Faculty and Staff

Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Paloma Baquerizo holds a Law degree from the Universidad Autónoma 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 realms. She is proud to be involved in EBI’s pioneering program where she can bring her experience and enthusiasm.

Nacida y criada en Madrid, España, Paloma Baquerizo es licenciada en Derecho por la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Después de trabajar como defensora pública y abogada de contratos internacionales en España, se mudó a Berkeley y pasó quince años trabajando en u despacho de derecho de Inmigración.Como firme creyente en los programas de inmersión multilingües, Paloma ha visto los beneficios de una educación internacional de primera mano, tanto académica como culturalmente, en la vida de sus dos hijos adultos trilingües. Está orgullosa de desempeñar un papel importante en la implementación del programa pionero de EBI desde el principio y continúa siendo una entusiasta partidaria de los estudiantes y las familias de EBI. Cuando no está trabajando arduamente para promover EBI, a Paloma le encanta pasar tiempo con su familia, cocinar comida extraordinaria y caminar por las colinas de Berkeley. 

Ashley Céspedes Black is an experienced educator who specializes in the International Baccalaureate Program, mindful educational practices, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a Peruvian-American, Ashley grew up in Florida where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and began her career as an IB PYP educator.

She is excited to join the EBI community after spending the last two years abroad teaching for an International IB school in Shanghai, China. Prior to her experience abroad, Ashley served as a PYP Coordinator in Portland, Oregon while earning a Master's degree in Leadership and Policy for Sustainability Education from Portland State University. In Portland, Ashley also served as a STEAM and DEI Coordinator, as well as an adjunct instructor at Portland State, training K-12 educators in interconnected curriculum design after receiving an additional Graduate degree in Teaching Adult Learners.

During her time as an educator, Ashley has been inspired by the positive impact that a school can have on its community. Her passion for collective work towards equitable outcomes for all students has informed the time she has invested serving as a leader and thought partner for Equity Teams in the United States and abroad.

Erica nació en Oakland y creció en El Salvador, donde obtuvo una licenciatura en Trabajo Social y una certificación en Educación para la Paz. Desarrolló un amplio conocimiento y experiencia en educación integral mientras trabajaba en programas comunitarios para el desarrollo juvenil durante 16 años en El Salvador. Comenzó en EBI en el verano de 2016 después de su regreso a California con su esposo Gustavo. En su tiempo libre, le encanta cocinar, acampar y pasar tiempo con su familia. Su pasión es contribuir al desarrollo de todo el estudiante a partir de los programas comunitarios.

 

Erica was born in Oakland and raised in El Salvador where she earned a BA in Social Work and a certification in Peace Education. She developed extensive knowledge and experience in comprehensive education while working in community programs for youth development for 16 years in El Salvador. She started at EBI in the summer of 2016 after her return to California with her husband Gustavo. In her spare time, she loves cooking, camping and spending time with her family. Her passion is to contribute to the development of the whole student from the community programs.

Gloria Costas nació en Barcelona, España, y ha vivido en el Área de la Bahía desde 1993. Gloria tiene un título de la facultad de Turismo y Negocios de Barcelona y un Certificado en Traducción de la Universidad de Manoa, Hawaii. Habla con fluidez inglés, español, francés y catalán, su lengua materna, y entiende portugués y alemán. Gloria aporta entusiasmo y experiencia a EBI. Está casada con Rob, nativo de Berkeley, y tienen dos hijos.

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.

 

Karen Hayes pasó los primeros 18 años de su carrera en Ventas y Marketing en una empresa global de productos de consumo. Como ejecutiva, Karen viajó extensamente a nivel nacional e internacional creando y ejecutando plataformas de venta estratégicas, relanzando marcas de miles de millones de dólares y desarrollando procesos de trabajo de retención para los mejores talentos.

Karen recibió su B.S. en Marketing de la Universidad de Howard y su MBA de la Haas School of Business de UC Berkeley. En la comunidad, Karen ha sido miembro activo del programa Big Brother, Big Sister, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Boys and Girls Club y ha servido como tutora voluntaria. También contribuyó al desarrollo de aquellos que persiguen una educación superior al trabajar como instructora universitaria en los cursos de Administración de Empresas de Florida Atlantic University.

