Meet the staff and teachers at EBI. These individuals bring their wealth of experience teaching and working with children to the school and classrooms.
Staff
Tanya Peña
Pre-Primary Teacher
Tanya Peña was raised in
South Texas and Mexico. She is currently completing her BA in Human Development
with an option in Early Childhood Education at California State University,
East Bay. Tanya’s strong belief in the importance of bilingualism and in giving
students a global context for social awareness and responsibility brought her
to join the EBI community from its inception. Tanya has eight years of
experience working with elementary and preschool children and is passionate
about food, music, dance and art.
Rosa Abedini
Pre-Primary Associate Teacher
Rosa Abedini was born in Lima, Peru and resides in El Cerrito with her husband Masoud. She has been working as a Spanish Teacher for the past seven years in the East Bay. She has experience teaching Spanish to children from preschool through middle school. Her passion is to inspire children to love the Spanish culture and its richness. She enjoys spending time with family and good friends. She also enjoys Peruvian music and is a big fan of Diego de Cibela’s artwork.
Fabiola Requejo
Pre-Primary Teacher
Fabiola Requejo was born in
Lima, Peru. She received her BA in Early Childhood Education at the Universidad
Femenina del Sagrado Corazon in Lima, Peru. She has taken classes specializing
in the application of sensory learning for children. Additionally, Fabiola
studied teaching second language learners at UC Davis. She has been a lead
teacher as well as a Spanish teacher for the past eight years. She brings
enthusiasm and the love of the Spanish language to the EBI team. Fabiola
especially enjoys teaching children art, music, and dance. She also loves to
get the children involved in puppet show. Fabiola is married and has two
children. Her son started Kindergarten at EBI this year.
Herminia Gómez
Pre-Primary Associate Teacher
Herminia Gómez is from Mexico. She has been a pre-primary teacher for seven years. She received her training from Pacific Oak College as well from Cal State University Hayward and Contra Costa College. She has taught at EBI for the past two years.
Gabriela Villegas
Pre-Primary Teacher
Gabriela Villegas was born
and raised in Rosario, Argentina. Gabi is one of the founding teachers of EBI.
She has been a pre-primary teacher for five years and is delighted to have the
opportunity to teach her native language and culture. She is passionate about
helping children develop as caring, respectful individuals, who also stand up
for their beliefs. She teaches a play-based curriculum that leads children to
learn Spanish in an enjoyable way. Gabi holds an Associate Degree in Early
Childhood Education and is the mother of two boys and one girl.
María José Rodrigo
Pre-Primary Associate Teacher
María José was born in
Chile. She moved to California when she was 13 and has lived in the Bay are
since then. She is currently taking early childhood classes to add to the ones
that she already has. She has worked with children for 9 years, working from
preschool to school age. She worked at the Antwerp International School in the
preschool classes for 6 months. She loves working with kids because she
believes early education is a very important in a child’s life and teaching in
her mother tongue is very rewarding. She is very happy to be part of the growing
EBI community.
Alejandra Solís
Pre-Primary Teacher
Alejandra Solis was
born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. She has received her Child Development Education
training at Hayward state and Merritt college and continuing her
education. She has worked for over 16 years as a childcare provider and
also serving in a variety of capacities in both English and Spanish. She likes
to do art and science projects, you will always find a variety of exciting and
fun actives in her classroom. She brings to the community of EBI, her
experience and the positive influence on the lives of her students and parents.
Merly Chou
Pre-Primary Associate Teacher
Merly was born in Lima, Peru and has a degree in Law and Political Science. Two years ago Merly arrived to the Bay Area with the goal of working in the bilingual educational system. Working with children has given her a different perspective on life and changed her values and feelings in a way that causes her to feel more creative and productive within the community. Currently, Merly continues taking classes in Early Childhood Education at Chabot College with the goal of earning her teaching credential.
