ISSN Speakers
Jade Adams is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, and she has always had a passion to share her
language and culture. She began her teaching career at International High School at Sharpstown (IHSS)
in 2008 and established the Mandarin Chinese program from the ground up. Currently, she is teaching
Chinese I, II, III, and IV classes. She engages students in a rich curriculum through technology, diverse
instructional strategies, and performance-based assessments. Aside from her teaching assignment, she is
actively involved with Asia Society’s world language team. She is also a member of various professional
organizations, such as ACTFL and CLASS.
She co-wrote two grants for IHSS in 2010, and as a result, IHSS received an award for the 2010-2011
school year from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affair’s Teachers of
Critical Languages Program. The grant brought a Chinese guest teacher from China to IHSS campus on
an exchange basis. IHSS also received the Confucius Classroom grant. The goal of having these two
valuable programs is to share educational best practices and form long-term relationships between
countries and schools in the United States and China. In May 2011, Ms. Adams was honored with IHSS’
Teacher of the Year Award.
Ellie Azghandi was born in Fullerton, Southern California. At ten years old, she moved to Iran, her
father’s homeland. Because she could not speak Farsi, attending school in Iran was exceptionally
challenging. Despite the lack of second language learning facilities, Ellie did well and later received her
Bachelor’s in English Literature from Ferdowsi National University of Iran in June 2006. She then came
back to the US and earned a Master’s degree and a New York State Teaching Certificate in ESL from
Columbia University Teachers College in May 2009. Other than her ESL teaching experience with
elementary and high school students in the greater New York City area, Ellie has also taught ESL to K-12
and adult students in Iran. She is fluent in both English and Farsi. Other than having traveled throughout
Iran, Ellie has visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, England, France, Canada, and Mexico, the
home of her maternal great-grandparents. In honor of her Mexican-American heritage, Ellie’s focus is on
strengthening her Spanish speaking skills. She shares the vision of the Global Learning Collaborative and
is very enthused about contributing to its success this year.
Kathy Bieser just completed her fourth year as principal at the International School of the Americas (ISA).
Prior to becoming principal in the fall of 2007, she served as a social studies teacher and assistant
principal at the school. She received both her Masters of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education in
School Administration from Trinity University. Kathy is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in
Social Studies/ History.
Marlene Blocker has been in the educational field for the past 23 years. She spent her last twenty two
years working at the elementary level as a teacher, mentor, assistant principal, and principal. In
September 2010 Marlene fulfilled a dream and became the founding principal of the Rochester Early
College International High School. The mission of this new school is to provide an innovative
educational opportunity that cultivates confident, college immersed globally competent scholars.
Marlene’s goal is to make college graduation the norm for every scholar that walks through the RECIHS
doors. Marlene is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, State University of
New York at Brockport, and Saint John Fisher College.
Jessica Bradley is the Projects teacher for the upper grades at the Ambassador School of Global Education
(ASGE). In addition to teaching fourth and fifth grade students in a combined multi-age classroom, she is
a member of the Governance Board and the Instructional Leadership Team, where she works with other
teachers and school partners on curriculum development and administrative duties. Bradley received a
BA in English from Chapman University and is an alumna of the University of California, Los Angeles
where she completed the Principal Leadership Institute and received her Master’s Degree. After
graduating from Chapman, Bradley began teaching Structured English Immersion classes at Gratts
Elementary School. In her eight years at Gratts, she taught four different grade levels. In addition to
teaching, Bradley also received National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Specialist. Bradley
recently completed the inaugural year of ASGE, where she is working to develop an interdisciplinary
approach to learning as a Projects teacher.
Joe Canale was installed as Principal of the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies
effective September 2011. Prior to that time, Mr. Canale served as Assistant Principal since June 2008.
In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Mr. Canale teaches Senior Instructional Leadership
Corps. Prior to coming to CSI High School, Mr. Canale was an Assistant Principal for Administration for
three years at Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn where he supervised the Division of Safety and
Security. Mr. Canale was Clara Barton High School’s Director of Senior Activities and a social studies
teacher before he moved into his administrator’s role. Mr. Canale has been an adjunct lecturer for
Kingsborough Community College since September of 2000, where he lectures in the areas of Sociology
and Behavioral Sciences.
Ellen Devaney is the lead deep dive teacher for the English department at Sharpstown International School
(formerly the International High School at Sharpstown). She teaches English I and English II at IHSS.
