Teachers & Staff Copy 2023-07-28
TEACHERS & STAFF
Our talented teachers are community-minded educators from all over the Spanish-speaking world. We recognize and celebrate their different accents and unique experiences. We consider this diversity an important strength of OWP.
Alma Ayala
Alma was born in Brooklyn, but her family is originally from El Salvador. She feels very proud of her culture and country.
Alma began working at One World Project during the summer. She enjoyed working with the children and decided to join the team part time during her last year of high school.
Taking part of this experience has helped her realize what she wants to do in the future. Alma wants to pursue studies along the field of psychology and social work. She wants to help children, and families, express themselves and feel included.
Alma is a lover of animals and has a pet cat call Cutie and a fish called Cleo.
Amaia Gómez Marzabal
Amaia is from Bilbao, Spain. In Bilbao she taught English, German and art. She came to New York to grow as an artist and appreciates the opportunity to also pursue her teaching career. She says that she can “always relate art and language learning…”. She likes the way OWP selects quality materials and aligns curriculum with children’s interests.
During her free time, Amaia loves to explore everything related to art and she is thankful that New York offers her the possibilities to see amazing things everyday.
Aneli Aviles
Aneli is from Puebla, Mexico. She decided to become a teacher thanks to many of her own teachers that made a huge difference in her life - especially the teachers who taught her to never give up on her goals. She is most proud of going back to college19 years after graduating high school. She says, “college helped me understand more about child development... my classes and professors gave me the tools to become the teacher that I always wanted to be.”
During her free time, Aneli loves taking long walks in nature with her children.
Belén Garcia
Originally from Spain, Belén spent time in Mexico City and Chile before moving to New York City 14 years ago. Beyond fluency in Spanish, Belén translates from English into Spanish, and has experience in private tutoring. In school she studied the Arabic language and culture, leading to a degree in Arabic Philology.
Her wealth of experience, from educating her own three children, and knowledge of linguistics are evident as she creates a natural learning environment for children to acquire another language. She knows children learn best through play, and consistently engages learners in read-alouds, dramatic play and other child-centered activities.
“I love working with children who are learning
a second language.”
Brenda Hernandez
Brenda is from Puebla, Mexico. She chose to be a teacher because of a very special teacher. She tells us, “When I was seven years old, I came back to the United States and I was put in second grade and I had a hard time learning English. I repeated the grade because I did not have any help or support. It wasn’t until my second grade teacher Mrs. Brown helped me enjoy school. She took it upon herself to help me learn English. I want to be just like Mrs. Brown and help children in school. A child is not supposed to feel pressure or be worried - they should feel free to learning new things and make mistakes.” Brenda loves working at OWP. “As soon as I walked through the door, I felt welcomed.”
Catalina Schliebener
Catalina is from Chile and has taught adults and teenagers, both in Chile and Argentina, where she lived for 8 years. She taught philosophy and art theory in university settings, and also conducted long-term art workshops in various arts institutions. Working with that range of people and topics has helped prepare her for the flexibility and creativity required in teaching children.
More recently, she co-founded a story-time for children at the Lesbian Herstory Archives that focused on sharing stories around difference, social justice, and gender expression
“Teaching has always been part of my practice, I really like to observe the learning process of children and learn from them. I like it because every day is different with children, and they connect to the present, as well as the more playful and creative aspects of ourselves.”
Chelsea Garcia
Chelsea is Brooklyn born and raised and proudly El Salvadorian. She practiced and taught carpentry for 4 years to high school students- where she found her passion for teaching. She is now working on her bachelor’s for Secondary Education in English. She is passionate about being a voice for students who haven’t learned how to use theirs yet. She wants to plant passion and patience in students within themselves, and help them become great communicators through writing and other mediums.
In her spare time Chelsea loves to dance, it makes her feel complete and whole.
Cindy Peña
Cindy was born and raised in New York. Her nationality is Salvadorian. She has worked with children of many different ages for a number of years. She is extremely proud to say that she has always had a great amount of patience with children, “ I always take the time to understand them.” She chose to become a teacher for the “aha” moments. “There have been times where students do not always understand what is being taught, and then suddenly there is that moment where they get it. The expression on their face is what keeps me motivated. I also enjoy watching how the children develop and discover themselves.” Cindy is certified in Early Childhood and Childhood Education.
A fun fact about Cindy is that when she was 18, she went skydiving. “It was such an adventure! Before jumping out of the plane, I felt so nervous. It was how
I felt afterwards that led me to realize that sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone is not necessarily always a bad thing. Ever since then, I love trying out new things...no matter how much they scare me!”