A Karen le encanta pasar tiempo con su familia, explorar nuevas cocinas, viajar y ser voluntaria en la comunidad. Lo que más entusiasma a Karen de unirse al equipo de EBI es tener la oportunidad de ser una fuerza positiva en un mundo cambiante donde nuestros hijos son el futuro.

 

Karen Hayes spent the first 18 years of her career in Sales & Marketing at a global consumer products firm. As an executive, Karen traveled extensively both nationally and internationally creating and executing strategic selling platforms, re-launching billion dollar brands and developing retention work processes for top talent. 

Karen received her B.S. in Marketing from Howard University and her MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. In the community, Karen has been an active member of the Big Brother, Big Sister program, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Boys and Girls Club and has served as a volunteer tutor. She also contributed to the development of those pursuing a higher education by working as a college instructor at Florida Atlantic University for Business Management courses.

Karen loves spending time with her family, exploring new cuisines, traveling and volunteering in the community. What excites Karen most about joining the EBI team is having the opportunity to be a positive force in a changing world where our children are the future.
 

Rachel es originaria de Walnut Creek, California y se graduó cum laude de la Universidad de Fordham en Nueva York, obteniendo un BFA en danza del programa de danza Ailey / Fordham y una especialización en Psicología. Rachel tuvo el privilegio de actuar internacionalmente con JUNTOS Collective y AATMA Performing Arts y actuó como Directora del Programa JUNTOS Abroad desde 2012-2016, cuando hizo la transición para unirse a la Junta Directiva. Ella decidió poner su carrera de baile en espera y se unió a Teach for America, donde fue ubicada en Oakland. Rachel trabajó como maestra de quinto grado en la Academia Cox durante dos años. Rachel se unió al equipo de EBI el otoño de 2018. Ella vive en Berkeley con su esposo, Ajay, y su perro, Junebug.

Rachel is originally from Walnut Creek, California and graduated cum laude from Fordham University in New York earning a BFA in dance from the Ailey/Fordham dance program and a minor in Psychology. Rachel has had the privilege of performing internationally with JUNTOS Collective and AATMA Performing Arts and acted as JUNTOS Abroad Program Director from 2012-2016, when she transitioned to joining the Board of Directors. She decided to put her dance career on hold and joined Teach for America where she was placed in Oakland. Rachel worked as a 5th grade teacher at Cox Academy for the two years. Rachel joined the EBI team  on Fall 2018. She lives in Berkeley with her husband, Ajay, and dog, Junebug.

 

Linda, nacida en California, se mudó al Área de la Bahía desde Los Ángeles en 1995, después de carreras en periodismo y política.
Como profesional de la contabilidad con un énfasis especial en la producción y distribución en televisión y cine, comenzó a trabajar como contratista con EBI en sus primeros años y ha disfrutado, en los últimos 10 años, el desafío de construir, desde cero, un infraestructura contable completa para apoyar las operaciones financieras de la organización. En el otoño de 2018, Linda se unió oficialmente al personal de EBI como empleada.
Linda le encanta la jardinería y vive con su esposo, Jeff, en Sebastopol. Ella también sirve como Tesorera del Festival de Jazz de Healdsburg.

Linda, a native Californian, moved up to the Bay Area from Los Angeles in 1995, after careers in journalism and politics.
As an accounting professional with a special emphasis on television and film production and distribution, she started working as a contractor with EBI in its early years and has enjoyed, over the past 10+ years, the challenge of building—from the ground up—an entire accounting infrastructure to support the financial operations of the organization. In the fall of 2018, Linda officially joined the staff of EBI as an employee.
Linda is an avid gardener who lives with her husband, Jeff, in Sebastopol. She also serves as Treasurer of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

 

 

 

Gary’s personal development and life experiences as a first-generation Filipino immigrant growing up in the Philippines, Guam, and Hawaii, he understands the impact of one’s identity on life outcomes. Gary has a deep understanding of the need to integrate diversity and multiculturalism into institutions and policies. Gary is committed to helping create opportunities, and develop and provide supports for all students, families, schools, and the community.