As a lead teacher, she initiated the effort to replace traditional multiple choice final exams with digital
portfolios.
Rachel Dahill-Fuchel A native New Yorker, Rachel Dahill-Fuchel is herself the product of 12 years of NYC public schools.
She then earned her BA in English and Theater Arts from Queens College of the City University of New
York, followed by her Masters in Performance and Theater Education from Emerson College in Boston.
Rachel also has earned her Professional Diploma in the Administration of Urban Education from
Fordham University. While Rachel began her career in the NYC Department of Education more than 25
years ago, she has since taught English Language Arts, Theater Arts, Spanish, Humanities, Advisory,
Conflict Mediation, and many other classes in a variety of schools in NYC, Boston, California, and
Mexico. For the past 11 years, Rachel has worked for the UFT Teacher Centers, as a resource, mentor,
and school community builder. In addition to teaching, Rachel has worked as an actor, and is a published
writer. Rachel is very excited at this point in her career to be helping to pioneer a new high school. As a
community and school member, with her own children attending public schools, Rachel is seeking to
build strong bridges between our Global Learning Collaborative and the neighborhood.
Allison Fisher is a new teacher at The Global Learning Collaborative. She earned her B.A. in Theatre
Arts and Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh and her M.S. in Biology Education at Long Island
University.
Kevin Gillion has traveled extensively in Latin America and has taught all levels of the Spanish Language
from a Freirean perspective for seven years. He is currently the World Languages Department Chair at
Austin High School. His colleague, Ryan Kerr and he have developed a reputation at the Academy of
Global Studies (AGS) as world class, world travelin’ teachers of Spanish and English Language Arts who
blend Freire, punk rock, and the ancient arts to empower and enlighten young people.
Bridget Hanks is one of the many innovative educators at Aveson School of Leaders in Altadena,
California. She is both an advisor in an independent studies classroom and a co-op member in the
educator-owned and operated professional practice, Aveson Educational Cooperative, Inc. She is very,
very “yellow”. This is her eighth year of teaching.
Tonilee Hanson, a science educator for over thirty years, has taught PreK-16 students, developed curriculum,
served as a teacher trainer, coach and mentor, coordinated events, and formed partnerships. Tonilee
served for three years as the Science Education Coordinator at the University of Southern California
Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology. She managed the National Science Foundation Grant,
PRAXIS, which trained 150 teachers and administrators in inquiry based, hands-on-science. Tonilee also
served for three years as the National Director of Professional Development for Different Ways of
Knowing, a school reform model implemented in twelve states by the Galef Institute. Most recently, she
has developed stewardship and watershed curriculum for the National Park Service, evaluated a Southern
California Edison water and energy efficiency curriculum, served from 2005 – 2008 as an Asia Society ISSN coach in Los Angeles, and as Graduate Portfolio System science consultant since 2009. Tonilee lives in beautiful Spokane, WA, where she serves as Program Director for Spokane EnviroStars [www.spokaneenvirostars.org] a program that recognizes businesses for properly handling hazardous
waste and conserving resources. Tonilee also directs the Spokane River Forum Meet Me at the River Raft
& Kayak Eco-Tours interfacing with scientists and natural resource managers to design eco-tours focused
on water quality and watershed restoration. She has paddled the entire 111 mile length of the Spokane
River and created opportunities for over 500 individuals to participate in river eco-tours. Tonilee is a
passionate advocate for a healthy global environment.
Alissa Hauck has been in the educational field for the past six years. She has spent her last four years as a
teacher and coordinator of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. AVID is a
skill based program that provides tools and techniques for learning to students who will be first
generation college attendees. In September 2010 Alissa became a founding teacher of the Rochester
Early College International High School. As a member of this staff she has had the opportunity to
collaborate and learn from an array of individuals who share the same culminating purpose, to prepare
scholars not just to go to college, but to graduate from college. Alissa is a proud graduate of Monroe
Community College and Nazareth College of Rochester. She will be graduating in August with a Masters
in Literacy from an online Graduate Program through the University of New England.
