SCOTT STAR, Chairperson
Scott, his wife Vanita, and 2 children Gwen & Malina, moved to Oak Park in 2012 from San Diego. They chose to live in Oak Park due to the school district’s excellent reputation and the opportunities it would provide their children. Gwen Graduated in 2022 and is now attending the University of Arizona, and Malina is currently attending OPHS and will graduate in 2024. They have not been disappointed with the education their children have received and the opportunities they have been provided. They could not be happier about their decision to choose Oak Park.
Through the Foundation Scott is looking to assist in continuing the programs established and help to expand the role of the foundation to support this amazing School District.
DARREN SMITH, Vice Chairperson
Darren Smith moved to Oak Park in August of 2018 with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Olivia. They moved from Woodland Hills entirely for the Oak Park school district and opportunities provided by it. His daughter, Olivia, attends Red Oak Elementary. Darren also sits on the Monte Carlo Homeowners board and helps keep his small community beautiful. Darren has spent the last 25 years working in HR primarily in technology companies.
Darren’s goal on the board is to help increase awareness of OPEF in the community and to increase community investment in OPEF.
When not working Darren enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. They enjoy spending their time with their horse Reno and dog Reagan.
SHELLEY ALDRICH, Secretary
Shelley joined the OPEF board in 2020. Her older children graduated from Oak Park in 2011 & 2013 and received an excellent education, Shelley and her husband decided to also send their youngest son to Oak Park High School. She enjoys volunteering and helping her community. She has worked on other PTA’s, Foundations, and Non-Profit Boards. She joined the OPEF board to help maintain the outstanding level of education as well as assist in raising funds that provide the unique programs offered at Oak Park.
BENSON BERRO, Treasurer Chair
Benson joined the Oak Park Education Foundation in 2017 and has been a resident of Oak Park for over 12 years. He and his wife have two children in the district, a daughter at Medea Creek and a son at Brookside. He is a strong believer in a public education and the need for parent and community involvement to help the school district achieve its mission and the Oak Park Education Foundation is a cornerstone for providing the financial assistance the Oak Park Unified School District needs. Benson has been active in the community by volunteering as a youth coach in soccer, baseball and flag football and is a tax partner at KPMG where leads the firm’s Media and Entertainment tax practice.
REBECCA FURMAN, Development Committee
Rebecca joined the Oak Park Education Foundation in 2019 after moving to Oak Park in 2018 from Santa Monica. Rebecca and her husband, Robert Samuels, have a daughter at Oak Hills, as well as a baby boy who will be coming through our school system. Robert has two girls currently attending Medea Creek. Rebecca believes strongly in the mission of the foundation and wants to encourage all families to get involved in helping with their children’s educations. Rebecca and Robert are active in the community, with Robert being a longtime youth coach in soccer (AYSO), softball (WAGS) and basketball (AYBA). Rebecca is a director and managing attorney at Southern California Edison where she practices regulatory law.
JESSICA GRAHAM, Board Member
Jessica and her husband, Jared, moved to Oak Park from Sherman Oaks in 2018 just in time for their oldest daughter to start Kindergarten at Oak Hills Elementary School. They were attracted to Oak Park specifically because of OPUSD’s reputation for academic excellence; and they couldn’t be happier with their move. Jessica is a strong advocate for public schools and is committed to OPUSD’s mission to provide students with a strong foundation for learning through a balanced education focused on the whole child which includes academic achievement, personal growth, and social responsibility. After volunteering on various committees and the PTA, Jessica joined the Oak Park Education Foundation Board in 2021 in an effort to expand her reach to support all of OPUSD. In addition to serving on the Board, Jessica is an executive at a bank. Jessica and Jared are excited for their youngest to enter Transitional Kindergarten at Oak Hills this coming year.
YAIR MARKOVITS, Board Member
Yair and his wife, Liraz, along with their four children, made the move to Oak Park in 2022 from the San Fernando Valley. Currently, three of their children attend OPUSD schools: Oak Hills Elementary School, Medea Creek Middle School, and Oak Park High School. The youngest child will soon join kindergarten at Brookside Elementary School. Transitioning from the LAUSD school system to OPUSD has proven to be a wise decision. Yair’s children are thriving academically and forming both new and lasting friendships. As someone with nearly 20 years of experience as a Business Consultant, Yair is eager to contribute his time and expertise to the Foundation. His goal is to further enhance the quality of education offered by the school district and explore ways to expand opportunities for local students as well as those participating in the District of Choice program.
STEFANIE AMAR, Board Member
Stefanie joined the Oak Park Education Foundation in 2024 after moving to Oak Park in 2021 with her husband Andre and two sons. While Stefanie grew up in Agoura and attended LVUSD schools herself, they moved to Oak Park specifically because of the outstanding schools. Stefanie has one son at Brookside, while her older son graduated from UCSD in 2021. Stefanie has been a member of the Brookside PTA for two years and joined the board to help support fundraising efforts by OPEF to continue providing excellent programs and outstanding education to Oak Park.
Deet Ezra, Ambassador
Deet Ezra, her husband and their two daughters moved to Oak Park in 2017 for the sole purpose of accessing the award-winning education offered by OPUSD. Her older daughter attends Oak Hills Elementary while the younger one eagerly awaits the day she’ll start kindergarten.
Deet has been in the design and building trades industry for over twenty years, and brings executive experience to furthering the goals of OPEF in her role as Ambassador to OHES. Active in the OHES PTA, she also holds the position of Head Room Parent for her older daughter’s class.
“Nothing is more important than our children’s education, safety and wellbeing. We are invested in helping our children (and all the children of OPUSD) obtain the highest quality experiences available to help them thrive as future adults in our modern world.”
Carmela Barbieri, Ambassador
Carmela joined the OPEF board in March of 2018. Due to the excellent education that Oak Park offers, Carmela and her husband Roberto decided to transfer their children to the Oak Park school district. She enjoys volunteering and helping her community. She volunteers at her church and helps with her children’s sports teams. Carmela is also part of the Oak Park Community Engagement Committee. She joined the OPEF board to ensure that the quality education offered in the Oak Park School District continues to grow and produce excellence.