Specialists

Florence Duarte, Computer Specialist
Ms. Florence Duarte is the middle school computer specialist. She was born in São Paulo, and has lived in Salvador, Bahia, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington DC. She went to college in the US and in Brazil, and has four different degrees: a B.A. in biology, a Brazilian and a US teaching certificate in secondary science, and a master’s degree in secondary science education. Before coming to EARJ, she taught at the Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia and at the Washington International School in Washington DC.

She worked at EARJ from 1983 to 1993, and has been back since January 2002. At EARJ she has taught lots of different subjects like IB chemistry, 10th grade Biology, 9th grade IPS and Middle School science. Currently, she works in the technology department as the MS computer lab specialist. She chose to teach this because it allows her to work with all subjects, teachers and students. One thing that parents and students should now about Ms. Florence is that she loves what she does. She has also been involved in activities such as robotics, FAISE, and currently runs the middle school activity called Film Crew.

Some of her hobbies are sailing and playing bossa-nova on the guitar. She is interested in almost everything, except for politics. Something that you may not know about Ms. Florence is that her mother also thought at EARJ. Mrs. Sherrill was head of the English department back in the 70’s . You may also not know that Ms. Florence comes from a family of Episcopal missionaries.

Written by Maria Antonia D. B.
Grade 8
E-mail Ms. Florence

Jennifer Coleman, Learning Specialist
Ms. Jennifer Coleman was born in Los Angeles, California, where she lived initially. She also resided in Virginia, U.S.A, in Spain and Brazil. She attended Loyola Marymount University, where she got her BA degree in Psychology Education, and then her MA in Special Education.
She worked in a Washington DC school before coming to EARJ, where she has been working for six year. At EARJ she held several jobs among which are Lower School Learning Specialist, Middle School Learning Specialist, Upper School Learning Specialist and Student Services Department Head. She chose this field of study because she has always enjoyed helping people; when she was growing up, she volunteered to help people with special needs. Ms. Jennifer wants parents and students to believe that in her classes all students can be successful.
Other activities in which Ms. Jennifer is involved at EARJ comprise FAISE and SOS club. Outside work she likes to travel, read books, cook, exercise, and walk on the beach with her family. She has a baby girl called Sofia who is a great baby.

Written by Nicolas C.
Grade 8
E-mail Ms. Jennifer

Luiza Maia, ESL Specialist
Luiza Maia was born in Curitiba, in the State of Paraná, Brazil. She has lived in the United States of America, Japan, South Africa and in Rio de Janeiro. She did most of her studies in Brazil; she graduated from UERJ with a degree in English; she also has a degree in Education from Notre Dame College in Rio de Janeiro as well. Ms. Luiza has Master’s in Applied Linguistics from USC in California, USA, and she has also studied for a Ph.D. in Education, at the same American university, but she has not finished it yet. Before she came to EARJ, she worked at other international schools in Rio and abroad, as well as in language institutes – she has been a language teacher and an Elementary through High school teacher.

Ms. Luiza is in her fourth year here at the EARJ as an ESL specialist at the Lower, Middle and Upper schools. She said that she has chosen teaching ESL because English is her second language too and because she has always enjoyed being a teacher. But Ms. Luiza is not just a teacher, she is also a co-advisor in 8th grade; she helps teachers to learn more about the ESL and Differentiated Instruction; and she is part of the teachers’ social committee.

Teaching is not the only thing that Ms. Luiza does in her life. She likes to watch movies and she enjoys reading, but her favorite activity is traveling. Ms. Luiza wants all parents and students to know that “Speaking several languages and learning about other cultures is very important to make the world a friendlier place”.

Written by Beatriz T.
E-mail Ms. Luiza