Heidi Hursh has been a teacher at the Denver Center for International Studies since 1990 and helped to
introduce portfolios and senior presentations in the late 1990s. Her previous teaching experience was in
schools in Asia and Latin America as well as in New York, where she was involved in developing state
curriculum materials for Afro-Asian Studies. She holds a BA from Vassar College in history, an MA
from the University of Rochester in Education, and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver in Curriculum
Leadership. For ten years she taught at the Center for Teaching International Relations, the outreach
center for the Graduate School of International Studies at DU. Currently, she is the DCIS Site
Coordinator for the Urban Community Teacher Education Program of the University of Colorado at
Denver.
Tom Hyatt is an advisor at Aveson Global Leadership Academy. He holds a Masters in Education and a
Bachelor of Fine Arts/Dramatic Arts and Literature from the University of California, San Diego. He has
toured the globe with students of all ages, with stops in New York, Washington D.C., China, Australia,
and New Zealand. Tom holds a credential in Social Science, is a published playwright, and has taught in
Kinder classrooms all the way to the college level. As an advocate of Global Studies at Aveson Global
Leadership Academy, Tom was able to represent the ISSN at the TED Active conference this past March.
He also helped create and implement an East Coast/West Coast student exchange. Over a dozen students
were able to travel from coast to coast as families served as local hosts.
Anthony (“Tony”) Jackson is vice president for education at Asia Society. He also leads Asia Society’s
Partnership for Global Learning (PGL), a national membership network of practitioners and policymakers
dedicated to integrating knowledge about Asia and the world, as a mainstay of American education. At
Asia Society, he has led the development of Asia Society’s International Studies Social Schools Network
(ISSN), an effort within the PGL to create a network of small, effective, internationally themed
elementary and secondary schools across the country. Before joining Asia Society, he was a director of
the Walt Disney Company’s Disney Learning Partnership. Trained in both developmental psychology
and education, Jackson is one of the nation’s leading experts on secondary school reform and adolescent
development. Jackson worked on Capitol Hill as a senior staff member on the Select Committee on
Children, Youth and families, and later directed the Carnegie Corporation’s Task Force on the Education
of Young Adolescents, which produced the groundbreaking report Turning Points, and served as a
Program Officer at Carnegie Corporation. He also co-authored the follow-up blueprint Turning Points
2000, which transformed many of the design principles in the original report into concrete action steps for
new and reconstituted secondary schools.
Melissa Jacobs Thibaut has been a professional educator for 19 years. She began her career as a Teach
for America corps member and then spent 5 years in the US Peace Corps first in Cape Verde and then as
the first corps group in Mozambique. She is the founding principal of the Houston Academy for
International Studies, an early college high school that has received an Exemplary rating and recognition
as a Higher Performing Title I School from the state of Texas and national acclaim from the Washington
Post.
Jennifer Kapral is the Dean of Students at the Sharpstown International School in Houston, Texas. She has
taught English as a Second Language, Pre-AP English, and Model United Nations. Jennifer has studied
abroad in the Balkans, Ireland, Brazil, and Russia. She was Fullbright Hays Scholar in Egypt in 2010 and
has organized and developed technological connections with her students and students in Palestine and
Egypt. She incorporates the use of technology into teacher professional development and trainings, and
has worked with the ISSN Social Studies team to develop an advanced Model United Nations curriculum,
Global Engagements. She received her B.A. in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh
and her Master’s in Education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Ryan Kerr As a teacher of all things English, Ryan Kerr has planned curricular excursions to Washington DC, Paris,
London, Rome, and Capri. He currently teaches the AP Language and Composition arm of the American
Studies interdisciplinary project at the Academy for Global Studies at Austin High School where he has
found a perfect home for his childish altruism and general behavior. His colleague Kevin Gillion and he
have made it a point to accept no limits in helping every child find success.
Christine Kha is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton with a degree in American Studies. She holds a multi
subject teaching credential. In her first year as an advisor Christine has created and implemented an
Advisory program inspired by Aveson guiding principles as well as the Global Performance Outcomes.
Her work has helped middle school and high school students take their first steps at becoming global
learners. She continues to be an advocate of ‘taking action’ networking with local community members
to bring field trips, speakers, and other enrichment opportunities to the school community.
Timothy Kubik Since earning a joint doctorate in History and Political Science from The Johns Hopkins University, Tim
has worked in and consulted with a variety of initiatives designed to increase student engagement with the
ever-changing world of the 21st century. Currently Senior History and Social Studies Consultant to the
Asia Society’s International Studies Schools Network and National Faculty Member at the Buck Institute
for Education, Tim has written curriculum and taught courses at the elementary, secondary, postsecondary,
and graduate level; conducted numerous workshops on simulations-based learning; and is a
vocal advocate for a genuinely student-centered revival of lifelong education in his home state of
Colorado.