Gary has 27 years of experience in education as a psychologist, counselor, teacher, educational specialist, professor, consultant, and coach. His experiences are wide and varied, covering a variety of educational, psychological, behavioral, emotional, and cultural issues with diverse populations, and spanning many settings. He has in-depth knowledge of learning, learning differences, research and design, data analysis, psychological foundations and testing, mental health, human development, individual and family counseling, diversity and multiculturalism, and human sexuality. Equally important, Gary applies his knowledge and skills in meaningful and collaborative ways that allow his clients and students to grow and prosper.

Gary holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University, a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, a MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Cal State Northridge, and a B.A. in Psychology from UC Berkeley.

Dave Mitchell is a Bay Area native originally from Alameda. Dave has worked as Security at Amoeba Music, a Sales Rep at the East Bay Express, and a Custodian at Griffin Nursery School. As a Facilities Worker at EBI, Dave strives to maintain a high standard of safety, cleanliness, and efficiency. Dave enjoys writing, collecting vinyl records, and amateur photography in his free time.

 

Cordelia "Deia" Nickelsen nació y creció en Berkeley, California. Recibió su BA en Antropología en la Universidad de California en Berkeley y su maestría en Lingüística en la Universidad de Auckland, Nueva Zelanda. Está entrenada como arqueóloga y trabajó en el campo y como gerente de laboratorio. Después de muchos años como madre y voluntaria en la escuela, está emocionada de formar parte del personal de EBI como Registradora.

Cordelia "Deia" Nickelsen was born and raised in Berkeley, California. She received her BA in Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley and her MA in Linguistics at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is trained as an archaeologist and she worked in the field and as a lab manager. After many years as a parent and volunteer at the school, she is excited to be on the staff at EBI as Registrar.

Riva es oriunda del medio oeste, donde obtuvo una licenciatura en inglés de la Universidad Estatal de Michigan y una maestría en ciencias de la información de la Universidad de Michigan. También posee una maestría en literatura infantil de Simmons College, Boston. Si bien ha trabajado en bibliotecas públicas, privadas y universitarias, encuentra la mayor alegría trabajando como bibliotecaria escolar, y ha llevado una pasión por los grandes libros y la instrucción de alfabetización informativa a las bibliotecas escolares en Boston y el Área de la Bahía desde 2005.

Riva hails from the midwest, where she obtained a BA in English from Michigan State University and a Master's of Information Science from the University of Michigan. She also holds an MA in Children's Literature from Simmons College, Boston. While she has worked in public, private, and university libraries, she finds the most joy in school librarianship, and has brought a passion for great books and information literacy instruction to school libraries in Boston and the Bay Area since 2005.

Stephanie is a San Francisco native who has always enjoyed living and teaching within a rich tapestry of cultures in the Bay Area. This fall, Stephanie looks forward to working with the multilingual faculty, students, and parents of EBI. She studied biological sciences and Spanish at UCSB but decided to pursue her love of language and music at San Francisco State University where she received a Bachelor of Music. Additionally, Stephanie holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Holy Names University, an Adult Education teaching credential, and professional certificates in Assistive Technology, College Counseling and Advising, Educational Therapy, and English as a Second Language. With over 15 years in education, Stephanie has worked in both private and public K-12 settings including Marin Primary & Middle School, Raskob Day School & Learning Center, and Bayhill High School. She also served as the Education Liaison of Contra Costa County Children and Family Services where she provided educational advocacy services to foster-adopt families. During her free time when Stephanie is not hiking or swimming on the Cal Aquatics Masters swim team, she spends time with her friends and family. She also relishes quiet time at home refinishing furniture, listening to music from around the world, or reading both fiction and nonfiction.

Sara nació en la Ciudad de México y creció en San Diego, CA. Criada en un hogar bicultural, los viajes entre México y los Estados Unidos establecen sus fuertes raíces en la comprensión intercultural y el amor por los viajes. Sara completó su licenciatura en biología y estudios de posgrado en enseñanza de inglés como segundo idioma en la Universidad Gonzaga. Su experiencia profesional es en educación superior internacional, enfocada en servicios estudiantiles, enseñanza del idioma inglés, reclutamiento, admisiones e inscripciónes. La misión de EBI resuena con la filosofía educativa de Sara y está entusiasmada de ser parte y promover la comunidad de EBI.

En su tiempo libre, Sara disfruta probando nuevas comidas, leyendo, viajando, mantenerse activa a través de la exploración y ser la mejor tía del mundo para sus sobrinos y sobrinas.

