Since 2006, the Manwani family has been an important part of the Clairbourn community. Bhart Manwani fell in love with Clairbourn while searching for the perfect school for his older child, Vicky, who started Clairbourn in JPK and graduated in 2017.
Bhart recalled Vicky’s transformation during her 11 years at Clairbourn: “Vicky came to school as a timid young girl. When she was in the lower school, the Door of Hope experience and the constant opportunities to speak in front of a big audience at Morning Assembly helped her overcome her shyness. Since then, she has developed and grown into a confident young adult. We are grateful to Clairbourn for helping her blossom into the person she is today.” Vicky is now attending USC majoring in communications and is a writer for the USC Daily Trojan.
In 2019, Bhart’s younger child, Laksh, started Clairbourn in JPK. Even during the pandemic, Laksh continued to thrive academically and developmentally. Bhart credits Laksh’s love for learning to Clairbourn and is grateful he is engaged and motivated. Bhart and his wife Diana love to support the school by volunteering at various events. They have been known to stop by the Book Fair on the last day and buy whatever was left!
Born in Nigeria, Bhart relocated to California during his youth. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona and has extensive experience in the general merchandise industry and information technology. He runs a textile company and regularly donates his merchandise to Clairbourn.
Bhart is excited to be on the board to continue giving back to the community he loves.
Livia Aryananda has been a supporter of Clairbourn since 2009. Both of her sons, Kristofer and Anthony, were at Clairbourn since JPK and the family spent a total of 12 years here. Livia could call Clairbourn her second home. She was very involved with school events during her time here, from volunteering and recruiting new parents and chairing various events to being the CFA President twice. She also successfully chaired the Annual Fund twice and reached 100% participation in 100 days. Livia is excited to continue giving back to the community she loves as a Clairbourn board member.
Kristofer graduated from Clairbourn in 2016. He was an outstanding student and also a leader as the Student Council President. He went to Flintridge Preparatory High School and was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalist in his senior year. Kristofer is now attending Harvey Mudd majoring in mathematical and computational biology. Anthony graduated from Clairbourn in 2021 and is now a student at Flintridge Preparatory High School. He is on the football team and is passionate about creating new recipes to surprise his family. Anthony is a child full of heart and continues to enjoy and excel in his studies. When talking about Clairbourn, Livia is full of gratitude and credits Clairbourn for giving both of her children a strong foundation for a successful future.
Livia graduated from Claremont McKenna College majoring in economics. She also holds a MBA from Peter Drucker Claremont Graduate School where she met her husband, John. Besides being a full-time mom, she is also a successful business entrepreneur. Livia lives in Arcadia with her family and she loves to travel to Indonesia to visit her parents whenever time permits.
Dr. Robert Nafie served as the Headmaster of Clairbourn from 1979 to 2018 and is one of the longest-tenured heads of school in the San Gabriel Valley. During his long and dedicated service to Clairbourn School, he led with vision and wisdom, and transformed the school to one with state-of-the art facilities equipped with the latest technology.
After nearly four decades, Bob retired in 2018 and is now enjoying his retirement with his family and grandchildren. He lives with his wife Leslie in Big Bear and loves to run, ski, ride his motorcycle and go boating on the lake. Bob’s two married daughters, Anne and Sara, are both Clairbourn alums. His wife was a dedicated Clairbourn parent and a former CFA President.
Bob was born in Michigan where he spent his earliest years. He grew up in Minnesota, where he served as Executive Director of the Washington County Developmental Learning Centers of Duluth and Eveleth. He holds a B.A. in Economics and History and a B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Science in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin, and a Doctorate from Claremont College.
Bob is passionate about education and is excited to continue his support of Clairbourn in his current role as a trustee.
New Clairbourn Board Member – Mr. Manny Grace, Alumni Parent and Trustee
Manny and Casey’s two children, Alex and Zoe, attended Clairbourn from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th gradegraduation, in 2013 and 2017. Given their 14 years of experience and engagement with the Clairbourn community, the Grace’s are a true Clairbourn family. Manny brings to the Board his knowledge and experience of private school education, particularly as it relates to issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Manny is an enthusiastic supporter of Clairbourn. He credits the nurturing and rigorous education his children received at Clairbourn as providing the foundation for their subsequent successes in high school, college and beyond.
Manny’s oldest child, Alexander, was a stellar student and respected class comedian at Clairbourn. Alex developed strong writing skills at Clairbourn, culminating in a poignant and hilarious speech which he delivered at his 8th grade graduation. Alex went on to attend Flintridge Prep, where he performed in the Comedy Sportz Improv team for four years. Alex continued doing improv comedy, during an otherwise studious undergraduate career at Columbia University. In May 2021, Alex graduated from Columbia with a BA in American History, focusing on the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. He is currently living and working in New York City, working in documentary film production. Alex appreciates the unique privilege of his Clairbourn experience. He maintains close ties with many of his Pre-K pals from Clairbourn.