Juliette LaMontagne Ed.D., is a global technology consultant for the ISSN. Before joining the ISSN she
was a lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University and consultant for the Student Press Initiative—
a curriculum-based publication program. She is the founder of VOW Arts—a youth activist program that
fuses art, activism, and literacy. As a TED Senior Fellow, she is currently facilitating a design challenge
for young visionaries around the future of the book.
Lori Langer de Ramirez
Lori Langer de Ramirez began her career as a teacher of Spanish, French, and ESL. She holds a
Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers
College, Columbia University. She is currently the Chairperson of the ESL and World Language
Department for Herricks Public Schools in New York. Lori is the author of several books, including
Empower English Language Learners with Tools from the Web and Take Action: Lesson Plans for the
Multicultural Classroom and Voices of Diversity, as well as several Spanish-language books and texts.
She has contributed to many textbooks and written numerous articles about second language pedagogy
and methodology. Her website (www.miscositas.com) offers virtual picturebooks, videos, thematic units,
and other curricular materials for teaching Chinese, English, French, and, Spanish. Lori has presented
workshops at local, regional, and national conferences and in schools throughout the U.S. and around the
world. She is the recipient of the Brooks Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Culture, NEH grants,
and a Fulbright Award. Her areas of research and curriculum development are diversity education,
folktales and authentic materials, and technology in language teaching, with an emphasis on Web 2.0
tools.
Marjorie Larner, a former teacher and administrator, works with educators across the country as a
facilitator, instructional coach, and designer of professional development for districts, schools,
universities, publishers and non-profit organizations. She is currently a School Coach for Asia Society’s
International Studies School Network as well as serving as Site Professor for University of Colorado
Denver Urban Community Teacher Education Program and Co-Director of Colorado Critical Friends
Group. Marjorie is the author of Pathways: Charting a Course for Professional Learning (Heinemann
2004), Tools for Leaders: Indispensable Graphic Organizers, Protocols, and Planning Guidelines for
Working and Learning Together (Scholastic 2007), Access to Power: From School to Life, in a collection,
The Right to Literacy in Secondary Schools: Creating a Culture of Thinking (TCPress 2008) and Ten
Years Later with High School Students, in Comprehension Going Forward (Heinemann 2011).
Oscar Le is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he completed his BS degree in Biology
and his teaching certification in UTeach. He just completed his first year at IHSS teaching Biology,
Physics, Aquatic Science, and Integrated Physics and Chemistry. He has successfully incorporated GPS
tasks into his curriculum and it rocked. Oscar loves the Spanish language and wishes to revisit Spain.
Stan B. Leandro is in his twenty-ninth year in education. Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Stan is the eldest
of six children. The family migrated to New Jersey in 1966. In 1971 the family moved to Pacoima,
California. Stan graduated from San Fernando High School in 1978. He then attended Los Angeles
Valley College and graduated Cum Laude in 1980. He transferred to California State University,
Northridge the following fall. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1983. He has since earned two
Master Degrees from CSUN. Stan began his career in education working as a teacher’s assistant at the Telfair Children’s Center while
he put himself through college. He began to teach when he was 23 years old at Sun Valley Junior High
School. In his third year, Stan was offered a counseling position. He taught three periods in the morning
and worked as a counselor in the afternoon. He remained at SVJHS for fifteen years. In 1998, Stan
transferred to San Fernando Middle School where he worked as the Impact Coordinator working with “at
risk” students for seven years. In 2005, Stan resigned from the Los Angeles Unified School District to
join the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, a public charter school in Pacoima, as a counselor. The
following year, Stan assumed his current position as the proud director of Vaughn International Studies
Academy (VISA).
Susan Marion has taught English Language Arts at the Denver Center for International Studies since 2006.
