Spanish Track Faculty

‘09-’10 Spanish Track Teachers

Spanish Track PreK (3 year olds) Teacher
VICKY LAMEAR
Born in Acapulco, México; raised in Cancun and Monterrey, México
Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Psychology from Universidad de Montemorelos
Master’s Degree in Family Therapy – Candidate
Teaching since 1992; teaching at TIS since 1996 (LOA 2008-09)

It has been a wonderful experience to see children learning another language and culture. I really enjoy the family environment at TIS, and I love watching my little ones becoming independent little people and talking my language.

Like many parents, I think TIS offers a wonderful gift we can give our children. It gives them another door to our world.

Spanish Track PreK (3 year olds) Teacher
MARY SANCHEZ
Born and raised in México City.
Executive Secretary Certificate, Child Development Associate – Candidate
Teaching since 1987; teaching at TIS since 1997

I really enjoy sharing my language and culture with the children. I particularly like having the little ones – I can see every day how they enjoy learning another language and other cultures.

Spanish Track LowK (4 year olds) Teacher
JOSSIE TORRES-JURADO
Born in Manhattan; raised in Puerto Rico
Bachelor’s Degree in Math and Computers from Universidad de Puerto Rico
Teaching since 1988; teaching at TIS since 1994

I am a Puerto Rican girl who loves to be around children. I enjoy my work a lot. For me, working with children is not just about teaching them. It is also about learning with them and appreciating who they are.As a teacher, I see myself as a facilitator for my children. My job is to help them or guide them to discover how wonderful they are, and how great it is to learn new things. Also, I want them to realize that they are little teachers for one antoher, exchanging their knowledge and skills.

Spanish Track LowK (4 year olds) Teacher
ABELID (Abby) DOMINGUEZ
Born in Mexico, raised in the US since age 12.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Portland State University
Teaching at TIS since 2008

I strongly believe in the learning abilities and capacities of young students. The stronger the foundations, the more opportunities the children will have to expand their knowledge in the years to come.I enjoy teaching young students about their significant role in the community and love to spend time seeing their minds and intellect grow from day to day.
For me, teaching is a passion.

Spanish Track Kindergarten Teacher
ADELA PEDROSA-CORREA
Born and raised in Velez Benaudalla, Spain
Bachelor’s Degree in Education with majors in Kindergarten, Spanish Language, History & Geography from University of Granada in Spain
Master of Arts in Psychology
Teaching since 1985; teaching at TIS since 2000

I entered the world of education with the full conviction that I was going to “teach” certain things to the kids, and guide them through their first years of school. After so many experiences, I feel passionate about being there “with them” day by day as I try to get to know them, understand them and enjoy them. They arrive to me every year in September full of anticipation, fears and excitement for the big step: “Kindergarten”. As time goes by, we get to know each other and we form relationships. We learn to negotiate, to work hard, to discuss passionately and to enjoy our little community. But we also try to find our own voices. It is in this complex and unique process that I learn to love the children for who they are, that I try to guide them through academic and emotional success and, most importantly, that I appreciate and celebrate the interactions that we have every day.

I consider myself very lucky! Teaching in The International School allows me to be part of an immersion program in my mother tongue. This is a complex process since it involves the teaching of academic contents, emotional abilities, and daily negotiations in a language that is foreign to the children. To be part of this sophisticated educational environment is an enriching and challenging professional task for me. It is always amazing to “see” the way each child will develop his/her academic abilities through a new language. It is in this stimulating environment that children will surprise me year after year.

