Meet our Staff

Jeannine has been a language educator for almost 20 years.  She taught high school Spanish, ESL and Social Studies in public schools in several cities, and served as the Director of the English and Bicultural Studies Departments at Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus.  Jeannine shifted her focus to early childhood education when she was unable to find an immersion program for her then-two year old daughter.  She co-founded CommuniKids in 2005 with Raul Echevarria and has served as Director since its opening.  Her daughter now attends a bilingual (Spanish/English) elementary school while also learning Hindi and Kannada (a South Indian language) from her father, who hails from India.  Jeannine holds degrees in Education and Spanish, and a Master's Degree in History.

A native speaker of both English and Spanish, Raúl has been a language teacher for ten years.  He is the co-founder of CommuniKids and serves as the Director of Curriculum for both the DC and the Falls Church locations.  As an original member of the George Washington University's "Teacher 2000" program, he was among the first students to complete a rigorous teacher certification program designed for professionals who wish to pursue a career in language education.  Raul holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston University, a J.D. from the University of Puerto Rico, and has completed extensive Spanish language and cultural studies at the Instituto Internacional in Madrid, Spain.  He serves on the DC Board of Audiologists and Speech and Language Pathology, and has presented CommuniKids' innovative methods at many national conferences, including ACTFL and NAEYC.

Karen has been working with CommuniKids since 2006 and curently serves as the Assistant Director of the DC Preschool and the Director of Communications for CommuniKids LLC.  Her favorite part of the job is talking to new and prospective parents!  Karen holds a Ph.D. in English Literature, with a specialty in Children’s Literature, from the George Washington University, and a Master's Degree from Trinity College Dublin.  She continues to study by taking early childhood education classes at Northern Virginia Community College.  Karen is raising two bilingual children with her Swedish-speaking Finnish husband, and she enjoys traveling, languages, reading, and bellydancing.  

Wendy hails from Bolivia, where she received extensive training as a language teacher. She worked at the Centro Boliviano Americano for more than 8 years. There, she taught children aged three and up in an intensive English program where she taught classes, designed curriculum, and trained other teachers.  She also taught K - 5 in a bilingual elementary school.  Wendy  attended Penn Foster College to get her diploma in Child Day Care Management. Also, she attended the Universidad Privada Santa Cruz de la Sierra where she completed her Psychology studies. In addition, she has completed numerous hours of pedagogical training in both language teaching and early childhood education. Wendy's been working at CommuniKids since 2008.

Gladys has been teaching at CommuniKids since 2005 and has been an early childhood professional for over 24 years.  She is the lead teacher in the Mariquitas classroom in DC, and worked for many years at Saint Albans Day Care Center in Washington, DC.   A native of Lima, Gladys also taught Kindergarten through second grade in Peru.  She has years of professional development training in all areas of early childhood education and  holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.  Gladys's happy, gentle, and thorough teaching style means that she is a great favorite of both children and parents at CommuniKids.

Miryam brings more than 18 years of preschool teaching experience to CommuniKids.  In her native Colombia, she was the co-founder and director of a preschool for children one to four years old for which she developed and implemented curriculum as well as managed teachers and taught classes. Before that she taught at several other preschools in Bogota, Colombia and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and she was the four-year-old teacher for the Caterpillar Co-op Spanish Immersion Preschool here in DC.  She has extensive experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschool children. Miryam holds a B .A. in Early Childhood Education and has completed extensive graduate coursework in the field.  She enjoys traveling and dancing.

Jessica, a native of Washington DC, is the lead teacher for the Mariposas class at CommuniKids Preschool in DC and is a very popular teacher in our Spanish enrichment classes.   A kind, nurturing, and thorough teacher, she has been working with CommuniKids Preschool since we opened in 2009.  Jessica is currently studying Psychology at UDC and is an excellent, and tough, soccer player.

Sobeida, the lead teacher of the Abejas classroom, is an early childhood professional with over ten years of preschool classroom experience.  She holds a CDA degree and considers early childhood education her “calling.”  Sobeida is warm, kind, organized, and truly dedicated to the education and well-being of young children.  A native of the Dominican Republic, Sobeida also works in our aftercare and enrichment program.

Carmen has many years of experience working with young children.  A native of Puerto Rico, she holds a B.A. in Business Administration and has extensive experience as an early childhood educator.  Carmen is the lead Spanish teacher for the Abejas at CommuniKids Preschool in Falls Church, and she has been a lead teacher with CommuniKids Preschool since it opened in 2009.  Carmen's nurturning nature combined with her high energy makes her a favorite among CommuniKids early-childhood students.