Danella García
Danella is from Caracas, Venezuela and immigrated to the United States when she was 20 to study English. In Venezuela, Danella organized children’s birthday parties and entertained them with songs and dance routines. She also volunteered at the children’s hospital. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Public Administration. She has also taught dance classes to children and has been teaching Zumba for 10 years.
She is a proud mom of Lucas and Noah. The most rewarding experience in her life has been raising her children and learning from them. She loves the philosophy of OWP and is excited to contribute and work collaboratively with parents and teachers.
During her spare time, she loves dancing and watching movies with her family.
Elvira Morán
Originally from northern Spain, Elvira moved to NYC in 1992 to further her education as a graphic designer.
After her son Felix was born in 2012, she became interested in all aspects of child development, and discovered her affinity with kids. After hosting a weekly Spanish-speaking play group at her home, volunteering in the toddler program at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and experiencing the OWP community as a parent, she decided to become a teacher. She worked as a substitute teacher at Maple Street School before joining the OWP’s teacher training program and later staff.
Elvira loves learning alongside her students and values OWP’s emphasis on fostering multiculturalism.
Gissela Arteaga
Gissela Arteaga grew up in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A former nanny, she has taught at One World Project since 2015, following in the footsteps of her mother, who taught children for 30 years.
“I feel like part of a family at OWP” she says. “Every day, I learn something new with the children.”
An enthusiastic cook and craftsperson, she especially enjoys opportunities to cook and work on creative projects alongside the students. “It’s endless, what you can learn with them.”
Inés Fagundo
Inés is from the Canary Islands in Spain. She studied education and kinesiology in her Bachelors degree. While she had a strong relationship with children during her student teaching and throughout her studies, it was only 4 years ago that she realized
that teaching was a real professional path for her.
“I realized teaching would give me unique experiences and constant learning.”
She appreciates One World Project’s values -
a respect for diversity, listening to others and a recognition of the necessity of being present.
“One World Project is like a big family.”
During her spare time, she is a swim teacher and loves to spend time in the water.
Irene García
Irene was born in Mexico City but grew up in Brooklyn. She has been a babysitter and started at OWP as a volunteer during her senior year of high school. What Irene likes best about working at OWP is seeing the freedom that children have “they get to choose how to use materials by using their own imagination, it is quite remarkable to witness” she says.
Irene is a former competitive gymnast and dancer, and she loves to move around. Her experience at OWP has inspired Irene to start taking classes in education. She is not pursuing her Child Development Associate Credential.
Jenny Luna
Jenny is an educator and musician passionate about incorporating music and movement into all aspects of learning. Before joining OWP, Jenny worked at two different preschools in New York City where she had the opportunity to work with children in special education programs. Jenny is drawn to teaching because she enjoys the “opportunity to impart knowledge to children and assist them in learning things that will help shape their lives in a positive way.” As a heritage Spanish speaker, she is committed to OWP’s vision of building multilingual communities. She holds a degree in Contemporary Music from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design and is an active performer at various venues around New York City.
Born and raised in Alamo, Texas near the border of Mexico, Jenny moved to Brooklyn in August 2011.
Joanne Derwin
Joanne Derwin, is a mother of two bilingual children and an experienced nonprofit manager, educator, and social justice advocate. Before initiating OWP, Joanne worked at the Alliance for a Greater New York and Urban Agenda, organizations aimed at building a thriving, green, and just New York. Previously, Joanne worked at the Ford Foundation and helped manage three grantmaking initiatives with a combined annual budget of $12 million.
Joanne has also done research for Partners of the Americas and the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership in Washington D.C. and spent two years working as an English teacher in Alicante and Barcelona, Spain. She is a graduate in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder and holds a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University.
Karina Cuervo
Karina was born and raised in Brooklyn NY. She is a daughter of Colombian parents who came to the United States to give her a better future. She has been working as a teacher’s assistant for four years and working with pre-K kids with, and without special needs. She’s caring, passionate and patient when working with kids. Karina is now completing studies for her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with plans to get into the field of occupational therapy.
Karina always dreamed of working in "a place where I can help kids and teach them new things that they will face in the outer world"
Karina loves to travel, and one of her favorite experiences so far has been swimming in the cenotes in Cancún, Mexico.
Kenia Ramos
Kenia was born in El Progreso, Guatemala; in a small town called Tulumajillo. She came to the United States at the age of 13 and just graduated ASA College this year. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice.
Since high school she did internships that prepared her to become an assistant teacher. Kenia chose to become a teacher because she enjoys observing the different ways that children can learn. She is looking forward to learning more about the OWP approach to children's education.
Kenia loves to travel and has visited El Salvador, Canada and Turks and Caicos. Her dream trip: Switzerland.
Keyla Mero
Keyla was born in Manabi, Ecuador, and lived 14 years of her life in a town called Jaramijo. She worked as a babysitter from 16 years old and continued until her last year of college, an experience she enjoyed greatly.