Her teaching experience includes full-time elementary, middle, and high school assignments, as well as
experience as full-time faculty teaching undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation courses for state
licensure, including arts-integration and interdisciplinary curriculum development. She holds a B.F.A.
from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, an M.Ed. from the University of
Massachusetts/Boston in K-6 Education, an Ed.M. in Educational Technologies and an Ed.D. in Human
Development and Psychology from Harvard University. Before coming to DCIS, Susan worked for the
Denver Public Schools Curriculum Department, helping enact inquiry-based curriculum reform in
secondary English Language Arts across 17 high schools. Currently, she serves as GPS Deep Dive
Liaison, District Teacher Leader, UCD Mentor Teacher and AP Liaison for DCIS, and as a Peer Assistant
for the Denver Public Schools.
Amy McCammon holds a BA in Elementary Education and an M.Ed. focusing on the integration of
technology into classroom practices. Amy works with school leaders and teachers, providing strategic
support for operations, curricular design, and instructional strategies. Amy is currently the West Coast
ISSN Regional Coordinator working with a team of consultants in and around the Los Angeles area who
provide the technical support for two internationally focused schools in the L.A. area, which includes
district coordination and technical assistance to school leaders. She is co-founder of Aveson Educational
Cooperative and one of the current founders of Educators Cooperative. Personal mission includes
establishing educational cooperatives and promoting global competencies as an egalitarian option for
organizing schools.
Carol Mendenhall is an educator with 35 years experience who has done everything from teach high
school English to direct professional development for a nationally recognized school district. Along the
way she has developed a passion for ensuring that all students receive the same quality of education she
wished for her two sons. Currently, Carol works for the Asia Society as a coach for two schools, Director
of Coaching, and as a consultant for the English Language Arts curriculum creation process. Carol is a
national facilitator for Courage to Teach and Courage to Lead and believes all of us deserve to take the
time to remember why we became educators in the first place. In her spare time, she goes to the beach
with her husband and takes care of her three grandchildren, Vivi, Weston, and Nathan.
Alexis Menten is Associate Director in Asia Society’s Education division, where she leads afterschool
and youth leadership initiatives for the Partnership for Global Learning. She rejoined Asia Society after
several years in Central Asia and the Middle East, where she coordinated youth programs for the Aga
Khan Trust for Culture and directed educational technology projects for Relief International – Schools
Online. Prior to her work abroad, she was a producer for Asia Society’s family of websites as well as the
websites of other organizations, including the Museum of Modern Art. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr
College.
David Molina, Ph.D., is President of David Molina & Associates, Inc., an educational consulting
company, and is currently serving as the senior mathematics consultant to the Asia Society’s International
Studies Schools Network. A former high school teacher, he most recently served as a Program Director
and Senior Staff Member at The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Additionally, David has served on the faculties at The University of Texas at Austin and Trinity
University in San Antonio. His work includes contributions to professional development, leadership development, educational
technology, public education policy, curriculum development, and teacher preparation reform. David has
made contributions to textbook publishing where he served on authoring teams for high school, middle
school, and elementary mathematics series. David’s work is based on research, and it is grounded in
evidence from the field. Most of David’s professional work is field-based where he works with schools
and districts on mathematics curriculum design and implementation, improving instruction and
assessment practices, campus and district leadership development, data analysis, strategic planning, and
school improvement.
Honor Moorman is an educational consultant with the ISSN. She previously served on the faculty of the
International School of the Americas as an English Language Arts teacher, Internship and Service
Learning Coordinator, and Dean of Instruction for English and Social Studies. She has also taught preservice
teachers at Texas State University and Trinity University and served as a secondary literacy
specialist for the North East Independent School District. Honor is a National Board Certified Teacher, a
Google Certified Teacher, a Discovery Education Network STAR, a Flat Classroom Certified Teacher,
and a reviewer for ReadWriteThink.org. She has presented at numerous professional conferences and her
publications have been featured in Classroom Notes Plus, English Journal, English in Texas, The ALAN
Review, and Horace: The Journal of the Coalition of the Essential Schools. Last year she won second
prize and a teacher’s choice award in the PBS Teachers Innovation Awards and was named Teacher of
the Year by her colleagues. In November 2010, Honor hosted a TEDxYouth@ISA event as part of a
global TEDxYouthDay celebration of Universal Children’s Day.
Victoria Norton is a teacher at the International School of the Americas in San Antonio, TX. She has
begun her third year working at the International School of the Americas (ISA) as an Internship
Coordinator. She joined the ISA community after receiving a Master’s degree from Trinity University
and working in non-profit for a short time.