Blanca brings more than 21 years of experience in early and elementary education. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Universidad Catolica Boliviana "San Pablo".

May, a native of Lebanon, is a native speaker of French and Arabic.  She serves as the Lead Teacher for the Coccinelles class in Falls Church, and also as an Arabic teacher in our enrichment program.  May launched CommuniKids' Arabic program in the Spring of 2007, and has many years of experience teaching grades pre-k through third in her native Beirut.  She has also taught French to elementary aged children in Lebanon.  She is very skilled in making handicrafts such as painting and porcelain work.   May holds a Bachelors degree in Education and Child Psychology from Saint Joseph University in Lebanon.

Karine comes from Quebec, Canada and holds a Master's Degree in Music Education and Jazz Performance from Howard University in Washington, DC.  She has 10 years of teaching experience at the elementary and middle school level.  For the last four years she has specialized in early childhood music education, teaching music to children 6 months to 5 years old.  An accomplished musician, Karine plays upright bass and performs extensively around the DC area.  Karine enjoys running and water-skiing.

Susanna Seltzer is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and has a degree in International Law and Diplomacy.  She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French and has some facility in Arabic and Italian.  She brings years of experience teaching youngsters music, dance, art, and sport to the CommuniKids Aftercare program.  Her hands-on philosophy of learning is akin to the Waldorf (or Steiner) method of focusing on the heart of the young child and nurturing the beauty of its unique and manifold vision, which is full of the wonder and joy of life.  Susanna is in her fourth year of teaching home-school in this method.  She recommends _The Parent's Tao Te Ching_ by William Martin and _For the Children's Sake_ by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay as essential reading for parents.  Susanna is a singer/songwriter and musician and is working on her debut album, "Susanna Joy."

Ghita has been an educator in her native Finland for ten years.  She holds a Masters degree in Education and is fluent in Swedish, Finnish, and English.  As Assistant Director of the Language Enrichment Program for CommuniKids DC, Ghita is the teacher and administrative coordinator for our Saturday program.  She enjoys dancing and creating beautiful jewelry, which is available on her website at http://www.amighita.blogspot.com/.  She is currently working toward a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Pablo is a native of Valencia, Spain, and grew up in Miami, FL as one of 7 siblings.  This is his third year as the assistant teacher in the Libelulas classroom.    Before joining CommuniKids, he worked in music and television production.  He and his wife are raising two bilingual children.  Pablo plays a variety of instruments and enjoys fishing and fitness.  He holds a BA in History from Florida International University and is currently working toward his Masters in Communications at American University.

Cristina, a native of Puerto Rico, is the assistant teacher in the Mariquitas classroom at our DC location.  She holds a Master's Degree in Spanish Language from Columbia University and has taught at the university level.  She is also raising a bilingual child and enjoys sports, bowing, and reading, especially novels in Spanish.  Her enthusiasm and loving nature make her a favorite of our youngest students.

Laura Girón, a native of El Salvador, is the assistant teacher in the Mariposas classroom. She has lived in DC for over 20 years and has been a childcare professional for just as long. Laura holds many professional certifications from The Early Childhood Institute, including those in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Infants and Toddlers, Positive Discipline, Asthma and Allergy, and First Aid. Laura worked for two years at the Caterpillar Co-operative Preschool, from which CommuniKids Preschool grew. She is very active in community service.  

Ernesto is a native of Washington, DC and works as the floating assistant and aftercare assistant teacher in our DC location.  He enjoys all kinds of music and plays guitar. 

Audy, a native of the Dominican Republic, is the assistant teacher in our Abejas classroom in the Washington, DC location.  She has been working with CommuniKids as an enrichment teacher and a substitute assistant teacher at our Falls Church location since the Fall of 2010.  Audy has several years of experience working with young children as a teacher and a tutor.  She has just finished the coursework for her BA in Spanish from the University of the District of Columbia.  

Daphne comes to CommuniKids with over ten years of international experience teaching Chinese and English as a Second Language to children and adults. She is especially skilled at understanding and meeting the needs of non-native speakers. Daphne worked for many years in DC metro-area public schools and with highly gifted students in Montgomery County.  Children respond warmly to Daphne's charismatic and nurturing personality; she makes Chinese fun and understandable for children at every skill level, from complete beginners to near-native speakers. She holds a degree in English Literature.