About her vocation for teaching she says: “When I was 14 years old I met one of the best teachers: Lydia. It was difficult to get along at school because I didn't know any English and she had all the patience through my best and worst moments. I always wanted to be a "Lydia" for a "Keyla"...”
One of the things Keyla loves most about OWP is the freedom that each child has, and the freedom in the use of their imagination. Keyla is eager to learn through observation of children at play. In her free time Keya likes to paint, it helps her disconnect and relax.
Maria Rivera
Maria Rivera grew up in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and has a Master of Science in General Education and Special Education from Touro College and more than 15 years of classroom experience. In her classroom at One World Project, she takes an individualized approach to accommodate every child’s learning style, and to better teach the language and culture of Spanish and Latin cultures to non-Spanish-speaking children.
Maria decided to work at OWP for its supportive and welcoming community of parents, teachers, administrators and staff; and for the opportunity to work with young children. She says that the children “continually amaze me. I truly love being an educator and having the opportunity to be a part of their lives. My hope is to always instill in all of my children
a love of learning.”
Marixsa Rodriguez
Marixsa was born in Puerto Rico and ventured to Brooklyn after graduating college. She has been active in her own children’s early childhood education and development. She says, “becoming a mom changed my perspective in life and inspired a hands on role in my children’s education that evolved into a commitment with my community. My children and my students have inspired all the playgroups, co-op schools and summer camps I have led and taught throughout the years.” She loves being a teacher because she believes there is power in letting children learn, play and explore their natural surroundings.
Marixsa loves dancing “from school performances and salsa club dancing to Puerto Rican Bomba community circle”. She also enjoys biking around Brooklyn with her three children, as well as tending to their garden and cooking in East Flatbush.
Marta Prudencio
Marta grew up in Badajoz, a city in Spain’s southwestern Extremadura region. Prior to joining
One World Project, she volunteered for a number
of teaching jobs including the Academy of St.Joseph
and CENY. She continues to do so today, most recently working with children at a refugee camp in Bali.
Marta has a teaching Degree in Elementary Education at the UNEX in Badajoz and a master's in Bilingual Education at UNIR. She completed her teaching internship at the International School of Brooklyn ISB. She also got a scholarship in the Darmasiswa Indonesian Art and Culture program in Bali.
As a teacher, Marta prioritizes cultural understanding, building friendships and community, and responsible stewardship of the environment. An active painter and craftsperson in her spare time, she brings her love of the arts to the classroom, encouraging children to freely explore their creative impulses.
Mery Duenas
Mery was born in Ayacucho, Perú and grew up in el Callao, Lima. After she moved to New York, over 30 years ago, she started working as a nanny, kept helping her family and formed her own family. She is mom to a 25 year old!
She loves working with children, witnessing their growth and development and participating in their play. What she likes the most about teaching at OWP is learning and applying the school philosophy of collaboration and the positive impact of social emotional learning in children.
Michelle Morales
Michelle Morales was born and raised in New York City, but spent her childhood summers and two years of her adolescence in her other hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia.
Michelle holds a bachelors degree in psychology from New York University, and is currently pursuing her Masters in early childhood education at Hunter College. An avid gardener in her spare time, she helped lead the establishment and upkeep of the landscaping and garden at One World Project, the continued care of which is now a favorite part of every class’s curriculum and activities.
She credits her degree in psychology with recognizing the importance of social-emotional learning in the classroom, while her current studies elucidate the importance of meaningful interactions for learning. “Teaching found me,” she says. “Being a Spanish speaker gave me this opportunity, and the joy and excitement of learning alongside the children keeps me going.”
Miriam Salazar
Mirian was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico. She has worked babysitting and cleaning for over 12 years and is a mom of two. She enjoys interacting with children and she feels that “at OWP we are a big family and I feel I can learn everyday how to become a better teacher” she says. In her free time Miriam enjoys visiting the park and spending time with her family.
Mónica Paillet Zurdo
One World Project’s founding Spanish teacher, Mónica Paillet Zurdo, came to the school with more than a decade of early-childhood teaching experience, and has taken the lead in shaping its pioneering play-based language-acquisition curriculum, as well as its overall pedagogical philosophy. She now serves as the school’s preschool director.
Mónica holds a master’s degree in educational psychology and a bachelor’s degree in education, both from the University of Valladolid, Spain, as well as extensive training in intercultural education. Her work history includes positions as an early-childhood speech therapist, a kindergarten teacher, and a teacher and academic director for the Centro Educativo en Español de Nueva York (CENY), a Spanish government-supported center offering a language-immersion program. “A better world requires better education” she says. I believe in the transformative value of school.
