Staff

Meet the staff and teachers at EBI. These individuals bring their wealth of experience teaching and working with children to the school and classrooms.

Graciela López

Graciela Lopez

Head of School

Graciela López, a native of Venezuela, is herself a product of an international, bilingual education. Her career spans more than 20 years of teaching from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. She has also held key leadership positions during that time including school director and division principal.

EDUCATION
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Texas at Austin
B.A. in Modern Languages, Universidad del Zulia
Further professional training International Schools Counseling Institute, Western Carolina University Educational Leadership Certificate, Michigan State University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Administrative Experience: 11 years
Founder and Director  "Learning4all", a Pre-K to 12 learning center in Florida
Principal  Escuela de las Américas, Maturin - Venezuela
Director  Pre-escolar Bim-Bam-Bum / Academia de Inglés Happy Kids
Advisor/Curriculum Coordinator International School of Monagas, Maturín – Venezuela
Chair of the Steering Committee for Accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Teaching Experience: 20 years Pre-K through High School (some concurrent with administrative years)
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Teacher
First and Second grade teacher
English as a Second Language Teacher
Spanish as a Second Language

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born in Venezuela
Married to Eugenio López-Senior Consultant in Petroleum Engineering
One son, Miguel, 24, MSc Electrical engineer in Houston
In her own words:

I have enjoyed teaching students from different nationalities, ages, and backgrounds for more than 20 years. I have taught in different local and International Schools in Venezuela, and in private and public schools in the United States. I have also worked as a Curriculum Coordinator and as Principal of a K-12 International School.

I believe the learning process must take place in a positive, enjoyable, and exciting learning environment that fosters children's natural curiosity and exploration and enhances their self-esteem and confidence. This environment must be safe and caring so as to instill in children a love for learning. It must respect each child's uniqueness and provide them with the skills and attitudes that will help them succeed in a global world. It is our responsibility as educators to provide an enriching, learning atmosphere where students develop to their fullest potential and acquire the skills and proficiency they need to access opportunities in their future and succeed in life.  



Berta A. Ortega-Plate

Berta Ortega-Plate

Pre-Primary Director

Berta A. Ortega-Plate joins EBI from the University of California at Berkeley's Harold Jones Child Study Center, where most recently she has been teaching a developmental play-focused curriculum for preschool children. Berta was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico.  She holds a B.S. in Child Development and a Masters in Bilingual Education and brings over thirty years experience in the field of early childhood education.  She is married and the mother of two children.  Berta brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in preschool program development and implementation and we are very fortunate to welcome her to EBI.
 
Click here for a letter from Berta to the EBI community.

Dolores Anguiano

Dolores Anguiano

Pre-Primary Teacher

Dolores Anguiano was born and raised in Mexico City. Dolores holds an AS degree in Early Childhood with a specialization in Montessori education. She brings 15 years of experience working in the field. As a mentor for the California Mentor Program she has supervised and mentored student teachers, mainly bilingual (Spanish/English) speakers, during their 4-month internship before their graduation. Most recently, she started working in a Saturday bilingual kindergarten readiness program with children of Latino families.  A mother of two grown-up children, she lives in Albany with her husband. In her own words:

 
I believe children should start their first school experience in a respectful and caring environment, in which they can explore and construct their knowledge through meaningful experiences. The self-positive image they'll develop at this early age will help them flourish throughout their lives.  

Ángela Carlos de Sillín

Angela de Sillin

Pre-Primary Teacher

Ángela Carlos de Sillín was born in Mexico. Ángela holds an MA in Education and is about to complete her second MA in Early Childhood Education. Ángela brings to EBI more than 20 years of experience in the field of education. She has worked as a Special Education teacher and Language Therapist in Nayarit, Mexico. Additionally, she has worked as a bilingual teacher at Webster Academy in Oakland and also as a Special Education teacher for the Oakland Unified School District. Ángela is the mother of two children Isaac and Henry  and lives with her husband Nate in Oakland. Ángela's passions are reading, crafts and drawing. Ángela is very happy to join EBI as one of our lead teachers.

Alexandra Castañer

Alejandra Castaner

Pre-Primary Teacher

Alexandra was born in Oakland to Chilean parents. She lived here while her father attended UC Berkeley and returned to Chile after he completed his studies. She earned a B. A. in Physical Education in Chile before returning to California in 1991. She has worked with children in several East Bay preschools over the last 10 years and is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Contra Costa Community College. She has two daughters and is thrilled to work in a school like EBI where bilingualism is highly valued and supported.

