Teachers & Staff
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.
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 every day.
Ana Morales
Ana is a New York native, born and raised in Brooklyn! Raised in a bilingual household, her family is originally from Tlaxcala, Mexico, and she has been fluent in both English and Spanish from a young age. Prior to teaching at One World Project, Ana gained lots of experience working with kids of all ages as a babysitter, and she chose to be a teacher in order to continue helping children explore and make sense of the world around them. She especially enjoys every chance she gets to find connection with her students, to watch them grow and discover new things, and in particular to provide a foundation of emotional support and comfort.
Ana’s favorite thing about the OWP community is the way that she is given the opportunity to try new things and expand her comfort zone, while always remaining a part of a community that is centered around mutual respect and care for others. She is looking forward to fostering that environment at OWP this year, and to creating new and unique relationships with each of her students.
When she’s not teaching at One World Project, Ana likes to spend time with her nephew, play soccer, and sleep!
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, as well as her knowledge of linguistics, are evident as she creates a natural learning environment for children to acquire another language. “I love working with children who are learning a second language,” Belen says. She knows that children learn best through play, and consistently engages learners in read-alouds, dramatic play, and other child-centered activities.
Breanny Sanabia
Breanny is from Sunset Park in Brooklyn, New York. She initially chose to be a teacher because she knows how important it is for children of color to have teachers and role models who look like them. Previously, she taught high school students at the International High School at Union Square, helping to guide and mentor kids in the program as a social worker. Breanny is excited about the chance to teach in a Spanish-immersion setting, and for the opportunity to learn from and work with young children at One World Project: “I just love this community, and how intimate it is,” she says. “You get to know all the students as well as the teachers and staff, even if you’re not in their class!”
As a self-identified foodie, Breanny loves to eat, dance, and travel in her spare time. Particular highlights include Colombia, as well as the Dominican Republic where she enjoys spending time with her family.
Cindy Peña
Cindy was born and raised in New York. She grew up speaking Spanish at home with her family from El Salvador. 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 observes. She chose to become a teacher for the “aha” moments. Cindy says, “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!”
Cruz Hernandez
Cruz was born in Puebla, Mexico and came to New York at 21 years old. Prior to OWP, she has worked several years in babysitting children and housekeeping services. Cruz enjoys the opportunity to work as part of a team at OWP and describes the work she does to as both “meaningful and rewarding.”
She has three children, and in her free time she enjoys listening to music and going on walks with her family in the local park in the community.
Danella García
Danella is from Caracas, Venezuela, and immigrated to the United States when she was 20. In Venezuela, Danella organized children’s birthday parties, and volunteered at the children’s hospital. In addition, Danella taught dance classes to children and is also an avid Zumba instructor. Danella holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
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 appreciates collaborating with parents and colleagues to best support children.
During her spare time, Danella loves dancing and watching movies with her family.
Dulce Ruiz Sanchez
Dulce was born in Morelos, Mexico, and moved to New York City at the age of 2. She comes from a family of educators, and discovered One World Project after her aunt began working as a teacher at the school. She loves the welcoming atmosphere at OWP, from both students and faculty, and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with people from all over the world.
One thing that Dulce enjoys about teaching is the process of getting to know each child individually, and understanding how best to reach and support their unique style of learning. She loves working with children for the different experiences that each class brings, and appreciates the chance to learn something new every day. This year, she will be a lead teacher and is excited for the opportunity to create her own classroom environment, as well as to continue learning from everyone else throughout the OWP community.
Outside the classroom, Dulce loves to craft and make art projects, including creating amazing designs for her nails.
Elvira Morán
Originally from northern Spain, Elvira moved to NYC in 1992 to further her education as a graphic designer.
After her child 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-language 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. Gissala says, “It’s endless, what you can learn with them.”
Irene García
Irene was born in Mexico City and grew up in Brooklyn. She has experience working as 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 pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Janet Zevallos
Janet was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and she learned Spanish by watching telenovelas with her Peruvian family. Before coming to One World Project, she worked as a personal fitness trainer, helping clients achieve their long-term goals and while developing her own communication and leadership skills. Although the age range is now different, Janet sees lots of parallels at OWP: “Any time I get the opportunity to help somebody learn, it warms my heart,” she says.
One thing that Janet loves about OWP is the family atmosphere that is present throughout every classroom. She is grateful for the fact that everybody knows each other – both teachers and students alike – and that everybody works to create a warm, welcoming community. In the classroom, she is also excited to learn more about the growth of each individual child, and to better support them on their educational journeys. Janet is inspired by both the honesty and the open-mindedness that she sees in her students, and looks forward to the ways in which working with young children can help her remain similarly true to herself.
In her free time, Janet enjoys drawing and making art, something she was recently inspired to continue pursuing after spending time with students at OWP!
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 the 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. 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 about the 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 recently finished her Bachelor’s degree.
Beginning in high school, she did internships that have 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 would be to go to 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, Keyla 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 especially the freedom in the use of their imagination. Keyla is eager to learn through observation of children at play.
In her free time Keyla likes to paint, because it helps her disconnect and relax.