Monica Wong
Monica is from Iquitos, Peru. She has worked in a variety of settings and is now pursuing a career in teaching. She says that being a teacher gives her the opportunity to help shape children's future; “we not only teach, we also learn from them,” she says.
Monica loves working at OWP because she feels like “it is a home for everyone”.
During her spare time, Monica loves to spend time with her family. She loves to travel around the world and see new places.
Nizza Rodriguez Ortiz
Nizza was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Covington, Kentucky in a family of teachers. Her undergrad studies took place in Cincinnati, Ohio and her family is from the state of Coahuila, Mexico. She is most proud of completing her graduate studies during the pandemic, she was motivated and eager to teach!
Nizza has been fully bilingual since the age of 6. Working in a summer long art camp with bilingual children made her realized she wanted to work with children, “it was such a privilege to witness their unique forms of communication,” she says.
At OWP she is impressed by the community approach, open communication and the fluidity of language expression. She is looking forward to learning about the direct and indirect ways children will pick up Spanish and apply it in their lives.
Raquel Ballesteros
Raquel is from Granada, in southern Spain. She discovered her passion for teaching early in high school when she started tutoring math, science and studying skills.
Later she received a Master's Degree in Psychology and worked in a hospital psychiatry department assisting researchers, psychiatrists and psychologists before moving to NYC.
“I was lucky to discover OWP after moving to NYC - one of the rare places sharing many of my principles and values, encouraging children to be themselves, and requiring us to do our part with empathy and assertively.”
Rocio Manrique
Rocio was born in Trujillo, Peru; but has lived in Brooklyn for almost 30 years. She considers two of her greatest accomplishments in life: raising two gentlemen with great hearts, and becoming a teacher while raising her family all by herself. She completed her Bachelor’s while teaching in NYC Public Schools and later completed her Master’s degree in special education. Her work experience spans from preschool, to second grade in both public and private schools.
She feels becoming a teacher gives her the opportunity to make a difference in young children. At OWP, Roció is most excited about the child oriented curriculum and the integration of music, art, movement, and free play; with a focus on social emotional development. In her free time Rocío loves to Zumba.
Sara Ruiz
Sara was born and raised in Morelos, Mexico. She moved to the United States at 16. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was 6 years old. In the Spring of 2017, she returned to college to pursue her dream. Recently, she graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor Degree in Childhood Education with a Bilingual Education extension.
Sara is very passionate about child development and understands her role as an educator “is to not only be the person who will introduce my students to the world of letters and numbers. My role as an educator is also to provide them with the necessary tools to be caring,. “I believe it is essential to learn and understand my student’s backgrounds, cultures, religions, and most importantly their individual needs”
Sara's favorite hobbies are watching movies on rainy days, listening to music, and playing video games with her family. During her free time, Sara loves to ride her bicycle and swim.
Silvana Faccio
Silvana was born in el Callao, district of Lima, Peru. She has lived in Brooklyn for the last 25 years and has worked as a babysitter and service provider for 17 years, with children ages newborns to 12 years old. Silvana enjoys reading and singing to the children.
Her recent experience in OWP as a teacher's assistant has awakened her interest in becoming a teacher. About working at OWP she says, “I love the way we teach our children to function and be independent, to learn Spanish and the diversity of our Latino culture”. Silvana wants to learn to develop her teaching skills using the appropriate strategies. In her spare time she enjoys going shopping, walking and watching movies.
Silvia Fernandez
After working in fashion, finance and marketing around the world in Spain, England and Germany; Silvia moved to Brooklyn with her family of four and found a job at One World Project. In her role as Director of Finance, Silvia manages the organizational budget, and she is a liaison between parents and the school.
“I love the environment at One World Project,” says Silvia. “Everyone in our great community of families supports each other.” Silvia herself speaks three languages (Spanish, English and German) and she learned her second and third languages as an adult, which has its challenges. “I have to translate in my head and concentrate to speak in another language,” she says, adding that she is a huge proponent of OWP’s immersion program. “For children this age, there is no effort to learn to speak, it comes so naturally. These kids are not just learning a language, they are opening up to global culture - they see the world differently because of this school.”
Sonia Nolasco
Sonia was born in El Salvador and came to New York when she was 22 years old. She was a babysitter and housekeeper for a number of years and has raised two daughters on her own. Sonia loves everything about OWP, but most of all she likes “how the staff is with one another, we are a strong community” she says.
Sonia enjoys listening to music during her free time and exploring new places.
Teresa Amendola
Teresa was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before she started working as a teacher she worked for 3 years as a home attendant helping families with their children. She says, “I love working with young children, I feel that they transmit a lot of tenderness and in turn we learn from them.” “
In her spare time, Teresa likes to go to the movies and get ice cream. She also enjoys her summer vacations camping in the mountains and enjoying the fresh air.