 

Sara was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Diego, CA. Raised in a bi-cultural household, travel between Mexico and the U.S. set her strong roots in cross-cultural understanding and a love of travel. Sara completed her Bachelors in Biology and graduate studies in Teaching English as a Second Language at Gonzaga University. Her professional background is in international higher education, focused on student services, English language instruction, recruitment, admissions and enrollment. EBI's mission resonates with Sara's own educational philosophy and she is excited to be a part of and promote EBI's community.

In her free time, Sara enjoys trying new foods, reading, travel, staying active through exploration and being the world's best Tía to her nephews and nieces. 

Jessica Bejarano is the founder and music director of the San Francisco Philharmonic!   She also serves as music director of the University High School Chamber Orchestra, music director of ELM Youth Orchestra and assistant conductor of Opera Parallele.   Jessica is also a regular guest conductor with the Antonio Soler Orquestra in Spain and has guest conducted in the Czech Republic, Venezuela, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy and Russia.  She has also held conducting positions with numerous orchestras throughout the Bay Area and United States.   Jessica was named KQED Arts’ Bay Brilliant Top 10 Artists of 2018, was featured by PBS NewsHour as an emerging female conductor to watch and recently featured on NBC’s The Today Show with Natalie Morales as the “Woman Breaking Barriers as a Trailblazing Symphony Conductor”.   Jessica is bilingual in Spanish and English, holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wyoming, and a Master of Arts in Music/Conducting from University of California-Davis. Jessica is excited and honored to join the EBI community!

Luis grew up and lived in Spain and has been residing in the Bay Area for the past four years, and since then he has been teaching Spanish to K-12 students at different independent schools in the area and designing Spanish programs for adult learners. Luis is an educator with extensive knowledge in international current affairs, world cultures, history and Spanish language. Luis comes from our Aventura team, has a B.A. in Business Administration and Finance, and is currently studying to become a certified Spanish-English translator. He has a deep passion for Spanish education and EBI’s mission and is thrilled to be working with the second grade students!

 

Mercedes es de Cuba. Ella vino a los Estados Unidos en 2015 para vivir con su hija y sus nietos. Estudió pedagogía, con especialización en astrofísica, durante tres años en Cuba y está entusiasmada con la idea de continuar sus estudios en el campo de la educación. Está emocionada de unirse al equipo de Aventura y apoyar a los estudiantes para mejorar sus habilidades en español. En su tiempo libre, a Mercedes le encanta pasar tiempo con sus nietos.

Mercedes is from Cuba. She came to the United States in 2015 to live with her daughter and grandchildren. She studied pedagogy, with a specialization in astrophysics, for three years in Cuba and is enthusiastic about the idea of ​​continuing her studies in the field of education. She is excited to join the Aventura team and support students in improving their Spanish skills. In her free time, Mercedes loves spending time with her grandchildren.

Jessica Dodson creció en San Diego, California. Enseñará inglés de sexto grado y ayudará a Daniel Nube con el proceso de autoaprendizaje del PAI. Se graduó de Chico State en 2012 con una licenciatura en inglés. Enseñó inglés como segundo idioma en Beijing, China, y más tarde enseñó inglés de secundaria y preparatoria en la Academia Militar de Missouri. Jessica ha trabajado como tutora de inglés y asistente de instrucción de educación especial en la escuela intermedia el año pasado en San Diego. Espera crecer en su carrera en EBI y crear relaciones duraderas con estudiantes y colegas. Jessica está feliz de vivir cerca de su familia y amigos en el Área de la Bahía. Ella también espera encontrar nuevas rutas de senderismo y explorar su nuevo entorno.

 

Jessica Dodson grew up in San Diego, California. She will be teaching Grade 6 English and assisting Daniel Nube with the MYP self-study process. She graduated from Chico State in 2012 with a Bachelors in English. She taught English as a Second Language in Beijing, China until teaching middle and high school English at Missouri Military Academy. Jessica has worked as an English tutor and middle school Special Education Instructional Assistant this past year in San Diego. She is looking forward to growing in her career at EBI and creating lasting relationships with students and colleagues. Jessica is happy to be living close to her family and friends in the Bay Area. She is also looking forward to finding new hiking trails and exploring her new environment.