Silvia González

Silvia Gonzalez

Pre-Primary Teacher

Silvia González is a native of Guadalajara, Mexico. She has a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Education and Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley. Silvia has worked as a program Coordinator and Director in a Spanish Immersion program in Lafayette, CA where she had the opportunity to expand, create and implement a diverse curriculum based on teaching students to embrace different languages and cultures. Additionally, she had the opportunity to work with low-income families at La Raza Legal Center, where she was able to provide her expertise in Sociology and advice regarding different issues. Silvia brings to EBI her ten years of experience in the Education field, a myriad of skills acquired from her coursework in Sociology, excellent communication and organization skills, and cultural awareness. She has always been interested in bilingual education and diversity and she describes herself as flexible and energetic. Silvia comes from a very close family and currently lives in Concord. She enjoys reading, exercising and yoga. Silvia will be our coordinator of auxiliary programs and will also be teaching a class in the afternoon.

Michele Joyce

Kindergarten Teacher

Michele was born in California and studied at UC Berkeley before moving to Mexico City. In Mexico City she worked for six years as a kinder group teacher and as an art instructor at an IBO School.

During her time in Mexico she also taught courses for adults at the Universidad Panamericana and took classes to earn her MA at Casa Lamm. She also wrote articles for publications such as Fodor's, Berlitz, and Conde Nast Traveler. She has also written about academic project ideas for teaching magazines.

Michele is excited to be part of the EBI team where she is looking forward to continue to work with the IBO's PYP program and to be part of the creation of the early learning experience of young children.

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.

Lisandra García

Lisandra Garcia

Teacher Assistant

Lisandra is a first generation American born to parents from Mexico and raised in San Francisco. In December of 2007, she will graduate from San Francisco State University with a degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in mathematics and a Bilingual Multiple Subjects teaching credential. For the past five years, she has worked with elementary grade students, facilitating activities, serving as a teacher assistant and coordinating activities with students.

María Lina Rubio

Maria Lina

Teacher Assistant

María was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to the Bay Area in March 2002.  She is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Merritt College, and has earned Business and Administration degrees from la Universidad de Lima, Lima, Peru. She has four years of experience teaching Spanish language and music to children in the East Bay.

Sandra Millan

Sandra Millan

Teacher Assistant

Sandra was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela where she earned her degree in Computer Science at Intituto Universitario de Tecnologia 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. Her expertise includes, personnel training, Network administration and users' support in software and PC hardware. Sandra is currently living in the bay area with her husband and son. She is very excited to be part of the EBI family.

Tanya Peña

Tanya P.

Teacher Assistant

Tanya attended St. Mary's College for three years and took courses toward a degree in Sociology. She is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Diablo Valley College. She has eight years of experience working with elementary and Pre-K children in the East Bay in after school settings and has served as a childcare provider in private homes for seven years.

Rocío Salazar

Rocio Salazar

Teacher Assistant

Rocío was born in Jalisco, Mexico and raised in the Bay Area. As a child she attended a bilingual elementary school. She attended Cal State Northridge where she earned her B. A. in Arts and Communication with an emphasis on film production. She currently attends Diablo Valley College where she takes courses in Early Childhood Education. While working at a Children's Center during college, Rocío decided that she wanted to teach and use her background in the arts, languages (Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese) and film to inspire young minds.

Alejandra Solís

Alejandra Solis

Teacher Assistant

Alejandra was born and raised in Mexico. She has worked in preschools and early childhood programs for 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities, in both English and Spanish. She continues to take courses in Early Childhood Education at local colleges.

Gabriela Villegas

Gabriela Villegas

Teacher Assistant

Gabriela Villegas was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina. Gabriela holds an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and is continuing her studies to obtain her Bachelors degree. Gabriela is currently a teacher assistant and provides children with learning experiences that promote their cognitive, social and emotional development. Additionally she helped organize "The Week of the Young Child" at Chabot College Children's Center. Gabriela is the mother of two boys and a girl and lives in Castro Valley with her husband. She enjoys playing and singing with children, nature and the outdoors. Gabriela is excited to join the EBI Community.

Eva Yabar

Eva Yabar

Teacher Assistant

Eva was born in Peru and earned a degree in translation from la Universidad Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru.  She studied Early Childhood Education at Contra Costa College.
She has assisted at East Bay preschools and completed internships over the last several years.

Tatiana Yadira González Ramos

Teacher Assistant

Tatiana Yadira González Ramos was born in San Francisco to parents from El Salvador. She currently attends San Francisco State University and plans to graduate in 2007 with degrees in Child and Adolescent Development and Raza Studies.

She is passionate about all types of music, from classical to modern to regional. She has been involved with children and youth through church groups and volunteer organizations for several years and loves to help children share culture and art.

María José Rodrigo

Maria Jose Rodrigo

Teacher Assistant

Maria José was born in Chile and raised in the Bay area, she has worked in preschool for 7 years. She is currently studying Liberal Studies at Diablo Valley College. Maria José brings to EBI her experience, honesty and passion for children.

Gloria Costas

Gloria Costas

Administrative Assistant/Secretary

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 has two boys, Alex and Marc. They live in Oakland.

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