Alex ’13 from Clairbourn on the left and ’21 from Columbia University on the right
Zoe, four years younger than Alex, blossomed as a student at Clairbourn, particularly in Middle School, where she consistently made the Dean’s List. Zoe participated in a number of theatre productions (Winnie the Pooh and Midsummer Night’s Dream), and was active in almost every sport offered at Clairbourn, most notably, soccer, softball and volleyball. After Clairbourn, Zoe attended Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, where she continued her athletic career on both school and club volleyball teams, and served as a member and leader of the Black Student Union. Zoe excelled academically at FSHA, and also won a number of honors for her creative efforts in ceramic arts. In August 2021, Zoe entered her freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis, with fellow Clairbourn classmate, Natalie Chen, whose mother, Debbie Chen also serves on the Clairbourn Board of Trustees.
Zoe ’17. Winnie the Pooh play on the left and on Clairbourn Sports Team on the right.
Manny attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology. He then went on to obtain a law degree from the Columbia University Law School in 1982, and clerked for the Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. After practicing corporate environmental law for several years in New York City, Manny moved to California to work as in-house Environmental Health and Safety counsel for The Walt Disney Company in Burbank. During his 29-year tenure at Disney, Manny has covered issues ranging from consumer product liability, environmental compliance and occupational safety. He has also served on numerous committees addressing issues of diversity and inclusion within the workplace. In his current capacity as Associate General Counsel, Manny has had a key role in shaping Disney’s compliance strategies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grace Family
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Manny has always been civically engaged in the wider community. Manny is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Notre Dame University Alumni Association and a current board member of the California State Parks Foundation. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Earthshot, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring climate action through video games and virtual and immersive experiences. He is also a former Chairman of the Board of the Society of Product Licensor’s Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE). Manny is also a member of the Environmental Law Committee of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
At Clairbourn, Manny and his wife Casey (also an attorney) served as the Annual Fund chairs for their children’s classes for two years. Manny also served as Cub Scout Master when Alex was young, and participated in many carnivals and other event committees over the years. He is excited to be joining the Clairbourn Board of Trustees at this important time in the future development of the school.
New Clairbourn Board Member – Mr. Martin Espinoza, Alumni Parent and Trustee
The Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Clairbourn alumni parent, Martin Michel Espinoza to the Board. The Espinoza family’s history with Clairbourn School began in 2004. Martin’s daughter, Ivahnna attended Clairbourn from 2004 through 2012, and his son Thomas attended Clairbourn from 2012 through 2020. He was a Clairbourn parent for a total of 16 consecutive years.
Ivahnna attended Maranatha High School and then graduated from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. During her years at Whitworth University, Ivahnna had the opportunity to play soccer for the university where she contributed to the university’s many wins. Ivahnna is currently preparing to take the LSAT and will continue to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney.
Thomas graduated from Clairbourn in 2020 and is currently attending La Salle High School in Pasadena. Despite the unfortunate pandemic the world has to endure, including online learning, Thomas continues to excel academically, spiritually and athletically. He participated in the La Salle varsity soccer program and his team earned the honor of participating in the Southern California CIF playoffs.
Ivahnna ’12 and Thomas ’20
Martin attributes his children’s academic success to the incredible teachers, rigorous curriculum and the unparalleled academic foundation provided by Clairbourn School.
In addition to his years as a Clairbourn parent, Martin’s additional contribution to the Board is his 27 years of law enforcement experience. Martin is a Sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department where he has worked a variety of assignments including Patrol, Narcotics, Criminal Street Gangs, Homicide and his current assignment with Internal Affairs. The Los Angeles Police Department is proud of its 21st Century policing and the emphasis it places on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Espinoza family
Martin’s overall private school and law enforcement experience brings a unique perspective to the Board. Clairbourn is excited to have Martin on the Board and we believe Martin’s commitment to the community will bring valuable input. Please join us in celebrating Martin Espinoza’s new appointment to the Board of Trustees.
New Clairbourn Board Member – Dr. Liva Gritton, Alumni Parent and Trustee
The Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Clairbourn alumni parent Dr. Liva Gritton to the Board. Her three children, Jada, Jasmine and Raymond, all graduated from Clairbourn School. The Gritton family’s long history with Clairbourn began in 2008 and they were here for nine consecutive years. Liva will not only bring an extensive knowledge about private school education and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) from both the parent and student side, she will also bring her passion for helping others. Liva believes Clairbourn was a wonderful foundation for her children and helped them each grow in different ways.
Liva graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. She received her Medical Doctorate degree from the University of California, San Diego, and completed her internship at Harvard Medical School. She was an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UC Irvine, and also the Medical Director in Acute Rehabilitation Services. Liva assisted in opening the Rehabilitation Center at Valley Presbyterian Hospital and also functions as the Medical Director of their Wound Care Services Department and Hyperbaric Center.