Carlota nació en Madrid, España, donde completó una licenciatura en historia y arqueología. Ella también tiene un postgrado en educación. Carlota comenzó en EBI como maestra asociada de 1er grado. Se ha sumergido y está aprendiendo sobre el Programa de la Escuela Primaria del IB.

Carlota is originally from Madrid, Spain where she completed a bachelor’s degree in history and archeology. She also has a postgraduate degree in education. Carlota started at EBI as a 1st grade associate teacher. She has immersed herself in and learning about the IB Primary Years Programme.

Tatiana Yadira González es salvadoreña-estadounidense nacida y criada en San Francisco. Ha trabajado en EBI desde que se abrieron sus puertas en 2006. Está estudiando Desarrollo Infantil y Adolescente con énfasis en Niños Pequeños y Familia en la Universidad Estatal de San Francisco. Ha trabajado con niños durante más de 11 años y le encanta aprender cómo funcionan las mentes de los niños. Ella está interesada en descubrir lo que pueden lograr, sin importar su edad. Ella cree que tiene un gran potencial para ayudarlos a desarrollar sus mentes. Tatiana ha enseñado Pre-Kínder durante 8 años y ahora está trabajando en 3er grado.

Tatiana Yadira González is Salvadorian-American born and raised in San Francisco. She has worked at EBI since their doors opened in 2006. She is studying Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in Young Child and Family at San Francisco State University. She has worked with children for over 11 years and loves to learn how the minds of children work. She is interested in discovering what they can achieve, no matter their age. She believes that she has great potential to help them develop their minds. Tatiana has taught Pre-Kinder for 8 years and now is working in 3rd grade.

Fredy Herrera ha enseñado durante 19 años. Está encantada de pertenecer a la familia EBI en la capacidad de maestro de Individuos y Sociedades, trabajando con estudiantes de la escuela intermedia. Fredy tiene un título de enseñanza de inglés, una licenciatura en derecho y una maestría en educación. Creció en El Salvador, donde aún vive su familia. Ama a su familia y amigos, y espera hacer nuevos amigos en California. Su objetivo como maestro es tratar a cada niño como único y ayudar a los estudiantes a mejorar sus habilidades de estudios sociales. 

Fredy Herrera has been teaching for 19 years. He is thrilled to be part of the EBI family as Individuals and Societies Teacher, working with Middle School students. Fredy holds an English Teaching degree, a Bachelor's degree in Law, and a Masters in Education. He grew up in El Salvador, where his family still lives. He loves his family and friends, and looks forward to making new friends in California. His goal as a teacher is to treat each child as unique, and to help students improve their social studies abilities. 

Clio se graduó con una licenciatura de Smith College, especializándose en literatura comparativa. Enseñó jardinería y cocina en las escuelas primarias del Este de la Bahía durante seis años. Asistió a la escuela de posgrado en Vermont y completó una maestría en Enseñanza para la Justicia Social, con un enfoque en el papel de las bibliotecas escolares y de aula en la promoción de diversos libros. Más recientemente, ha trabajado en Marin Country Day School en los grados 2do y 3ro. Clio creció en Washington DC, donde fue a la Escuela Internacional de Washington.

Clio graduated with a BA from Smith College, majoring in Comparative Literature. She taught gardening and cooking in East Bay elementary schools for six years. She went to graduate school in Vermont and completed an MA in Teaching for Social Justice, with a focus on the role of school and classroom libraries in promoting diverse books. Most recently, she has worked at Marin Country Day School in the 2nd and 3rd grades. Clio grew up in Washington DC where she went to Washington International School.

Bio Coming Soon! 

 

Adwoa nació en Berkeley y ha vivido en casi todos los lugares del Área de la Bahía, excepto San Francisco. Ella ha trabajado con niños desde que era una niña. Adwoa comenzó a trabajar como Especialista en Educación Multicultural. Desde entonces, ha trabajado como ayudante, directora de un programa extracurricular, un P.E. Profesor, formadora de profesores de inglés, profesora de primer, segundo y tercer grado, y profesor de ciencias, matemáticas e inglés. Adwoa ha enseñado ciencias a estudiantes desde Kínder hasta la escuela intermedia, matemáticas a estudiantes desde preescolar hasta la universidad, y todas las demás materias, incluido inglés, desde preescolar hasta primaria.

