We at La Paz Community School are fortunate to have the following nine educators on board for the 2007-2008 school year. As we look towards future expansion, we welcome applications from local and foreign certified educators. Please send resume and cover letter to paz@lapazschool.org.
Abel McClennen
A graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine where he majored in Physics and minored in Sociology, Abel’s teaching career began 7 years ago at Souhegan High School, a public high school in southern New Hampshire, where he earned his secondary physics certification. His passion for education has led him from New England to Brazil, Guatemala, and now Costa Rica. Abel’s innovative educational philosophy is driven by a strong desire to interact with students outside the classroom through coaching athletics, leading sail education programs, and facilitating experiential learning projects. Whether guiding trebuchet construction in Physics class, coaching soccer, or teaching the Bernouli Effect on a sailboat, Abel’s enthusiasm and natural gift for teaching create an exciting learning environment for his students.
Kerry McClennen
Kerry comes to La Paz Community School following a chosen path in education from Chicago, to rural New Hampshire, Brazil, Guatemala, and now Costa Rica. Graduating from University of New Hampshire in 2001 with a Master of Arts in Teaching English and a minor in Dance, Kerry’s professional career continues to combine both her passions for teaching and the arts. Teaching 9th-12th English, including AP, Kerry’s classroom interweaves writing workshops, place-based educational ventures, interactive literature circles, and interpretive performances into the core curriculum. Kerry’s dance experiences are highlighted by her creation of the Souhegan High School New Hampshire Dance team, her samba dancing at Rio’s famous carnival, and her performance as a professional for three years in the Guatemala Dance Project. Wherever she travels, Kerry’s passion for dance and teaching has touched the hearts and minds of the students, teachers, parents, and communities that surround her.
Luis Fernando Alvarez Gómez
A young and energetic Costa Rican certified secondary Social Studies, History, Geography, Civics, and PE teacher from Santa Cruz, Costa Rica, Luis has already taught in several schools including the prestigious Liceo Santa Cruz and Telesecundaria de Cabeceros de Telerán. With passions in music, reading, and sports he also brings a tremendous amount of Guanacaste cultural traditions to the school. His first classroom project will be the introduction of the Costa Rican Independence day traditions including the construction of the "freedom lanterns" to some of our foreign students. Luis will be our Social Studies, PE, and Spanish language teacher for the upper grades. We at La Paz are fortunate to have found such an innovative educator to assist us in fulfilling our bilingual mission.
Brian Crites
A native Oregonian, Brian Crites has woven his passion for the outdoors into the classroom environment. Soon after earning his Master of Arts in Teaching, Brian pursued international education in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Working with grades 3-6, he has integrated experiential projects into the core curriculum, such as; the design and construction of an outdoor community nature park, native green space and vegetable gardens, and a school-wide recycling program. Students and colleagues alike admire his variety of interests, which include coaching basketball, surfing, biking, music, and hiking. These passions coupled with Brian’s natural gift for educating, inspire a learning environment where children develop confidence and competence as scholars, mentors, communicators, leaders, researchers, and role models of kindness.
Sara McGowan
Sara brings her talent, passion, and enthusiasm to the La Paz Community School after 6 years of teaching experience. Prior to receiving her Master of Arts in Teaching and ESOL Endorsement from Lewis & Clark College, Sara facilitated early childhood programs in Finland and Italy. After returning to her native town of Portland, Oregon as a 2nd grade teacher, Sara then decided to broaden perspectives and hone her teaching skills as an international educator in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Whether she is implementing the school-wide B.E.S.T. program designed to meet the specific learning needs of students, coaching soccer, or fostering character value programs, Sara’s adventurous spirit and energy are reflected in her professional practice and interaction with children.
Xinia Gómez Gutiérrez
With recommendations from the Mayor's office and Ministry of Education in Santa Cruz, Xinia is a legend in the Costa Rican educational community. In her illustrious career, she has touched the lives of children from over 10 schools all over Costa Rica from Limón on the Carribean side, to Santa Rosa on the Pacific side. Her specialty is in primary education as her qualifications allow her to teach all core subjects grades k-6. Along with her nephew Luis, she brings with her a tremendous amount of Guanacaste cultural heritage in areas such as cooking, dancing, and literature. We are honored that she has decided to step away from public school education to be apart of our La Paz Community School.
David Dodge
A native of Oregon, David earned both his Degree in Education and Teacher Certification from Western Oregon State College in 1987. Upon graduation David spent his first 8 uninterrupted years teaching grades 3 through 5 with the Woodburn School District.
It was during this same time that David, along with his wife Kelly, enjoyed several vacations to Costa Rica. Their affinities for this country were met with a unique teaching opportunity in 1996 when they joined the teaching team at Escuela Tamarindo Elementary School. This small school's strong community educational concepts was born of local families in search of a viable educational cooperative to suit the specific educational needs of their children.
From 2003-2007 David continued his career in Costa Rica at the Country Day School Guanacaste where he continued teaching 3rd through 5th grades, in addition to fulfilling the role of Supervising Teacher. His experience over a wide range of classes, schools, and communities has complimented David's unique concern, style, and personality as an effective elementary school educator. Hence, David is very excited to again be teaching at a school where the interests of teachers, parents, and a unique community work together in putting the specific needs of the children first.
Kelly Dodge
At the age of 9 when she taught her 5 year-old brother to read, Kelly discovered her passion and natural gift for education. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Oregon State University, Kelly has spent her entire life fostering personal and academic growth in a positive learning environment. After receiving her certification in 1987, Kelly taught in the Oregon school system for 8 years, working with grades 3 & 5 and kindergarten, while developing her district’s E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) program. In 1996, she and her husband relocated to Costa Rica where they played a major role in the creation and opening of a private school in Tamarindo; she then moved on to teach at the Country Day School. Whether learning through song in her Preparatory class, or focusing on theme-based projects in her 2nd grade curriculum, Kelly is a positive and creative educator who shares her passion for education with the students, parents, and colleagues around her.
Laura Alvarado
La Paz is honored to have the energy and enthusiasm of a well-respected local community member and educator on board for the inaugural year. In 1997, Laura graduated from the Universidad Nacional in Heredia where she received her bachelor's degree in dance. She arrived in Guanacaste from her native city of Alajuela to teach dance, aerobics and Pilates in the communities around Santa Cruz. Since 2005, she has been a certified trainer at the Jungle Gym in Flamingo where she now also works as a P.E. teacher at La Paz. Her philosophy mixes techniques in core training with physical activities in order to achieve balance between the physical and mental health of the children.
Kenia Calderón Quirós
Kenia is a bilingual educator at La Paz who simply loves to teach and to share her knowledge. Kenia graduated from one of the top schools in Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, where she received her teaching certificate. She arrived in Flamingo three and a half years ago where she spent time working at Reserva Conchal and the Jungle Gym as she worked towards earning her diploma. At La Paz Community School she is empowered to explore her teaching philosophy based on the constructive method, where the student learns through self exploration and discovery.