Administration

Shaysann Kaun, Principal
Ms. Shaysann Kaun, the middle school principal, was born in Burbank, California. She has lived in Washington State, Denmark, Japan, and has been in Brazil for fourteen years. She has two important college degrees, they are: a BA in English from Washington State University, and a master’s in Educational Administration from College of New Jersey. Before coming to EARJ, she was a middle school teacher in Japan.

Ms. Kaun has already worked at EARJ for 14 years and is now starting her 15th year. Before becoming a principal she was a teacher, team leader, and social studies department head. She chose to work in this field of study because she loves to work with teachers and to help them teach students in the most effective way as possible. She would like parents and students to know that she is always willing to hear suggestions about how to make the middle school the best place possible. She isn’t only the middle school principal; she is also the affiliate director for Destination Imagination.

She has a lot of hobbies and interests; they are hiking, rock climbing, reading, sewing, working on her scrap book, and cooking. She also likes to play with her kids. She loves having her children here at school. Kenai, her oldest son, is in kindergarten and Denali, the youngest, is in pre-school. Because of this she has learned a lot about early childhood education. Ms. Shaysann Kaun is a very interesting person!

Written by Rafael H.
Grade 8
E-mail Ms. Kaun

Penny Mello e Souza, Counselor
Ms. Penny Souza is the middle school student counselor. She was born in Pennsylvania, but has lived in Mexico, Holland and Brazil. When she finished high school she studied at Harvard University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and romance languages. She later earned a master’s degree in counseling at the University of Michigan. Before coming to EARJ, she taught in the schools of education of two Brazilian universities.

Ms. Penny has worked at EARJ for 30 years. In addition to being a middle school counselor, she has been a high school counselor and a college counselor. If you need anything you can go to Ms. Penny and she can help you in a variety of ways like resolving a problem or a concern, planning your academic program, understanding test scores and so on. Ms. Penny coordinates the leadership conference, the peer counseling program, and the bullying prevention program.

Ms. Penny has two sons, one daughter and four grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys reading, swimming, horseback riding, spending time with family and friends, traveling, watching movies and being outdoors.

Wriiten by Sigrid C.
Grade 8
E-mail Ms. Penny

Sonja Carruthers, Principal's secretary
Ms. Sonja Carruthers was born in Rio de Janeiro, but has lived in several places such as Recife, Salvador, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Vienna, Austria. She studied at Notre Dame School and went to college at Secretariado Maria Lins in Rio de Janeiro. Before coming to EARJ, she took care of her children and her family.

Ms. Sonja has worked at EARJ for 15 years and loves her job. She hasn’t only been the middle school secretary; she was a lower school secretary before as well. She enjoys being a secretary because she likes to help people and to work on the computer. She is the one who distinguishes who is on the honor roll and headmaster’s list, but that is not all, she also works on Centerpoint to make our lives easier.

Sonia likes to play tennis and to windsurf. She says that windsurfing is relaxing and tennis makes her more athletic. She also likes photography, which is like a hobby for her. She would like parents to know that they can come to the Middle School Office anytime to request her help on anything.


Written by Gabriel R.
Grade 8
E-mail Ms. Sonja