Elizabeth Ozuna Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This quote represents the inspiration that brings Liz
Ozuna to the ISSN. Liz comes from a background of small, internationally themed school experience
including founding the Mathis High School for International Studies (MHSIS) in Mathis, Texas, the only
rural ISSN school, and thirteen years at the International School of the Americas (ISA), a small, public
magnet school located on the Robert E. Lee campus in North East Independent School district in San
Antonio, Texas. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and
a Master of Education in School Administration, all from Trinity University. Liz currently works as a
school and instructional coach for the ISSN.
Stephen Parce Mr. Parce is the Principal at the Denver Center for International Studies. He is a Colorado native and the
fourth generation in his family to teach in Denver Public Schools. Mr. Parce received his first degree at
Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a triple major in Business Administration, German, and
Psychology. He earned his second degree and teaching license at the Metropolitan State College of
Denver with a major in History and a minor in Sociology. Mr. Parce earned his principal’s license and
his Master’s degree in Administration, Supervision, and Policy Studies at the University of Colorado. He
is a Ph.D. Candidate in Administration, Supervision, & Policy Studies at the University of Denver. Mr.
Parce also taught a variety of subjects that included Social Studies, English as a Second Language, World
Languages, and Computers and Technology. Mr. Parce has also worked with alternative education at
both the middle and high school level in DPS. Mr. Parce has studied French, Spanish, German, Japanese,
Esperanto, and a little Chinese. Mr. Parce has had the opportunities to travel to over 30 countries in North
America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Donald Proffit Principal of Lawrence High School in New Jersey until 2006, Don Proffit’s priorities were promoting a
caring, inclusive, safe school community, and supporting academic rigor, diversity, and ethics. In the
years leading up to his work in Lawrence, Proffit’s innovative education initiatives included directing a
“Fame” magnet high school in dance and theater and acting. Proffit’s passion for finding and
implementing tools for forming stronger, more inclusive communities has led him from Maine to Bali.
He is a regional steward for The World Café – a natural & effective way to host meaningful conversations
that awaken collective wisdom & engage collaborative action; an Ethical Literacy® coach with the
Institute for Global Ethics; and an arts curriculum consultant with Asia Society’s International Studies
Schools Network. He also serves on the executive committee of the Bali Institute for Global Renewal.
Proffit holds a master’s degree in educational leadership with a visual arts focus from Bank Street College
and Parsons School of Design, a master’s in creative arts education from Rutgers, and a bachelor’s degree
in music from the Westminster Choir College. He received the D. Bennett Mazur Award for Lifetime
Achievement from the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition for having made sustained and profound
contributions to transforming society at great risk to himself, has twice received the New Jersey
Governor’s Award in Arts Education, and is a John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Teacher
Fellow.
Patsy Quiroz just completed her first year of teaching at International School of the Americas. Although
she has been teaching for 6 years, Patsy is proud of the changes she has implemented in her science
lessons. From projects including science objectives to global issues, technology is the preferred learning
tool. After receiving her degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, she worked on cancer
research for a few years before embracing the opportunity to teach IPC, Chemistry, and Biology.
Laurie Smith just completed her 17th year as a classroom teacher and her fourth year at the International
School of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas. She has taught English, reading, speech, and theater arts,
making varied use of her English degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Although “cutting edge”
when Laurie was in school in the 70’s and 80’s looked like an IBM Selectric typewriter, she has
enthusiastically embraced new technologies throughout her career as valuable teaching and learning tools.
Alisha Stanton is the Extended Learning Coordinator for Denver Center for International Studies at
Montbello (DCISM). She provides opportunities to promote learning and positive youth development
beyond what is offered during the traditional school day. Her prior work with non-profit organizations
such as The Bridge Project and Colorado Challenge Foundation, whose missions are to improve
education opportunities and quality to a diverse range of students, created an opportunity to develop a
cultural enrichment program which focused on promoting global awareness among students in Denver
housing communities. Alisha holds a Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Denver. After
completing an internship in Lancaster, England, her research initiatives have focused on creating global
experience opportunities for students of all economic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, her previous
background was in music, sports, and entertainment, specifically working with PR and music festivals.
Kenneth M. Staral has been principal at The Ogden International School of Chicago since August 1996.
Ogden International School has a sense of history and has been an integral part of the near north side
community for over 150 years. Living and working in the Ogden community, he has learned firsthand
about its rich heritage, diversity, and successful programs. He associated (and coined the phrase) “a
community school with a worldly spirit.” From this, he has been able to develop a vision for the school
and establish expectations and objectives necessary to excel as a leader and academically advance the
school’s instructional program to improve student achievement and enhance its international mission.