Verónica Grande
Pre-Primary Assistant Teacher
Verónica Grande was born
in El Salvador where she graduated from the University of El Salvador. Verónica
received a bachelor’s degree in physical and occupational therapy. She moved to
the Bay Area in June 2007 where she lives with her husband. In January 2008,
Verónica joined the EBI Team. She is currently taking classes in Early
Childhood Education at Merritt College. She looks forward to bringing new ideas
for how children learn to EBI.
Verónica Romero
Pre-Primary Assistant Teacher
Verónica M. Romero is from
El Salvador. She has been working at EBI for one year, and she has ten years of
experience working directly with children as a child care provider. She is
currently taking courses in Early Childhood Education at Merritt College. She
enjoys soccer and basketball.
Mara Brown
Kindergarten Teacher
Mara Brown joined EBI in 2007. The product of a bilingual household, she was born in the United States and raised in Spain. Mara brings her love of languages, strong belief in bilingualism and expertise in art and flamenco dance to her fabulous classroom. She holds a B.A. in Spanish and Art and has been a Spanish and art teacher for many years, teaching preschoolers through adults. Mara is married and the mother of three children.
Mónica Zetina
Kindergarten Teacher
Mónica Zetina was born in Mexico City. She a bachelor’s degree in primary education studied in Benemérita Escuela Nacional de Maestros in Mexico City from 1990 to 1994. Mónica worked in different public schools in Mexico City beginning in 1994.
From 1994 to 1996 Mónica studied a master’s degree in education at Universidad de las Américas. In 1998 she joined a program sponsored by the Mexican Ministry of Education helping students and teachers in public schools to use donated computers for teaching and learning.
From 1999 to 2001 Mónica was on a scholarship
from the Japanese government to research the use of computers in Japanese
schools. She did this work at Nagoya University. In 2001 Mónica returned to
Mexico City to work at the Mexican Ministry of Education and was charged with
training teachers in educational initiatives from the Ministry. In 2002 Mónica
started working at the American School Foundation in Mexico City as a bilingual
assistant teacher in the English classroom and from 2003 to 2007 she taught
first grade Spanish at the same school.
Pilar Beccar-Varela
Kindergarten English Teacher
Pilar was born in Buenos
Aires, Argentina and raised in Oakland, CA. In 1996 she graduated from Bryn
Mawr College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and then
returned home to the Bay Area to pursue a career in the classroom. From 1998 to
2004 she taught in the Hayward Unified School District, first as a first grade
teacher, and then in kindergarten. During her time there, she became part of a
cohort of teachers interested in literacy learning as well as project based,
arts-rich curricula and how such curricula helps to develop oral language and
cognitive growth. Her group received a two-year grant from the Spencer
Foundation to conduct classroom research in these areas. Pilar received her
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Cal State Hayward, followed by her
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification as an Early
Childhood Specialist. After leaving the classroom to have her son, she taught
in the UC Berkeley Developmental Teacher Education program, and then wrote
literacy curriculum for the Developmental Studies Center in Oakland. It was her
interest in teacher research, inquiry-based curriculum, and innovative
approaches to language and literacy learning that first attracted Pilar to EBI.
This is her second year teaching English literacy in the K-2 program. She is
honored to be part of such a vibrant, supportive, and creative school
community.
Douglas Palacios
Kindergarten Associate Teacher
Douglas Palacios was born
in El Salvador and moved to the US at age 12. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where
he received his B.A. degree in French and Literature in 1993 and his Masters
degree in 1997. From 1991 to 1992
he studied in Paris at the Université de la Sorbonne. For 8 years, he taught French and Spanish at The Branson
School, an independent school in Marin, CA. His travels to Japan, Guatemala, Québec, Sweden, Italy,
Spain and Portugal have made him realize the beauty of people in every corner
of the world and the importance of working to create global harmony. In his spare time, he enjoys meditating
with his wife Mai, making music with his son Rigpa, and walking with his dog
Pepé. He lives with them in
Oakland, California. Douglas feels
privileged to work with the teaching staff and children at EBI.
