Paula Rodriguez - Homeroom teacher
Ms. Paula Rodriguez has been part of the AIS community for the last 9 years. She holds an Elementary Teacher Certification and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Universidad Landívar de Guatemala. She is currently pursuing a degree in Primary Education. This will be her 13 year teaching experience. Miss Paula has taught many grades including Pre-k, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. When she is not teaching, Miss Paula enjoys running, hiking volcanoes, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Miss Paula has a passion for helping all children reach their potential and loves to challenge students to be curious and take chances when learning. 
Juan José Cárdenas - homeroom teacher
Mr. JJ is Guatemalan but he grew up in Los Angeles, California. He enjoys spending time with his wife and his three beautiful daughters. Mr. JJ loves playing basketball and soccer in his free time. He graduated from Universidad Galileo, with a teaching certificate in teaching in English. Mr. JJ is a lifelong educator and this is his 23rd year teaching! He taught Spanish at AIS before and in another project-based learning school in Antigua, as well as other schools in Chimaltenango. Mr. JJ loves teaching - knowing that he could reach his students and that his students learned something new is really rewarding to him! Mr. JJ is extremely excited about being a part of the AIS Family again! 
Ms. Kerrianne Hartell - homeroom teacher
Miss Kerrianne is a returning teacher and she will. She is very familiar with Antigua International School and the local community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Masters of Education in Autism, and a Masters of Education in Reading. She also holds a teaching license from Colorado Department of Education, as well as a Special Education Generalist license. Miss Kerrianne has almost 20 years of teaching experience in the US public schools, as well as international schools in Guatemala. This year, apart from taking on the role of a Primary School English teacher, she will also work as a Reading Coach, helping Primary teachers elevate phonics and reading instruction, an area she is extremely passionate about! 
Lilian Ajsijtuj - Spanish teacher
Lilian Ajsijtuj is originally from San Juan Comalapa, a municipality in the department of Chimaltenango. Ms. Lilian is a bilingual secretary, a Spanish as a second language teacher trained in HSA and a High School Teacher in Pedagogy and Psychology, graduated from the Rafael Landívar University. She is also currently studying for the Diploma in Psychopedagogy at the Rafael Landivar University. Ms. Lilian has worked as a teacher at the middle and high school level. During this time, she learned a lot from students and about their learning process. She was also the seminar advisor for two years and supervised advisor practice for three years. Ms. Lilian also has one year of teaching experience at AIS since having been part of the TTC 2022-2023. Thanks to AIS, she has gained experience in educational innovation and quality international instruction. Last year Ms. Lilian supported speakers of Spanish as a second language and taught writing and reading workshops in 5th grade. She loves reading, writing stories, listening to music, walking, AND singing (although she doesn't think she is ready for our Talent Show yet...). Above all, she loves spending time with his family. 
Robbert Koeslag - homeroom teacher
Mr. Robb is a passionate educator. He has been teaching English, math, and science for the past 10 years, in various places around the globe. Mr. Robb holds a B.A. degree in Commercial Economics and is TEFL-certified. Originally from the Netherlands, he considers himself an avid traveler and citizen of the world. This mindset is reflected in his teachings where compassion, gratitude, and sustainability are considered important values. Mr. Robb enjoys an active lifestyle, yoga, rock climbing, and cycling are just a few of his hobbies. At home, he enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, reading, or watching a show. He is excited to join the AIS team and believes that together we can make a positive impact! 
Gina Tillery, technology and art/music teacher
Ms. Tillery holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Alabama. She previously worked as a teacher (preK-12) for eight years in Guatemala. She also was IT coordinator at Colegio Colonial Bilingue for four years. Before beginning her career in education, she worked in a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) Lab exploring the use of technology in music, and performed as an orchestral percussionist and a professional vocalist in the U.S. |
Eunice Bejarano - Spanish teacher
Ms. Eunice is originally from Antigua, Guatemala. She graduated from the Universidad Mariano Gálvez with a bachelor's degree in Education and a specialization in Educational Administration. She also obtained a certificate in Teaching Writing in Spanish following Balanced Literacy Units of Study from the Teachers College, Columbia University. She works as an English -Spanish tutor and this is her 5th year at AIS, in a Spanish teacher capacity. Before joining AIS, she was the Godparent Coordinator at "Common Hope", a local non-profit organization, and also worked for Buckner Guatemala as a Mission Coordinator. Her pastimes include: walking, running, baking, enjoying nature and spending time with her dog, family and friends. 
Ms. Grace Hilling - Homeroom teacher Miss Grace is originally from Rochester, New York but she has lived in Guatemala for over 7 years! She holds a BA from Colgate University in Environmental Studies and Studio Art. For the past five years, she has been working at either research stations or bilingual project-based learning schools in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and New York. She has fieldwork experience in both terrestrial and marine habitats of North and Central America. Miss Grace is excited to introduce science-based practices to her students, as she originally moved to Guatemala to pursue hands-on work in wildlife conservation at ARCAS. During this experience, she discovered her passion for environmental education. She aspires to motivate students to foster a true appreciation and respect of our natural world in her classroom and around campus. Her favorite activities are trail running, hiking up Acatenango and checking in on the butterfly garden at school. 
