Kozefò is “speaking in a loud voice” for equitable access to quality education. Kozefò is committed to supporting the A New Arrival Center School (ANACS) in the Cagro community of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Kozefò was developed to support the efforts of a small primary school and food program housed in A New Arrival Center Orphanage, following the earthquake of 2010. As the focus shifted from orphan care to the education of neighborhood children, support was needed in the development, training, coordination, and funding of the programs - thus Kozefò was born.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and support Haitian teachers and staff at ANACS to offer a quality education that develops each student's potential through experiences rich with critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
“Our goal is to support the staff to design and implement quality instructional practices to educate students in high-poverty conditions so that they can be better skilled to achieve their hopes and dreams through continued education.”
Our Vision
In addition to providing a quality education to students in our neighborhood, our vision is to serve the local community by offering a space for continued learning, development, and connection.
Our Values
EMPOWER
We trust teachers to design and implement a high quality curriculum that challenges their students
LOVE
Our work is rooted in loving others, empathy, and compassion.
Community
Work in collaboration to invest in the future of our local neighborhood and of Haiti.
Support
We boldly face challenges and support each other through difficult moments in learning and life
Learning
Supporting a learning environment that continuously motivates all individuals to excel
Meet the Students
School Teachers & Staff
Featured
Board Members
Sara Lein
Director
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Sara Lein is an auntie to two sweet nephews, who spent their earliest years at A New Arrival, before being adopted by Sara’s sister and brother-in-law. Eli joined their family in 2005 at 1-1/2 years of age and JP arrived at age 12, following the earthquake in 2010. Since their arrival, Sara has had a heart for the people of Haiti and desired to spend time in Port au Prince, learning and living among the people that first cared for these boys. In the summer of 2011, Sara and her daughter Breelynn spent a month living in the orphanage, teaching an English class to the children in the Primary school.
Sara has worked with children and teenagers in the public school system, as well as through church sponsored programs. Sara has been an educator for over 25 years across various settings, from southern California, to rural North Dakota, and to the urban district of St. Paul, Minnesota. She has Bachelor Degrees in Elementary Education and Physical Education from Jamestown College, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of North Dakota, and an Administrative license from the University of Minnesota. She is currently Director of Special Education in ISD 197 - West St. Paul/Mendota Heights/Eagan, supporting staff in the areas of curriculum, instruction, behavior management and Due Process guidelines. Sara and her husband Bob, also an educator, have one daughter, Breelynn, who is a school social worker. married to Jesse Frischmann, a third grade teacher.
Scott Schlecht
Business Director
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Scott, Lori’s high school sweetheart and husband for 20+ years, works with his family’s business Crafts Direct, as the Store Manager. Scott uses his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Cloud State University to work alongside his parents, brother and sister-in-law to run one of the finest craft retail stores in the area, that prides itself in giving back to the community, raising money for many great organizations each month, including the work of Kozefò. His passion for giving back to others, especially the first home of his sons, matches his enthusiasm for business and his desire to make the world a better place. He keeps busy as a father of four, in addition to finding time to play catch, golf, fish and take his lovely wife out on dates.
Barbara Einstein
Founding board member
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Barbara was born and raised in Switzerland. In 1988 she moved to Los Angeles, where she and her husband started their family. Their oldest son was born that same year and a year later they had twin boys. When their sons were teenagers, they decided to adopt and were drawn to Haiti because of it proximity to the US and its devastating poverty. Their youngest daughter Stephanie came home in 2004, her older sister Daniella in 2005, Magdaline in 2006 and Vairleene in 2008. Their family is now complete and they are enjoying their grown up sons and teenage daughters! They live in Venice , California and own a furniture import business. Their goal is to stay in touch with Haiti, it’s wonderful people, the birth families of their daughters and help by supporting the primary school run out of the orphanage their girls lived in.Their family returned to Haiti in the spring of 2013 and they hope to visit soon again!
Ann Pearcy
Treasurer
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Ann was first connected to Haiti in 2011 after her friends, Sara and Breelynn, spent a month living at A New Arrival Center. She loved hearing their stories and passion for the people of Haiti. Her heart has always had a beat for kids (especially teenagers), education, sports, justice and ministry to the less fortunate. In 2012, Ann and her husband, Scott, started the adoption process for their sweet son, Davinsly (Vinny), who had been living at ANAC since August of 2011. He finally came home in January 2015 and has brought so much joy to their family! Their daughter, Cali, is 19, and son, Will, is 17. Ann earned a degree in Social Work and license in Secondary Education from Bethel University. She recently spent 5 years on the finance team for a Christian camp and has brought that experience to Kozefò. Ann is now employed full time as a wife and mom and part time as the Program Administratorat Together for Good, a non profit ministry in foster care prevention and family preservation. When she gets some free moments, she loves reading, traveling, watching her kids play sports, and spending time with her friends and family.
Steve Asper
Chief Information Officer
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Steve Asper is a husband to Faith and father to two boys, Espen and Stian. He has worked in instructional technology for 6 years and is currently the Technology Support Manager for White Bear Lake Area Schools.
Steve is a licensed teacher of French, English as a Second Language, and Elementary Education. He taught 3rd grade at the French immersion school in St. Paul for 5 years. In addition to French, he also speaks Norwegian, which he has taught at the Concordia Language Villages over the past 25 years. Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College, in Moorhead and an Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota.
Steve has served on multiple mission trips to Haiti, with Healing Haiti and Kozefo. He is passionate about children, the importance of learning other languages and cultures, technology in education, and music.
Amy Miller
board member
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Amy lives in Annandale, Minnesota with her husband, Craig, two children, Hannah and Sam, and two dogs, Charlie and Henry. Amy is a school social worker at Annandale Elementary School. She loves to travel, laugh, listen to the loons and the waves, and has a passion for connecting with friends and strangers alike to hear their stories, experiences, and adventures. Amyhas always had a heart for justice, education, peace and standing up for those less fortunate. When Amy met her dear friends, co-directors, Scott and Lori‚ and their adopted sons, Eli and J.P., she knew that Haiti would be a place that would be calling her name someday and etched in her heart always. She is honored and humbled to be part of the Kozefo mission.
Breelynn Frischmann
Sponsorship coordinator
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Breelynn attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and graduated with a degree in Social Work with a certificate in Organizational Communications. She now works as a School Social Worker in Duluth with her husband Jesse and their daughter Harper.
Her heart and passion for Haiti began nine years ago when her cousin Eli was adopted from A New Arrival Orphanage in Haiti. After spending a month living in Haiti with her mom Sara (director), it was made clear that her involvement in Haiti would be a lifelong partnership.
Laura Adesoro
Marketing & Communications
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Laura is passionate about design and seeks to create fun and exciting solutions through visual communication. Laura uses her passion for design and communications to help Kozefò stand out online and in print. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Sebastian.
Avalon George
Board Member
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Avalon is a graduate from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Family Social Science. She is currently working at Crafts Direct as.....Avalon has experience working as an Event Intern for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Avalon’s heart for Haiti started with the adoption of her two brothers, JP and Eli. She is so excited to be on the Kozefo board and is passionate about the ways her love for event planning and creativity can be used to support the amazing work Kozefo is doing. She and her husband Mitchell live in the Twin Cities.
Assistant Administrator & Creole Teacher - grades 7-9