Sagrario Argüelles
First and Second Grade Teacher
Sagrario Argüelles teaches
first and second grades. Sagrario was born and raised in Mexico City. She has
been an Elementary School teacher for the past twenty-eight years and has a
Bachelors Degree in Education. Sagrario has worked in different schools in Mexico
City, the last being the American School Foundation where she worked as a
teacher, grade level coordinator and dean. As a teacher Sagrario’s goal is to
prepare students for the future. The Primary Years Program of IB reflects all
her beliefs as a teacher. Sagrario is very fortunate to have had the
opportunity of work with this program for the past eight years. Although her
long association does not make her an expert she is a deep believer of its
philosophy and is always willing to learn more. As an educator Sagrario
believes that the journey is as important as the destination. She aims to be a
guide to her students and mentor them through their journey of knowledge and
achievement, helping them to grow to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers,
communicators, principled, open – minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and
reflective.
Norma Santiago
EBI Aventura Teacher
Norma is from Puerto Rico. She came to Oakland, CA in 2000 where she works as a Spanish teacher in Catholic schools. Since August 2007 Norma has been a member of the EBI Aventura team and supports EBI teachers in the day program as well. Norma received her degree in education from the University of Puerto Rico. She has worked as a special education teacher, in regular school programs and as a tutor. She loves to share her energy, her talents and knowledge with children and the EBI community. Norma has two children and a granddaughter. She loves her family and is friendly and maternal. One of Norma's passions is to work with children and she also enjoys sewing, designing, cooking, playing and helping in the education of children and young people.
Ana Margarita Hernández
EBI Aventura Teacher
Ana Margarita was born and
raised in Mexico, City. She is a teacher in the EBI Aventura afternoon program.
Ana Margarita has a BA in Educational Psychology and Child Development from the
Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. Ana Margarita also earned her degree
as a counselor in human sexuality programs from the Universidad Autonoma de
Queretaro, Mexico. She has worked for many years in education and schools with
children, teachers and parents. Ana Margarita believes that bilingual education
is a very important because it gives people the opportunity to investigate,
expand their knowledge and enrich their personal and emotional lives. Working
with children gives Ana Margarita the joy of learning about and sharing in the
children’s openness, fresh outlook and love. Ana Margarita says that each day the
children give her the positive energy to continue growing as a professional and
as a human being.
Gabriela Martínez del Campo
EBI Aventura Teacher
Gabriela was born in
Mexico City, Mexico where she studied music education, a bachelor’s degree in
education and a master’s degree in Institutional Communication. Gabriela has
been a music and Spanish teacher for more than 20 years, from pre-primary to
upper school. She has collaborated to design educational programs and has
published works related to music, values and Spanish language; additionally,
she has coordinated conferences for parents and teachers to put the programs
into action. Most recently, Gabriela was attracted by Escuela Bilingüe
Internacional’s educational focus that encourages the integrated development of
the children while promoting their integration into an Internacional community
through knowledge and cultural and language appreciation.
Adwoa Mante'ete'
First and Second Grade English Teacher
Adwoa was born in Berkeley and has lived almost every place in the Bay Area except San Francisco. She has been working with children since she was a child. Adwoa began work as a Multicultural Education Specialist. Since then she has worked as an aide, Director of an After-School program, a P.E. Teacher, a trainer of English Language Teachers, a first, second, and third grade teacher, and a science, math and English teacher. Adwoa has taught science to students kindergarten through high school, math to students from pre-school to college, and all other subjects, including English, from pre-school through elementary school.
Adwoa graduated from Mills College with a
degree in Biology. She did graduate work in physiological psychology. She
obtained her teaching credential from Chapman University. Ouside of education
Adwoa’s passions are baseball and blues, being a mom to Shannon Kofi, and
making the world a better place, not necessarily in that order. She loves
working and playing with children. Adwoa is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity
to teach at a wonderful school.
