Mary Scholl
Founder and Director
Senior Trainer and licensed trainer of trainers
Mary's Blog

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Mary is the director of Centro Espiral Mana and has been a trainer and trainer of trainers for the SIT TESOL Certificate Course for 10 years. A graduate of the School for International Training, Mary is currently enrolled in a doctorate program at Teachers College at Columbia University. Mary has lived and taught in both public and private settings on three continents and has worked on teacher development programs in the U.S., Japan, Libya, South Sudan and Brazil.  In addition to her work at Centro Espiral Mana, Mary also is on faculty at Marlboro College Graduate  where she teaches in their summer program and Professional Studies as well as affiliated faculty at World Learning's SIT Graduate Institute where she usually supervisees masters students on their teaching practicum.  Mary is a frequent presenter at local, regional and international conferences and has presented on topics including leadership within the classroom, the role of creativity in language learning, the role of compassion in learning, reflective practice, observation and feedback, thinking skills and intuition. 

Roger Ramirez
Senior Trainer and licensed trainer of trainers

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Roger, originally  from Brooklyn New York, moved to Costa Rica at the age of 14 with his family. Roger received his BA from Universidad de Costa Rica in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. After feeling passionate about teaching English and taking the SIT TESOL certificate course, he went to World Learning's SIT Graduate Institute for the Master of Arts in TESOL program. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at Universidad de La Salle. Roger has taught English to learners of all ages and levels and trained teachers from over 25 countries. He has worked on three continents in the USA, Costa Rica, South Korea and Burundi and presented at conferences in Costa Rica and Korea. Roger enjoys contributing to people's happiness.    

Amanda Rossi
Senior Trainer and licensed trainer of trainers

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Amanda Rossi is from New York and graduated from Siena College with her Bachelor's degree in Spanish and International business.  She then went on to earn her first Master's degree in Spanish at the University at Albany and her second in TESOL at Marlboro College Graduate and Professional Studies in Brattleboro, Vermont. She is currently enrolled in a doctorate program at Universidad de La Salle. Amanda came to Costa Rica in June 2005 to take the SIT TESOL certificate course and never left! Amanda is the newest addition to the training team here in El INVU. She is not only excited to continue to grow and learn with the participants, but also to work with the local community.  Amanda’s interests are in second language acquisition and intercultural exchange.  Amanda enjoys traveling, reading, and eating chocolate.  

Laura Zalazar
Licensed Trainer

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Laura is originally from Resistencia, a relatively small town in the North of Argentina. She received a Bachelor's degree in Teaching English as a foreign language in 2005 and has been passionate about learning and teaching ever since. She is currently enrolled in the Masters of Teaching  program in TESOL at Marlboro College Graduate and Professional Studies in Brattleboro, Vermont. Laura has worked as a Teacher of English in both public and private schools for almost 10 years, teaching students of all ages (from 3-year-olds to adults) from different socio-cultural contexts. In 2012 she came to CEM to take the TESOL course and decided to stay in order to enrich her experience not only as human being but also as a professional. She's been volunteering for this project for almost three years now, which has been an amazing opportunity to grow and learn from all the members of the community in El INVU. She became a teacher trainer for the SIT TESOL Cert course in 2014 and is always excited about sharing experiences with teachers from all over the world. 

Nicolás Cárdenas Tamburini
Licensed Trainer

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Nicolás, originally from Chile, started out as English teacher and fell in love with Costa Rica in 2011 and decided to stay. Nicolas did his undergraduate degree at Universidad de Chile, it was a BA in English Linguistics and Literature and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Teaching  program in TESOL at Marlboro College Graduate and Professional Studies in Brattleboro, Vermont. Nicolás has taught children, adults and teens from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. His interests range from the relationship between artistic expression and learning to the role of emotions in sustaining a positive community. He is also particularly fond of working with adults and learning from their diversity. Dogs, arts and swimming are some of the words that come to his mind when asked about his hobbies.

Emma Torres

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Emma was born in New York City and has been teaching  and training teachers for over 22 years.  She has taught early childhood education in a Montessori school in New York City and English at Costa Rica’s binational center where she was also a teacher trainer, mentor and Academic Coordinator.  
Emma studied political science at Brooklyn College and did her masters degree in TESOL at World Learning's  SIT Graduate Institute.  Emma has been a presenter at  conferences Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.  In her free time Emma enjoys reading, writing, dancing and loving people.

