Our Team

Angela Giffin

Angela Giffin is the Founder and a teacher at EmpowerEd. She has been dreaming, researching, and planning for an amazing alternative school for more than 20 years. On this journey she has earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Business Management, and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, in addition to her undergraduate BA in International Studies and Cross-Cultural Communication.

Giffin taught in the public high school and university levels for more than twelve years. This provided invaluable insight into the practical realities of teaching and learning, as well as the systems that support learners. Prior to working in education, Giffin consulted for nonprofits organizations and worked in government and the corporate world of technology. She also taught Latin dance classes in three states. Giffin enjoys reading, travel, nature, and spending time with her fabulous family.

Contact: angela.giffin@empoweredbh.org

Nik Towne

Nik Towne taught for sixteen years in public school settings as a Special Education teacher, reading teacher, interventionist, science teacher, and preschool teacher. His degree is in Special Education and Early Childhood Education, and he believes that all children do their best learning when they feel safe and supported. He has taught all grade levels, from early childhood through seniors in high school. His passion is helping students reach their potential through their own hard work and to feel successful about their accomplishments.

Nik devoted twelve years of his life to creating an off-grid homestead on the prairie. He and his wife hand-built a strawbale home with mostly recycled materials, powered very few modern conveniences with solar panels and a windmill, cared for a small hobby farm, and worked diligently to restore eighty acres of overgrazed prairie to a place with abundant native plants and wildlife. He and his wife fostered six children during this time and enjoyed caring for them.

Nik believes in promoting diversity. He believes that it is our differences that make our communities strong. He is an advocate for rights for LGBTQ+ youth as well as people with different abilities. He spends his free time hiking, swimming, and enjoying the beautiful Black Hills with his wife Teresa and son Viktor.

Contact: nik.towne@empoweredbh.org

Cherri Black Tail Deer

Cherrish Anaitiah Black Tail Deer (Reitzel) (Cunningham) she/her or simply called Cherri (like the fruit) is excited to be a part of the newly formed preschool program with EmpowerED. She will be creating space for these fresh scholars to explore and learn through play. She has experience as a preschool aid, a history of nannying and has always cultivated a safe space around her for children to be welcomed and accepted. She has a passion for yoga and integrating holistic ways of healing to the community, through animals, nature and positive self talk. She believes in the sacredness of the Black Hills national forest and is excited to announce her recent enrollment with the Oglala Lakota tribe. In her spare time she finds interest in learning about her culture, asking questions, exploring the land and making her little ones giggle along the way; as laughter is medicine. You’ll catch her with a yoga mat amongst her possessions and a smile upon her face. Wopila!

President, Zarah Mattox

Secretary, Cody Connor

Treasurer, Nolan Okouchi

Members at Large

Justin Huntley

Kehala Two Bulls

Mary Haan

Board of Directors

Zarah Mattox

PRESIDENT
I am passionate about building a community of belonging where students can follow their curiosity to deep learning. My Master’s degree is in Secondary Education from Black Hills State University and I taught mathematics and personal finance at Stevens High School before joining EmpowerEd. Besides teaching, I am a classical musician, parent, community volunteer, and journeyman electrician. I love math, reading, hiking, poetry, and systems thinking.
Nolan Okouchi

TREASURER
Nolan J. Y. Okouchi is a Project Manager in the utility industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Banking & Finance as well as an MBA in Business Analytics. He holds certificates in Data Science and Commercial Finance from Harvard and the American Banker's Association respectively. Prior to his professional career, Nolan spent time as a member of student government, tutor, and teaching assistant at Northern State University. In his free time he enjoys traveling with his wife and children as well as spending time on the trails and lakes of the Black Hills.
Cody Connor

SECRETARY
Cody Connor is a leader in instructional design in higher education. Currently, he is the Director of Instructional Design at Purdue University, leading Purdue's central team of instructional designers and specialists to develop online, hybrid, face-to-face, MOOC, and professional programs and courses. He is a leader of Purdue's IMPACT program, reaching 96% of undergraduate students, a large-scale University initiative to transform undergraduate courses for active, student-centered learning furthering Purdue's strategic goal toward student success. Cody also serves as a member of both the Purdue Online and Teaching & Learning Technologies leadership teams, collaborating with academic leadership to envision, develop and grow University-wide faculty resources and programs to support exemplary courses using innovative learning technologies and pedagogies. Previously, Cody was a member of the University of Wyoming Instructional Design team, collaborating with administrators, faculty, and instructors in the development, design, and successful delivery of academic programs to students at a distance.
Justin Huntley

Justin is a Civil Project Manager with Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services. He has a Bachelors of Science, Civil Engineering, holds a Geospatial Information Systems Professional (GISP) Accreditation and a FAA Part 107 Unmanned Aerial System Pilot Licences. He spends his free time exploring the Black Hills with his wife Emily, and their two children Elise (12) and Alex (9).
Mary Haan

Mary Haan studied Psychology and English Education at Indiana Wesleyan University and Black Hills State University. She has served with multiple nonprofits and strongly believes in empowering communities through diverse education methods. Mary and Lucas have been together since 2010 and they are consistently being educated by the two compassionate and clever young children that they share. Their family can often be found hiking or biking all over the Black Hills. Serving on the Board of EmpowerEd presents an exciting opportunity for Mary to engage with students at their level, learn from caring and interactive parents, and share a deep love of literacy and experience-based learning.
Kehala Two Bulls

Kehala Two Bulls (she/her) has a passion for helping individuals navigate difficult systems. Two Bulls holds a BA in Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College and an MA in Counseling from Southwestern College. She has worked in the Non-profit sector for 15+ years in Addiction Treatment, Housing Services and Child Advocacy. For the past seven years she has been the Executive Director of Seventh Circuit CASA Program in Rapid City, South Dakota. Two Bulls has served on the National CASA Suburban Leadership Council since 2021 and is a South Dakota ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Fellow and Master Trainer. In 2024 Two Bulls was selected as a Billie Sutton Leadership Institute Fellow. When she is not writing grants and working on child advocacy initiatives, Two Bulls enjoys lions, earthworms, roller skating folding endless piles of laundry.