The Ogden International School community believes that students must be provided a sense of education,
community, and character and has expanded its international perspective through exchanges with sister
schools in Bangkok, Belgrade, Hamburg, Lyon, Mexico City, Milan, Mexico City, and Shanghai. Ogden
International has become a beacon for learning, extending its walls throughout the greater community and
world, thus enabling students to acquire the intelligence they need. This will ensure they can establish
values, gain insight of self and others, internalize a sense of responsibility to their community, and
understand the importance of behavior as it relates to the advancement of society.
Salome Thomas-EL was an award-winning teacher and principal in the Philadelphia School District for
over twenty-years and is currently the Head of School at Thomas Edison Charter in Wilmington,
Delaware. He is also an educational and media consultant. He visits schools around the country to
consult with principals and teachers and to motivate students to be successful. Principal EL received
national acclaim as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School, where his inner-city students went
on to win a national chess championship. He is a regular contributor on The Dr. Oz Show and the author
of the best-selling book I Choose to Stay. Thomas-EL frequently appears on C-SPAN, CNN, and NPR
Radio and received the Marcus Foster Award as the outstanding School District Administrator in
Philadelphia. Principal EL received the University of Pennsylvania’s distinguished Martin Luther King
Award, was honored as Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best Philadelphian”, and was a Reader’s Digest
Magazine “Inspiring American Icon”. Principal EL recently appeared on the Oprah Radio Network.
Lauren Torres was installed as the Assistant Principal of the College of Staten Island (CSI) High School
for International Studies in August, 2010. Prior to that time, she worked closely with the school as a
member of their school support organization, a division of the Children’s Frist reform, as a lead
instructional mentor and achievement coach. Preceding her years on a network team, she taught math and
served as a math staff developer to various schools within District 20 in Brooklyn.
Pamela Valentine teaches Global Art and coordinates technology and a Japanese exchange at the
International School of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas. During her career she has worked as a
classroom instructor, Visual Arts Cluster Coordinator, university lecturer, and consultant. Her style of
teaching is reflected the integrated lessons developed for the San Antonio Museum of Art, Asian Art in
Focus and Faces of Civilization. She co-founded SHARE (Students Help Art Reach Everyone), a nonprofit
organization that places student artwork in permanent exhibits in the community. Pamela holds an
undergraduate degree in art and in elementary education from Trinity University and a Masters in
Curriculum and Development with a specialization in technology from the University of Texas at San
Antonio.
Anthony G. Vandarakis is an Assistant Principal at The Ogden International School of Chicago, West
Campus. Mr. Vandarakis completed his undergraduate degree at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois
in 1997. In 2001 he was recognized by the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and
awarded a scholarship for graduate school. He received his master’s degree in education with a focus on
Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2002). Mr. Vandarakis continued his
higher education at Loyola University, on a Boeing Corporation Scholarship, receiving accelerated
instruction in aviation science. In May of 2008 Mr. Vandarakis completed his Administrative
requirements and holds a Type 75 Administrative Certificate from DePaul University. Mr. Vandarakis is
actively traveling both with the Ogden CHOICE / Student Ambassadors Program and on his own.
Amin Vahora is currently a math teacher at the International School at Sharpstown in Houston, TX. He
teaches Algebra 1 and Geometry, as well as sponsors a UIL math team. As the lead GPS teacher in his
first year teaching, Mr. Vahora has implemented the Graduate Portfolio System in his classroom through
Task Ask Design and has organized his curriculum timeline using Storyboard and One-Pager templates.
Professional development at the International School often times involves the lead teachers in each
department, administrators, and the GPS coach Meredith Wedin conducting a training with the entire staff
to create a task for students, tune the task with hot and cold feedback, and finally implement the task in
the classroom. Mr. Vahora has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Business and
Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin
Lilliana Vendra has been teaching Mathematics and Advisory at The College of Staten Island High
School for International Studies for the past three years. She is also the Data Specialist at CSIHS where
she helps teachers effectively use data to guide class instruction and student achievement. Ms.Vendra
leads the Inquiry Team in creating professional development for the entire staff. Before coming to
CSIHS, she taught at McKee Vocational High School for 2 years. Ms.Vendra holds a Bachelor’s of Art
in Economics and Finance from Rutgers University as well as a Master’s of Science in Teaching
Secondary Mathematics from Pace University. Prior to her teaching career, Ms.Vendra was a Financial
Advisor for Bank of America Investments. She left finance to pursue her dream as an educator.