Maggie Hanafin
Volunteer English teacher


Maggie Hanafin is  from rural New York but has always dreamed of living and teaching abroad. After taking the SIT TESOL course at Centro Espiral Mana in October, 2014, she fell in love with the school and the community and returned as a volunteer in January. Besides teaching, Maggie's favorite thing about being in El INVU  is the environment. She will never get tired of sitting by the river or spotting toucans in the trees. 

Matt Schaefer
Volunteer English teacher

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Matt was born and raised in California, where he received his Bachelor's degree in English Creative Writing from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.  Matt completed two years of Americorps service volunteering with the educational non-profit Reading Partners, a 1-on-1 literacy intervention program.  Having seen the need for educators qualified in an ESL environment, Matt traveled to Costa Rica and completed his SIT TESOL certificate at Centro Espiral Mana, where he now serves as a volunteer.

Davy Swijins
Volunteer English teacher

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Davy is orginally from Belgium and has been living in Costa Rica for 10 years. Davy first came to Costa Rica as a volunteer with AFS. He also worked at a few English schools in San Carlos before moving to El INVU where he took the SIT TESOL Certificate Course. He began volunteering at the school after that and has worked with children and adults. Davy also runs a small guesthouse, Mundo Beltiko, a great place to hang out, enjoy a sunny day at the river, party, relax, play sports , ping pong , board games , and connect with the community.

Donay Loria
Cocinera/Cook

Donay es madre de tres hijos y vive en la ciudad de La cruz, de Penas Blancas, Costa Rica. Donay ha estado trabajando para el Centro Espiral Mana desde el 2005 en el area de la cocina. Considera que trabajar para el CEM es una experiencia magica, ya que ha logrado impactar su vida en forma muy positiva. Una de sus mayores pasiones es  la cocina: “cocinar es un arte y mi ingrediente fundamental es el amor’’. Su otra mayor pasion es el aprendizaje del idioma ingles. Actualmente Donay es alumna de las clases del CEM. Uno de sus objetivos es seguir aprendiendo y profundizar su conocimiento en dicho idioma.

Libia Rodriguez Acuna
Cocinera/Cook

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 Libia es madre de tres hijas y vive en el INVU de Penas Blancas de Isidro, Costa Rica. Libia lleva 4 anos trabajando en el CEM en el área de la cocina. Su mayor pasión es cocinar. Libia se siente bendecida de que sus manos sean utiles para preparar comida para todas las personas que llegan al CEM y disfruta mucho el ver a la gente saboreando lo que preparan con mucho amor y alegría.  Sus tiempos libres dedica a la lectura, en especial a la de la biblia y de libros que la ayuden personal y espiritualmente. Su otra mayor pasión es dedicar tiempo como consejera matrimonial en la iglesia de su comunidad. Actualmente se dedica a rescatar matrimonios de crisis de separación ensenándoles valores atreves de seminarios y charlas guidas por la iglesia Evangélica su comunidad.

Omer Gonzalez Cubero
Mantenimiento / Maintenance

Omer es padre de 5 hijos y vive en el INVU Penas Blancas de San Isidro, Costa Rica. En sus tiempos libres, se dedica a la pesca, cuidar de la casa y de sus aves, reunirse con sus amigos y jugar al póquer. Su mayor pasión es la pesca. Omer ha estado trabajando para el Centro Espiral Mana desde el 2007 estando a cargo del manteamiento y orden general del CEM.  Su trabajo es muy importante ya que dedica a cuidar del mantenimiento y funcionamiento de las instalaciones de  escuela. “Es muy agradable llegar a un lugar y que todo este en orden; funcionando apropiadamente, por todo eso con amor me dedico a cuidar la escuela”

Milagro Alfaro Quesada
Limpieza

   

Victor Salas
chofer

Victor es padre de 4 hijos y vive en el pueblo de San Isidro, Costa Rica. Victor ha estado trabajando para el Centro Espiral Mana desde el ano 2014. Victor se encarga de la transportacion de los participantes, y trainers que llegan a Costa Rica para el CEM.  Su tiempo libre la dedica a estar con la familia, descansar y ver televisión. Su gran pasión es su trabajo: “ me siento muy orgulloso de ser parte del CEM y poder brindarle mis servicios, con buena atención a todas esas personas que llegan de otros lugares”