María Elena Valencia, Physical Education
Ms. Maria Elena, graduated in Physical Education and Human Development from the University Galileo, Guatemala and has a degree in Administration of Sport Institutions. She also holds a Master 's Degree in Business Administration from the University Isabel I, Escuela de Negocios Europea de Barcelona. Maria Elena has 22 years of experience teaching Physical Education, 11 of them at Colegio Decroly Americano CDA, Guatemala. 
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. 
Luz Elena Morales Chávez - Spanish teacher
Ms. Luz is from Antigua Guatemala and is currently studying for a degree in Pedagogy and Psychology at the University Rafael Landívar. In addition, she is an Early Childhood Education teacher, an area she has been passionate about since she was very young. Ms. Luz loves working with children and seeking to provide them with fun and meaningful learning experiences. Her academic training has given her the tools to do so. Additionally, her experience as a volunteer at Hogar Virgen del Socorro has taught her a lot about the importance of community and how to use empathy in daily life. Last year, Ms. Luz was part of the TTC (Teacher Training Center) at AIS. During this time, she learned that the role of the teacher should be more of a guide and facilitator, rather than a mere transmitter of knowledge. This experience reinforced Ms. Luz´s conviction that learning must be truly centered around the needs and interests of students. Ms. Luz really appreciates this approach, since it represents an innovative pedagogical vision. She believes that this educational philosophy, which puts the student at the center, is essential to providing a quality and meaningful education. In her free time, Ms. Luz likes to practice self-defense sports. She is an active person and eager to continue learning and growing as an educator. 
Alexandra Ramos - homeroom teacher
Ms. Lexie is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, but has lived in Guatemala for the past 6.5 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with additional certificates in Special Education and TESOL from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. She has worked in other international schools in Guatemala. |
Ana Patricia Urizar, homeroom teacher
Patricia, affectionately known as Miss Pato, is a seasoned English educator with over ten years of international teaching experience. She has worked with learners of all ages—from young children to adults—in countries such as Guatemala, China, and others. Her teaching style focuses on creating dynamic, student-centered environments that spark curiosity, foster creativity, and promote meaningful communication. She skillfully integrates real-life scenarios, critical thinking, and emotional literacy into her lessons to ensure a well-rounded learning experience. Currently, Patricia is pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Literature. She is deeply passionate about supporting her students' academic and personal growth. Outside the classroom, she finds joy and inspiration in salsa dancing, painting, and practicing yoga—creative pursuits that help her maintain a balanced and energized approach to teaching. 
Diana Cajas Cordova, Spanish teacher
Ms. Diana is another familiar face joining our team! She was born and raised in Guatemala and has been a teacher since 2012. Diana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She studied in Mexico City for an AMI Montessori Guide certification and worked in Colorado for three years before joining our community. Ms. Diane loves to travel and learn about different cultures. She studied for a master´s degree in Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence and she also obtained another Master's Degree in Montessori Pedagogy. She truly believes that education is the future for our country! 
Dallas Tucker, homeroom teacher
Miss Dallas is originally from Wisconsin but has been living in Latin America since 2017. She has called Antigua home since 2021, where she has taught at a private school and provided online tutoring. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and an Associate’s degree in General Education, along with a TEFL/TESOL certificate. With over eight years of experience teaching English as a Second Language and two years teaching English Language Arts, Miss Dallas brings a strong passion for education and language development. She enjoys connecting with her students and learning about their unique backgrounds, having worked with learners of all ages from around the world. In her free time, she loves staying active, reading, cooking, and spending time with her lively rescue dog. |
Molly Cardillo, homeroom teacher
Molly was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She attended The University of Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After graduating, she began her teaching career in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she taught 1st grade ESL (English as a Second Language) for six years and became certified in the field. In January 2025, Molly moved to Guatemala with her two beloved cats, Sadie (19) and Shakespeare (9). Shortly after arriving, she obtained her TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification at Maximo Nivel, where she went on to teach for five months. In her free time, Molly enjoys exercising, listening to podcasts, learning Spanish, and spending time with friends. 
Christy Engvall, homeroom teacher
Most of you know Christy already as she subbed for Miss Grace last year. She is a seasoned educator from Houston, Texas. A mother of two university students, Christy enjoys exploring new places, including many service-oriented trips to Antigua. She is also an avid reader, writer, and long-distance runner. With over 20 years of experience teaching both elementary and middle school, Christy holds a Master's Degree in curriculum, enabling her to cater to diverse learning styles. She has taught all content areas, including English to students in Japan and Afghan adults in Houston. Her classroom style emphasizes respectful and creative collaboration, allowing students to showcase their individual strengths. Christy is eager to work collaboratively with AIS students and staff, and looks forward to improving her Spanish while immersing herself in the hospitable community of Antigua. 
Yosselin de León Cordova, Spanish teacher
Many of you would have met Yosselin already as she was part of th e Teacher Training Center program at AIS last year, where she gained valuable experience across different school levels. This opportunity significantly enriched her development as an educator. Yosselin is originally from San Miguel Dueñas and she is passionate about learning and has a deep interest in languages. She graduated as a Specialist in Marketing and Advertising and is currently pursuing a degree in Teaching Communication and Language at Universidad Rafael Landívar. Yosselin also earned a diploma as a Spanish teacher for foreigners from La Unión Spanish School and has obtained various certifications in different areas throughout her academic journey. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality moments with her family and watching movies. |