MATT COOK, MATHEMATICS
Mr. Cook is originally from Wisconsin where he received his degree in Secondary Education in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He moved to Guatemala in 2011 and taught at AIS for the school's first 5 years. In the years since then, he has been leading various international educational and service learning trips as well as working at THINK Global School. Outside of school, he loves to travel, read, and be active in the outdoors. 
FERNANDO ARAGON, SCIENCE
Mr. Fernando has been at AIS since 2014. Originally from Guatemala City, Fernando holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Pedagogy. He previously taught at the Equity American School and at SEK International School, and has been a cross-curricular Science Activities Coordinator in Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Paraguay. 
DIEGO CAZALI, MATHEMATICS
Mr. Cazali is from Guatemala, and holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University San Carlos of Guatemala City. Before coming to Antigua, Diego worked at the Han Al American School in Guatemala City as a Math and Physics teacher. 
LILIANA QUEZEL AJUCHAN, SECONDARY SPANISH
Ms. Liliana is from Sumpango, Sacatepéquez and holds a degree in Language and Literature, and a B.A in Education. Prior to joining AIS, she worked for 9 years at the American Technological School in Guatemala City. 
JOHN FARNHAM, ENGLISH
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Mr. John has a B.A. in English from Boise State University (go Broncos), a TEFL certification and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Education. His wife is from Antigua and they are thrilled to be back in the city they call home. John and his family recently lived for two years in Colombia where John taught at international schools. After returning to Guatemala, the Farnham Torres family spent a year in Panajachel. John is an avid reader who looks forward to bringing his knowledge and love of literature to AIS. 
ANTONIA NICHOLS, SOCIAL STUDIES
Ms. Antonia is the Service Learning Coordinator. This year she will continue to support teachers in Service Learning while teaching Social Studies! She was raised in the Boston area. Her degree from the University of Vermont in Community and International Development, with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies, provided her with skills relevant to agriculture, policy analysis, community organizing and children’s programming. She was a Program Empowerment Director for the DREAM Program, a mentoring organization supporting youth living in low-income housing. Her interest in programming for children and families began while teaching a dance program on a small island in Maine and volunteering with Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance. Her love of Latin America began while studying sustainable agricultural development in Costa Rica and continued as a comparative education student in Chile. 
MELINDA SISMIT, KAQCHIKEL
Ms. Melinda is the Kaqchikel teacher for 2nd-10th grade. Originally from San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, she is of Kaqchikel-speaking, Mayan descent. She has taught Kaqchikel at AIS since 2016. Previously, Melinda taught various themes, including Adolescent Human Rights, and Leadership, to students of all ages where the language of instruction was Kaqchikel. |
ERIN BURKE, SCIENCE
Ms. Erin has a strong passion for science, experiential education, and the outdoors. Her teaching career began in Colorado, the state in which she was born and raised. Ms. Erin graduated from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse with a B.S. in Biology Education. In her undergraduate career, Ms. Erin conducted marine research off the coast of Belize. Here, she studied novel bioluminescent organisms and later presented her findings at several conferences. Ms. Erin has also worked as a naturalist and environmental educator in Homer, Alaska where she affirmed her passion for working with youth through a scientific lens. 
JAVIER BUSTAMANTE, SPANISH
Mr. Javier has been teaching at AIS siince 2013 and is originally from Bilbao in the Basque Country, Spain. He graduated from the Basque University in Communication Science and Social Studies and is a certified teacher for Secondary School. He also completed doctorate courses in the Basque University and is a SSL certified teacher by the London House in the UK. Prior to coming to AIS, Mr. Javier worked in journalism and translation in New York City and worked for several schools and language agencies in London, UK.(Linguaphone, St, George, World Language Consultants). He also worked as a Spanish Teacher (Secondary Education) in Guatemala and Spain. 
GEORGINA GOMEZ, PRODUCTIVIDAD Y SEMINARIO, GUATEMALAN HISTORY
Ms. Georgina has more than 15 years of teaching experience.She was the head of Pedagogy at El Hogar Virgen de la Esperanza. Ms Georgina graduated from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala in History and Social Science and received a Técnico in Innovative Education at the University of Galileo. She also has a special training in Inclusive Education from the University of Haifa, Israel. In her free time she likes to write, and at the moment she is writing about the conditions of girls at risk in Guatemala. 
KIMBERLY JANOS, ENGLISH
Born and raised in beautiful Seattle, WA, Ms. Kimberly began traveling abroad during high school, when she completed her senior year in Athens, Greece. Since then, she has lived, studied, and taught in 8 different countries. Along the way, Kimberly decided that a career in education was the best way for her to nourish her global community. She holds an undergraduate degree in Spanish Language and a Masters in Teaching. She is inspired by poetry and nature, loves to dance, garden, and read, and spends most of her free time with her wonderful husband and their adorable baby boy. For the past two years, Ms. Kimberly has been teaching 9th and 10th grade English Language Arts in Guatemala City. She is very excited to join the AIS community! 
JOSH RADICK, SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES
Mr. Josh graduated from Benedictine College in Kansas in 2014 with a degree in Political Science. He then taught in Iraqi Kurdistan until 2016 before coming to AIS until 2018. Josh moved back to the US to pursue a career in business but missed the satisfaction felt from teaching and helping students achieve their maximum potential. He is excited to return to Guatemala and rejoin the AIS community this school year. |