Ms.Vendra believes in being a life long learner and works to pass that idea onto her students.
Meredith Wedin, an educational consultant, is the Director of Leadership Development with the Asia
Society International Studies Schools Network and coaches the ISSN Houston schools. In addition, she
serves as the Lead Leadership Coach for the Texas High School Project STEM Initiative and as a coach
for Houston A+ Challenge Preparing to Dream Project. A school and district level administrator for over
25 year, Meredith was a principal for 18 years in the Houston Independent School District and at St.
John’s School. She was named an Outstanding Elementary Principal by the National Association of
Elementary Principals and the Region IV Outstanding Principal by the Texas Association of Secondary
Principals.
Brandon Wiley is the Director of the International Studies Schools Network, a design-driven network of
28 public and charter schools, located in 7 states, focused on promoting global competence and collegereadiness.
Brandon coordinates the efforts of a team of coaches and consultants who provide support and
professional development to these schools. His role involves strategic planning with district and school
leaders, implementation of the ISSN model, and the Graduation Portfolio System. Prior to joining Asia
Society, Brandon served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the West
Seneca Central School District. With experience as an elementary and middle school teacher, Director of
Staff Development, and district-level administrator, Brandon has solid school-based experience that
allows him to work closely with clients to customize the services Asia Society provides. He has worked
as an independent consultant in the areas of curriculum design, assessment development, and
school/district strategic planning. Brandon holds a BS from SUNY Fredonia in elementary education and
two MS in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration, also from Fredonia. He is
currently working on doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania in educational leadership.
Annaliese Wilmarth has spent the past 12 years working at the elementary level. She served as the
Academic Intervention Specialist and as a special education teacher in both an integrated and selfcontained
classroom. Additionally, she served as a special education consultant to her colleagues and as
an instructional support for students with special needs. After several fulfilling years of working with
elementary age students, Annaliese seized the opportunity to transition into secondary education by
accepting a position as a founding teacher of the Rochester Early College International High School
(RECIHS). Her current position entails the role of both a special education teacher and the International
Studies Coordinator for RECIHS. Annaliese is a proud graduate of the State University of New York at
Geneseo and Nazareth College of Rochester.
Brent Wozniak graduated from San Diego State University in 2005 with a B.A. in Social Science and a
minor in History. In, 2007 he earned his Single Subject Credential in Social Science and graduated at the
top of his class, receiving the Phil Halfaker Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year.
As an educator at Vaughn, Wozniak developed and implemented an internationally centered curriculum,
teaching both Cultural Geography and World History to 9th and 10th grade students. In addition, Mr.
Wozniak currently serves as the Faculty Advisor and senior board member of a student-directed Human
Rights Advocacy group, Project E.T.H.A. (Engaging Teens in Humanitarian Action). As the current
Curriculum Coordinator and History Department Chair at Vaughn International Studies Academy, Mr.
Wozniak serves as a member of the administrative team and as an instructional coach, overseeing the
implementation of the Graduate Portfolio System and the development of a globally focused and project
based curriculum at VISA.
Andrea Young teaches Japanese and Drama at International Studies Learning Center in South Gate. She
has been at ISLC for four years and is a member of the Council Committee for the past year. Both her
and Dr. Guillermina Jauregui, the principal at ISLC, have been trained in Council through the Ojai
Foundation and Council in the Schools.
Jennifer Zinn is the director of the Global Learning Collaborative in New York City. She is a lifelong
learner and a world traveler. Jenn started teaching math in San Antonio, Texas and traveled with students
to Mexico and across the United States. She also taught math and worked as a school leader at the
College of Staten Island High School for International Studies in New York City and traveled to China,
Tanzania, Italy, Costa Rica, and India with students and colleagues. Jenn has a Masters in the Art of
Teaching and a Masters in Education and continues to learn through independent study and programs like
the Fulbright Scholarship. Jenn’s passion for international studies, for helping students feel comfortable
in their learning environment, and for thinking outside the box in school design have led her to this
exciting endeavor at the Global Learning Collaborative