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 from kindergarten through high school, math to students from pre-school to college, and all other subjects, including English, from pre-school through elementary school.

 

Michelle creció en el área de la bahía. Se unió a la comunidad EBI durante el otoño de 2018 como maestra de Aventura. Michelle es maestra asociada para el 1er grado A. Descubrió su pasión por los Derechos del Niño durante un programa de escuela secundaria en 2015. Desde entonces, se ha ofrecido como voluntaria en programas que ayudan a los niños a mejorar sus habilidades académicas, campamentos de verano al aire libre y escuelas de intervención temprana. Ella está emocionada de crecer y construir comunidad con la nueva clase de primer grado.

Michelle grew up in the Bay Area. She joined the EBI community during the fall of 2018 as an Aventura teacher. This year, Michelle is an associate teacher for 1st grade A. She discovered her passion for Children’s Rights during a high school program in 2015. Since then, she has volunteered with programs that help children improve their academic skills, outdoor based summer camps, and early intervention schools. She is excited to grow and build community with the new first grade class.

 

 

Alex nació en El Salvador y está casado con una maravillosa mujer salvadoreña. Juntos tienen tres hijos increíbles: dos hermosas niñas y un niño maravilloso. Alex estudió en la Universidad Nacional de El Salvador de 1998 a 2004 para obtener una licenciatura en enseñanza del idioma inglés. Trabajó como profesor en UNICAES (Universidad Católica de El Salvador) enseñando gramática y composición de inglés y también trabajó como profesor de traducción de inglés (estrategias de enseñanza para traducir inglés al español) en IEPROES (una guardería) en Santa Ana, El Salvador. Alex trabajó durante diez años como maestro principal en los grados 1-3 en la Escuela Primaria Lamatepec en la ciudad de La Libertad en El Salvador. Alex también tiene una Maestría en Consejería Familiar y ha ayudado a muchas familias a desarrollar planes educativos para sus hijos que van desde los siete hasta los diez años. Alex trabajó durante 12 años en las escuelas del Bachillerato Internacional del mundo como maestro del Programa de Año Primario. Ha trabajado en la Escuela Bilingüe Internacional desde 2015. Alex aprende continuamente y, a través de cursos de desarrollo profesional, siempre está aprendiendo técnicas nuevas y creativas para hacer que el aprendizaje sea divertido y significativo. Lo que más le gusta a Alex de sus estudiantes es su espontaneidad y curiosidad por aprender cosas nuevas. Planea escribir un libro que comparta sus experiencias de aprendizaje como maestro para guiar a otros educadores en su viaje de enseñanza a medida que aprenden tanto de sus habilidades más fuertes como de sus errores.

Alex was born in El Salvador and is married to a wonderful Salvadoran woman. Together they have three awesome children - two beautiful girls and an amazing little boy. Alex studied at the National University of El Salvador from 1998 to 2004 to obtain a B.A in English Language Teaching. He worked as a professor at UNICAES (Universidad Católica de El Salvador) teaching English Grammar and composition and also worked as a Translation English Teacher (Teaching strategies for translating English into Spanish) at IEPROES (a Nursery School) in Santa Ana, El Salvador. Alex worked for ten years as a lead teacher in Grades 1-3 at Lamatepec Elementary School in the city of La Libertad in El Salvador. Alex also has a Masters Degree in Family Counseling and has helped many families develop Educational Plans for their children ranging in ages from seven to ten years old. Alex worked for 12 years in the International Baccalaureate schools of the world as a Primary Year Program teacher. He has worked at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional since 2015. Alex is a continuous learner and through professional development courses, he is always learning new and creative techniques to make learning fun and meaningful. What Alex loves most about his students is their spontaneity and curiosity for learning new things. He is planning to write a book that shares his learning experiences as a teacher to guide other educators in their teaching journey as they learn from both his strongest skills and also, his mistakes.

Tiffany was born in Toronto, Canada but grew up in Hong Kong and Massachusetts. She has a BA in English Literature and a MA in Literary & Cultural Studies. She brings both national and international experience at the elementary and high school levels, having taught IB Diploma and IGCSE English in a bilingual school in Hong Kong before relocating to California where she taught 5th grade. She is excited to be in the Bay Area and to join the EBI community!