Laura Pedraza
Laura Pedraza was born in Bogotá, and has been living in New York City for 17 years. Before coming to One World Project, she worked with children in many different roles, including babysitting, teaching art, and teaching in elementary school classrooms around NYC.
Laura says that being a teacher was never something that she had to think about: “I wouldn’t say I chose teaching… instead I think it chose me! [Working with kids] just came naturally to me, and I had those opportunities as soon as I came to New York.” She is excited to be working in a Spanish-immersion classroom, and to further explore all of the outdoor spaces OWP has to offer. Laura’s approach to teaching comes from the idea that all children – no matter how big or small – are individuals worthy of unique care and attention, and she is looking forward to continuing that work at One World Project.
Outside of the classroom, Laura teaches yoga, and loves riding her bike to different live music venues around the city!
Leo Posel
Leo was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Swarthmore College and graduated in 2022, earning High Honors alongside a B.A. in History. Prior to joining One World Project, Leo worked as a research assistant in the National Security Archives studying bilateral relations between the U.S. and Mexico, and spent time performing as a pianist around the East Coast, which he continues to do. He has studied Spanish for 11 years, and his educational experience includes individual tutoring in schools around Philadelphia, teaching piano lessons, and serving as a substitute assistant teacher in OWP’s after-school program.
Leo’s favorite thing about One World Project is all the ways that the community comes together to include everybody; he is especially excited about how OWP creates connection with each individual student, and looks forward to growing as an educator and communicator in those same ways. He is now thrilled to be working full time in the office as a Development and Communications Associate, and can’t wait to continue learning from all his new colleagues – both students and teachers alike.
In his free time, Leo plays jazz piano, ultimate frisbee, and the New York Times spelling bee. He is a big fan of exploring Prospect Park with his dog, and the New York Yankees.
Maria Rivera
Maria Rivera grew up in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and currently holds a master’s of Science in General Education and Special Education from Touro College, along with 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 also 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 received a scholarship to 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 now a 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 bachelor’s degree in psychology from New York University, and is currently pursuing her master’s 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.” 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.”
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 realize that 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.
Raquel says, “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.”
Renata Martinez Salinas was born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, but grew up surrounded by her Mexican roots in a border town called Brownsville, TX.
With a background in sustainability and planning, Renata realized that she wanted to work directly with people -- kids specifically -- and to be a part of their social-emotional growth journey. She is proud of taking that leap and changing the direction of her career in order to explore a passion that was there all along. Previously, Renata has also worked as a behavior technician with neurodivergent youth, which she feels has prepared her for the work of tuning into a child’s interests, quirks, and areas of growth.
Renata enjoys being at OWP because she loves the compassion and dignity with which students are treated, and that they are encouraged to experiment and practice new things. She enjoys learning from fellow teachers how to be a support for children, while exposing them to routines and skills they will need to become successful students and individuals. She always looks forward to discovering what her students are curious about, and says, "It’s such a treat getting to witness the inquisitive nature of these kids, and be a part of their first experiences exploring new interests and friendships."
In her free time, Renata loves going to the movies with her partner. Last year, she watched over 30 movies in theaters!
Rocío Manrique
Rocío 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 degree 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, Rocío 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!
Silvana Faccio
Silvana was born in el Callao, a 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, from children aged newborn to 12 years old. Silvana especially enjoys reading and singing to the children.
Her recent experience at 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!”
Sonia enjoys listening to music during her free time, and exploring new places.
Stefany Mero
Stefany was born and raised in Jaramijó, a small, beautiful town on the coast of Ecuador, before coming to the United States when she was 18 years old. Stefany is proud of her strong education, and believes that a combination of love, hard work, and support from her community has prepared her to be a caring and positive influence towards others. In addition, Stefany has always loved spending time with children and has lots of experience working with kids of all ages as a babysitter: “[Being] with them is always fun, [and] there is not a single day that is the same,” she observes. “Working with children reminds me how amazing and exciting the world can be.”
Stefany says of the culture at One World Project, “I love working at OWP because we all can be ourselves, and learn from each other. People in OWP are supportive, caring, and loving, which I think makes OWP a great community. I'm looking forward to learning more from everybody and growing my knowledge so I can become better every day.”
Outside school, Stefany loves to spend time with her daughter, sharing activities like singing, cooking, and hanging out in the park. In the future, they plan to travel the world.
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 tendernessm], 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.
Yadira Andrade
Yadira was born and raised in Cuenca, Ecuador, before recently moving to the United States. While in Ecuador, Yadira completed her high school studies at the Bilingual Interamerican School before attending the Universidad Nacional de Educación. She is proud of making the journey to America to find new opportunities and experiences, and is especially excited to join the teaching staff at One World Project. Yadira loves the process of watching children stretch their abilities and grasp a new topic or skill, and is grateful for the opportunity to play a part in helping them figure out who they will grow to be.
Something that Yadira appreciates about OWP is the way that it can feel like a community more than just a school, a place where she can be and express herself freely, and find connection with everyone regardless of their background. She is excited to find inspiration from fellow teachers at OWP, and to take the time to get to know each new student and their individual learning styles in her classroom.
In her free time, Yadira loves to paint, play basketball, and find new desserts to bake