Spanish Track Kindergarten Teacher
FERRAN RIBO
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; raised in El Masnou, Catalonia, Spain
Bachelor’s degree in Education, Teacher Degree in Early Child Education from Universitat Ramon LLull, Blanquerna.
Teaching since 1995; teaching at TIS since 2007

I strongly believe that every child is a unique individual, a creative and active learner who has to be treated with respect. I try to create a safe environment, positive and fun time which helps to enrich children’s knowledge of their world and increase their understanding of their place in it. Teaching Kindergarten is an amazing experience that makes every day special and gives me the chance to learn from children and from myself.As a Catalan, a Spaniard from the Catalan region, I have had the chance to be raised in a bilingual society that gives you the treasure of being part of a very diverse society. I speak four languages, have taught in tree different countries, and have traveled through all the American continent. All of us have learned our own language through immersion, and I am sure this is the best way to learn a new one. At The International School, we are creating a safe environment for learning and sharing about ourselves and the world’s diversity from the early years. Being a teacher at the International School is giving me the chance to get involved in this little universe of languages, diversity and knowledge. It is a privilege and an honor to be part of this school. At TIS, we have the world in our hands.

Spanish Track 1st Grade Teacher
IVONNE TELLEZ
Born and raised in México City
Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogy from Universidad Nacional Autónomo de México
Teaching since 1989; teaching at TIS since 2000

I really enjoy the multicultural environment at TIS. I love children at all ages because each one has its own enchantment. I love that each class and each child is unique. In all my years of teaching, I have never had two groups of children that are the same – that is one of the reasons I love my job. Every year I meet new people and they fill me with energy and happiness.

Spanish Track 1st Grade Teacher
GLORIA WIDDOWS
Born and raised in Temuco, Southern Chile
Bachelor’s degree in Education through the age of 7 from The Catholic University, Chile.
Teaching since 1994; teaching at TIS 2000-2005, and again since 2008

Teaching provides me the fulfilling experience of making a difference in young minds. Children are happy, sensitive,creative, full of curiosity and willing to learn. I like TIS values and what its mission stands for. This is why I want my own children to attend TIS because I want them to learn languages skills, respect and understand cultural differences.

Spanish Track 2nd Grade Teacher, Summer Camp Director
PILAR ARIAS
Born and raised in Temuco, Southern Chile
Bachelor’s Degree in High School Teaching from The Catholic University, Chile
Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Playa Ancha University, Chile
Master’s Degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction Program, Educational Leadership specialty, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Portland State University
Teaching since 1990; teaching at TIS since 1998

Teaching younger children keeps me active intellectually when I have to research and find the best approaches and strategies to teach them effectively. It also gives me the possibility of being one of the positive influences in their lives through the activities and daily interactions in class. It is a joy to be around them encouraging and nurturing their growth.I like the multiculturalism at TIS, expressed in the three foreign languages and the fact that I can teach academics using my native language. I love to work in a school where all the different constituents respect and value diversity.I enjoy working at TIS because it has a positive atmosphere for children’s development and growth. Being immersed in another language has a positive impact on the students’ lives and helps them learn other frames of reference besides the one from their own culture.

Spanish Track 2nd Grade Teacher
LIZETTE MUÑOZ

Bio will be posted in the coming weeks.

Spanish Track 3rd Grade Teacher
ADRIANA BURROLA
Born and raised in Toluca, Mexico.
Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico (UAEM)
Master’s Degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction program at Portland State University
Teaching since 1992; taught at TIS 2006-07 and since 2008

Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions. It is a delight to be involved in the development of younger children, especially because you get to see them grow and become independent. I am aware of the big responsibility that being a teacher implies, since children spend most of their time at school with us.I really enjoy teaching at TIS because of the multicultural environment it promotes. It is amazing to see little children who are indeed speaking the target language. But it is not only the target language or the culture that they acquire at TIS, they are also getting ready to be successful citizens of the world.

Spanish Track 4th Grade Teacher;Spanish Track Lead Teacher
MARIA LIRA
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela
Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Universidad Central de Venezuela
Master’s Degree in Arts from Portland State University
Teaching since 1990; teaching at TIS since 2002

I have been teaching children at the elementary school level since I was 18 years old, and I especially love to teach first and second grades. Teaching allows me to be in contact with people and learn new things on a daily basis.I have also worked with children who have dyslexia and troubles with their attention span. As part of my passion I worked for an association (ABANSA) that has as a mission to help homeless children. I helped them create an after-school program for homeless children and a training and development center for their parents. In Portland, I taught Spanish at PCC and at PSU. Right now I am pursuing my Masters Degree in Spanish at PSU. I like to spend my free time doing activities with my family such as cooking and dancing.