Deysi es originaria de Los Ángeles, California, pero vivió muchos años en Guadalajara, México, donde estudió su programa de pregrado en turismo. Hace varios años, Deysi regresó a los EE. UU. y se estableció en East Bay. La familia de Deysi es latina y está muy orgullosa de sus raíces.

Deysi is originally from Los Angeles, California but lived many years in Guadalajara, Mexico where she studied her undergraduate program in tourism. A while ago, Deysi returned to the U.S. and settled in the East Bay. Deysi’s family is Latina, and she is very proud of her roots.​

Siobhan is thrilled to join the EBI Community in the 2020-2021 school year as a second grade associate teacher.  Prior to working at EBI, she was an assistant teacher for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) at a large East Oakland Charter School.  Siobhan grew up in Fresno, CA, but has lived in the Bay Area for many years and hopes to never leave this wonderful diverse place.  Siobhan has a masters degree in English with an Emphasis on Teaching Speakers of other languages and is currently earning her teaching credential and Masters in Education through BATTI.  She looks forward to helping create a strong and joyful classroom community. 

Prior to moving to the United States in 2013, Hongyu taught world history in middle and high schools in China for 25 years and is the author of numerous papers regarding the teaching of history. She also achieved certification as a national level psychological counselor. Since moving to the United States, Hongyu has been employed as a Mandarin language teacher and has provided tutoring in Chinese.

Yésica Perea was born in the city of Celaya, in Guanajuato, Mexico. She studied Tourism Administration, obtaining her BA at the University of Guanajuato. Yesica lives in Fremont, California, with her husband. In 2007, she began her studies in Early Childhood Education at Chabot College and has a Site Supervisor Permit. She feels very lucky to have the opportunity to start a new career in the area of early childhood education and to do it in her native language. Her hobbies are painting, cooking, singing and watching suspense movies. Yésica has been working with children for seven years and she feels very proud of belonging to the staff of EBI.

Natalie is Peruvian-American who was born and raised in California. She studied as a Nursing Assistant at Contra Costa Academy. For the last five years, she has been working in customer service and as a babysitter. Natalie is excited to be an Aventura teacher and to be part of the EBI community. She loves painting and cooking in her free time.

Now in his second year at EBI, Jimmy will have an expanded teaching role this school year. In addition to teaching Middle School Science, he will also be teaching Grade 5 Science. This change will not only grow and strengthen our STEM programming, but will also prepare students for the transition to middle school. Born and raised in Chicago, Jimmy came to us via his experience teaching at the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI). While there, he taught Marine Science through several experiential learning activities such as hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. He has brought this hands-on approach to science at EBI, where students know his classes will always include real-world references and authentic activities. As an added bonus, we were able to add a week-long outdoor educational trip to CIMI to the 7th graders’ curriculum—with Jimmy as one of their chaperones, naturally. His favorite hobby is spearfishing.

Bio Coming Soon! 

Rita was born in El Salvador and moved to the Bay Area in 2008. She has been a teacher and Family Advisor for preschool and first grade for 10 years. She obtained her teaching degree from the Evangelical University of El Salvador and holds an MA in Counseling and Family Education from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Before coming to EBI, she taught 6-year-old children at Centro Escolar La Floresta. As a teacher, one of her goals is to educate children with joy and freedom. Rita has worked with the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate for six years, and hopes to encourage students to develop the attributes of the PYP profile. Rita is married and has a daughter, and she feels fortunate to belong to the EBI family.

Yanet is originally from Sinaloa, Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and has experience working with children of various ages, including preschoolers. She is very passionate about working with her team and students to learn in new and creative ways.

Ms. Susy is a native Spanish speaker originally from the country of Ecuador, where she previously owned and ran a school for 26 years. There she gained invaluable experience, exposing her to all aspects of education and education administration from the role of teacher to the role of principal. After immigrating to the USA, Ms. Susy became a Spanish teacher at Lighthouse Community Charter Public School in East Oakland. There she taught Spanish and ESL and loved to incorporate lessons about Latin American culture into her classes so that students become engaged and learn about their Latino heritage.