Jackeline Rago
Music Teacher
An accomplished musician (she is an expert on the cuatro, the mandolin, voice, Latin American percussion instruments and the keyboard) with 15 years of experience as a performer, composer, arranger, producer and educator. Jackeline was born in Caracas and raised learning the music of her native Venezuela. At four years of age, she began a more formal period of musical education, which included both traditional Venezuelan and classical music. She studied with virtuosos of the native folklorical genres and professional teachers who were members of the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra. She moved to San Francisco and earned a B. A. in Fine Arts with a focus on classical mandolin from the Music and Arts Institute of San Francisco in 1989. She has worked with children, providing musical education and performance experience, for fifteen years in the Bay Area, and been awarded numerous honors for this work and for her bountiful recording portfolio. She has also been active performing and recording locally and nationally.
Gloria Costas
Administrative Assistant
Gloria Costas was born in Barcelona, Spain and has lived in the Bay Area since 1993. Gloria has a degree from the Tourism and Business college of Barcelona and a Certificate in Translation from the University of Manoa, Hawaii. She speaks fluent English, Spanish, French and Catalan, her native language, and understands Portuguese and German. Gloria brings enthusiasm and experience to EBI. She is married to Rob, a Berkeley native, and they have two sons.
Sandra Millán
Coordinator of Auxiliary Programs
Sandra was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela where she earned her degree in Computer Science at Intituto Universitario de Tecnología Venezuela. She has over 5 years of experience teaching Spanish as a Second Language. She worked as a Spanish Instructor and Director Assistant in Houston, Texas where she lived for 5 years. Sandra also has over 8 years of expertise in networking technology. Sandra manages EBI’s Extended Day Care Program, ¡EBI Aventura! and the summer camp program. Sandra is married and the mother of one son.
John Horsch
Admissions Director
John Horsch is EBI's volunteer Admissions Director. He is founder and partner at Be Amazing, a startup firm that provides remote tutoring in foundational cognitive skills to students across the country. He was previously the Director of Customer Operations for Scientific Learning, an Oakland-based creator of educational software that accelerates learning by improving the brain's processing efficiency and consulted to technology companies on operations and logistics. John has a BA in English from UC Berkeley and is an avid sailor, having competed in 1996 Olympic Sailing Team Trials. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two sons.
Paloma Baquerizo
Development Coordinator
Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Paloma Baquerizo holds a Law degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. After working as a Public Defender and an International Contracts Attorney, she moved to Berkeley. Here in the Bay Area she worked in Immigration Law for over 15 years. A firm believer in multilingual immersion programs, she and her husband are raising two trilingual sons. Paloma has seen the benefits of an international education both, in the academic and cultural aspects. She is proud to be involved in EBI's pioneering program where she can bring her experience and enthusiasm.
Hugh Robertson
Business Manager
Hugh Robertson serves EBI as Business Manager on a
part-time basis. Hugh is Broker/Owner of Maison Nouveau, an East Bay Real
Estate company. His professional experience also includes roles as management
consultant at Accenture, commercial and mortgage banker at Wells Fargo, and CFO
at The French-American International School in San Francisco. Hugh has a M.S. In
Industrial Administration from Purdue University, a M.A. in International
Studies from the University of Washington, and a B.A. in Economics from the University
of Puget Sound. Hugh's interests include economic and political theory, food
and wine, travel, and good conversation. He plans to become an EBI parent beginning
in September 2009.
Jon Fulk
Head of School
Jon Fulk, originally from Ohio, has spent the past 11 years living in Mexico City, Mexico. Since 2000 he has worked at The American School Foundation (ASF), first as a teacher, then an assistant Head and finally as Head of the Lower School, overseeing approximately 940 students, 700 families and 98 full-time faculty and staff. Jon holds a B.A. in history from The University of Toleldo, an M.A. in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University, an M.A. in Elementary Education from The University of Alabama and expects to complete his doctorate in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. Jon brings extensive experience with IB’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) and has been instrumental in leading his school through the accreditation and restructuring process.