 2 pm at 2500 Auburn St. Durham, NC.

Our Partners

Acadia North Star, LLC

Acadia NorthStar is a full-service financial accounting and student information management firm dedicated to offering our clients an array of accounting, budgeting, web marketing and PowerSchool management services. Founded in 2001, Acadia NorthStar is the largest provider of charter school financial and student information management services in North Carolina. With 2 decades of not-for-profit and charter school experience: many staff members, management, and officers have worked with charter schools since their inception.


District C

Work is changing. Automation is impacting jobs across all industries. Employers are looking for a new kind of talent prepared for the uniquely human job description of the modern economy: work in diverse teams to solve complex problems. Preparing the next generation is the education challenge of our time. This is the work of District C.


Leaders Building Leaders

Leaders Building Leaders focuses on supporting charter schools and the communities they serve. Our mission is to be the difference-maker in the leadership development of individuals and organizations. We provide personalized governance training, strategic planning support, and executive coaching to assist school leaders in identifying and solving critical issues so they can focus on the organization’s priority: educating children.


Uncharted Learning

The jobs of the future are unknown, so it’s more important than ever to teach students the critical skills and behaviors of entrepreneurs. We provide schools with a comprehensive curriculum, teacher training, and support services to help students develop adaptable, real-world skills.