Spanish Track 4th Grade Teacher
ROCIO BAKER
Born and raised in Peru
BA in Liberals Studies from Portland State University
MA in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University
ESL-Bilingual Endorsement, Bilingual Teacher Pathway Program – PSU
Teaching since 2000; teaching at TIS since 2009

It is a great honor web--Rocio

to be working for the International School in Portland. I previously worked for the Hillsboro and the Woodburn School Districts. I worked as a public school teacher/specialist for seven years. My duties included assessing; instructing and reporting students’ updated information to Special Programs; supervising assistants and developing curriculum. The schools I worked in were language immersion schools where Spanish, Russian, and English were taught. I would like to thank Dr. Orsini, head of the school, and Mrs. Abad, the school principal, for giving me the opportunity to work for the International School. It has been great so far.I have a two year old who will be ready to start pre-school the next school year. My husband is from California. We used to live there before moving to Oregon in 2001. He works for the Woodburn School District as a high school teacher. He and I talk about each other’s schools and how things are going almost every day. My mom lives with us. I am fortunate to have her with me. She helps me take care of my very active toddler.

What about my dreams and aspirations? I aspire to travel around the world. I would also like to write a book or a children’s story. It’s great to work in an environment where language acquisition takes place every time we instruct, talk to other teachers and staff members, and even parents.

Spanish Track 5th Grade Teacher
CONSTANZA WILKES
Born in Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia
Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from St. Buenaventura University
Two years of business education, including accounting.
Teaching since 1983; teaching at TIS since 1999

After volunteering on weekends at an elementary school at the age of thirteen, I decided to become a teacher. I taught at Salesian Catholic School and at Rufina Cuervo Public School in Bogotá before moving to the USA. Teaching continues to be a very satisfying career for me. My preference ahs always been teaching children in elementary school.Teaching is a very rewarding profession. A great responsibility is put into our hands to educate today the citizen of tomorrow. I believe it is very important to prepare meaningful lessons to give our students a solid foundation so they can participate sensibly in today’s society. It gives me enormous satisfaction to see my students’ academic and social growth.Teachers at TIS distribute ideas, materials, experience, and methodology among the different tracks to enhance students’ educational experiences. It is wonderful to be able to contribute and also receive the benefits from the vision brought to TIS by teachers from different countries. The administration is open and supportive of new ideas and methods that provide the best education for our children.

Spanish Track Assistant Teacher
LUZMILA AIXA SOLARI
Born and raised in Lima, Peru
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Education – Candidate
Taught 1992-1994 in Peru; teaching at TIS since 2006

I enjoy the children’s learning process and seeing their success. I am excited about all the different cultures and languages with students and teachers at The International School. There is a lot to learn!

Spanish Track Assistant Teacher
ELVIA VAZQUEZ CANALES
Born and raised in Pachuca Hidalgo México
Four years of Industrial Engineering at Instituto Tecnologico de Pachuca
Child Development Assistant Diploma from Portland Community College
Teaching since 2005; teaching at TIS since 2006

I love working with children. One of my desires is to see them grow and mature in every area of their learning. I enjoy being part of that growth and knowing that in educating the young minds of the future, I am planting a seed that will bloom into a beautiful flower and will yield good fruits. I believe that part of that knowledge is transmitted through the Hispanic culture and language, and will equip children to become successful citizens in the era of globalization.

Spanish Track Assistant Teacher
PAOLO MAGAZ

Spanish Track Assistant Teacher
JUDITH MASJUAN

Spanish Track Assistant Teacher
ELIZABETH MARTINEZ