Jasmine, jersey #31 on Clairbourn Soccer Team in 2012 / Boston College Volleyball Team in 2020
Liva’s oldest child, Jasmine, was a National elite track and field youth athlete. Liva loved that Clairbourn gave Jasmine the opportunity to have fun and explore other sports and activities. She was a member of the Student Council and graduated in 2012. Jasmine went on to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and played volleyball at Boston College, where she graduated in 2020. Jasmine is currently working as a Creative Strategist for a digital marketing company, and recently launched her own clothing line.
Raymond is the family’s middle child, and he was also a huge fan of Clairbourn sports. He graduated from Clairbourn in 2015 and from Don Bosco Technical Institute in 2019, where he led their baseball team to CIF for the first time in over a decade. Liva feels that Clairbourn’s balanced approach helped Ray on and off the sports field. Clairbourn was instrumental in Ray’s decision to become a teacher. He just completed his sophomore year at the University of San Diego, and is a member of their club golf team.
Jada ’16 and Raymond ’15 / Raymond on the high jump at a league track meet.
Jada ’16
Liva’s youngest child, Jada, developed her love of writing at Clairbourn, where she also enjoyed participating in sports and pottery. She graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School in 2020 and just completed her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is a staff writer for the school publication, HerCampus UPenn.
Liva lives in San Marino with her husband Raymond who is also a physician. Clairbourn is excited to have her on the Board. We strongly believe Liva’s unwavering commitment to serve the community will bring valuable input as a Clairbourn Trustee. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Liva Gritton’s new appointment to our Board of Trustees.
Gritton family then and now.
Clairbourn School Provides Private School Education for Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary School, and Middle School Grades | Serving Families in the Pasadena, California, Area and Surrounding Cities (K-12 Private Schools) Clairbourn is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
New Clairbourn Trustee Debbie Chen with Chris Chen.
Current Clairbourn parent Debbie Chen has been an important presence on campus for all of the years her son and daughter, Matthew and Natalie, have attended. This is her 13th year as a Clairbourn parent. Natalie is currently in Grade 11 at Westridge and Matthew is in Grade 8 at Clairbourn. And now, Debbie has stepped into a whole different role as the school’s newest Trustee. In order to properly introduce her to the school community, we asked her to share the following information about her life, family, and qualifications:
New Clairbourn Trustee at Large Jane Marks with her husband Jerry and son Christian.
The Clairbourn Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of current Clairbourn parent Jane Marks to the Board. As the ultimate private school customer (having experienced a total of 19 consecutive school years since 1998 for all three of her children), she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table about private school education on both the parent-experience and student-experience sides.
Her oldest son is Jordan Marks, Class of 2008, who attended from Pre-K to 8th grade. Her daughter Taylor Marks, Class of 2011, started in 2001 and stayed for Pre-K to 8th grade. Christian Marks is her youngest son. He started in Junior Pre-K in the Fall of 2008 and is part of the graduating class of 2020.
When looking for schools almost 20 years ago, Jane and her husband Jerry were set on finding a great private school for their Children. Clairbourn stood out from the competition because they found it to have strong academics combined with a nurturing environment. Clairbourn was so welcoming and felt like home. They were also attracted to the public-speaking emphasis and appreciated the universal values shared at morning Chapel.
Taylor Marks (center) attended Clairbourn from preschool to 8th Grade and graduated in 2011
Even though all three of her children are very different people, Clairbourn turned out to be a right fit for each of them because she could see they were achieving academically, they were successful in other activities, and they loved going to school and loved the process of learning. This success has continued for her two older children through high school and college.
She also appreciates that this love of learning goes hand-in-hand with a powerful spirit of self-motivation to be one’s best without an undue sense of pressure or competition. Jane credits Clairbourn with hitting the right balance between study-time and cultivating the other sides of personal development which she considers to be deeply healthy for children.
As a long-time parent, Jane has been involved on campus as a volunteer in almost every available capacity including current secretary of the CFA Executive Board. She has volunteered at Cougar Corner, book fairs, carnivals, spring auctions, room parent activities, special lunches, dances, and more. She considers these school-focused years as very precious, and even though she serves on her neighborhood board and has served on the La Salle High School Mother’s Alumni Group, Clairbourn gets the lion’s share of her volunteer time.
Jordan Marks (back row, far right) attended Clairbourn from preschool to 8th Grade and graduated in 2008.
Jane shared, “There is nowhere else quite like Clairbourn. This school attracts people who appreciate balance, quality of life, and values in addition to top academic performance. We have nice families here and my children have nice friends. It is a great community. I feel lucky to be able to come on campus to volunteer and participate. It is my number one job. My children can see my commitment to the school and they have appreciated school even more as a result.”
If you see Jane around campus, be sure to say “Hi” and take a moment to get to know her better. Jane has a B.S. in Business from Cal State Los Angeles, has worked in sales in the Title Insurance Industry, and has a host of personal interests that range from Western horse riding, to gardening, skiing, running. We hope you will enjoy getting to know Jane and will join us in celebrating her appointment to our school board.
Clairbourn School Provides Private School Education for Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary School, and Middle School Grades | Serving Families in the Pasadena, California, Area and Surrounding Cities (K-12 Private Schools) | Clairbourn is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Click here to request information.