As a teacher, she uses a practical and flexible approach in order to promote interaction and incorporate student creativity. With 30 years of teaching experience, she is proud to have taught generations and to have seen some of her best students grow up to become successful contributors as adults. 

When she is not teaching, Ms. Susy enjoys singing, dancing, cooking, riding roller coasters and visiting Ecuador to see her family and kids, Joshua and Sarah. She is so excited to join EBI family and learn to become an even better teacher.   


 

Alberto was born in Cuba and he moved to California eight years ago. His passion is to contribute in comprehensive development for children and teenagers. He attended the University of Cuba and studied chemistry and philosophy. While taking those classes he found love for math, science and philosophy. He worked many years for the school district of Cuba from the high school to the university. Since He came to California, he set as a personal and professional goal to help children find their passion through school and make them aware of their dreams being possible.

Chloé was born in Mexico City from French parents and attended the Lycée Français in San Francisco, graduating with the French Baccalaureate. She completed her bachelor’s degree in International Development at McGill University in Montréal, and graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Masters in International Education. She recently was a Spanish teacher in rural South Carolina for two years and is so excited to transition into teaching English at EBI.

Carmen Vargas was born in Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. At the young age of five years old she and her family migrated to the United States in hopes for a better life. During high school she developed an interest in child development since she loves working with children as she was a Sunday school teacher . She's currently in a community college getting transferable credits to obtain an education major. Her goal is to be an elementary school teacher and further her education by getting a Master's degree. She's looking forward to meeting you and learning more from her peers to be the best she can be at her job.

Merly Vicente nació en Lima, Perú y es licenciada en Derecho y Ciencias Políticas. Hace cinco años, llegó al Área de la Bahía con el objetivo de trabajar en el sistema educativo bilingüe. Trabajar con niños le ha dado una perspectiva diferente de la vida y ha cambiado sus valores y sentimientos de una manera que hace que se sienta más creativa y productiva dentro de la comunidad. Merly cree que el multiculturalismo en EBI es muy importante en la vida de un niño. Merly completó estudios para la enseñanza en educación infantil. Ella continúa estudiando para mantenerse actualizada en el área de educación y enriquecer su trabajo con niños.

Merly Vicente was born in Lima, Peru and has a degree in Law and Political Science. Five years ago, she 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. Merly believes the multiculturalism in EBI is very important in a child’s life. Merly completed studies for teaching in early childhood education. She continues studying to remain current in the area of education and to enrich her work with children.

Como maestra de teatro de la escuela intermedia, Sooz agregará diseño a su cartera en 2019-20. Es una gran combinación con sus puntos fuertes de enseñanza y su experiencia creativa. Además de su Maestría en Bellas Artes en Dirección, Sooz ha tomado el desarrollo profesional Design Thinking. En sus clases de teatro, nuestros estudiantes y sus familias han llegado a saber que Sooz tiene una habilidad natural para atraer y nutrir la creatividad individual de cada estudiante. En sus nuevas clases de diseño, Sooz planea utilizar un enfoque basado en proyectos, en el que los estudiantes continuarán explorando algunas de las identidades de diseño introducidas en años anteriores (diseñador de juegos, diseñador de moda, creador) y explorarán nuevas identidades de diseño como arquitecto, productor de medios, diseñador de producción teatral y artista gráfico. Ella ha pasado parte de este verano asistiendo a actividades adicionales de desarrollo profesional relacionadas con el diseño. Antes de EBI, Sooz enseñó en las escuelas del Área de la Bahía durante 22 años, incluidos 10 años en Park Day.

As the middle school drama teacher, Sooz will add design to her portfolio in 2019-20. It’s a great match with her teaching strengths and creative background. In addition to her Master of Fine Arts in Directing, Sooz has taken Design Thinking professional development. In her theater classes, our students and families have come to know that Sooz has a natural ability to draw out and nurture each student’s individual creativity. In her new design classes, Sooz plans to use a project-based approach, in which students will continue to explore some of the design identities introduced in previous years (game designer, fashion designer, maker) and explore new design identities such as architect, media producer, theatre production designer, and graphic artist. She has spent part of this summer attending additional design-related professional development activities. Prior to EBI, Sooz taught in Bay Area schools for 22 years, including 10 years at Park Day.