Administration

Luke Walbridge, Principal

I have been an educator since 1984 in a variety of roles. I join you from the American Embassy School in New Delhi where I spent seven years as the high school computer coordinator, head of department, and computer teacher.  While there I also completed the post masters in school leadership program through the College of New Jersey. This included an internship with the school administration that included being a coordinator of Atlas Rubicon with the curriculum coordinator. 

In my twenty-five years in education I have taught courses in the math, health, computer, social studies and art departments from grade six through twelve. I was a public school teacher near Rochester, New York before heading overseas. Overseas I have been at Academia Cotopaxi in Quito, Ecuador, The International School of Aruba and The American Embassy School in New Delhi. I believe that extracurricular activities are an important developmental opportunity for young adolescents. I have coached swimming, softball, basketball, and soccer; I have been advisor for the school newspaper, the yearbook, chess club, and the break dance club; I have helped build sets for the school theater production and sang in a faculty choir. 

On a more personal level I have five children. My three older children are Alex a recent graduate of Hobart College, Leslie a junior at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts and Audrey who is entering William Smith College, all are graduates of the American Embassy School. My younger children are Dominic, who will attend preschool and will soon be four years old and Jonah who is twenty months old. My wife Paola San Martini is joining EARJ as a high school math teacher. 

Written by Luke Walbridge

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Penny Mello e Souza, Counselor

Ms. Penny Souza is the middle school 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. She also has a second BA degree in Clinical Psychology from PUC in Rio de Janeiro.  Before coming to EARJ, she taught in the schools of education of two Brazilian universities.

Ms. Penny has worked at EARJ for 37 years. In addition to being a middle school counselor, she has been a high school counselor and a college counselor.  Ms. Penny can help students to resolve social or academic concerns. She coordinates the bullying prevention program, the leadership conference, and the peer counseling program.

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

Written by Sigrid Østmo da Costa

Revised by Penny de Mello e Souza

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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 19 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 Power School to make our lives easier.

Ms. Sonja 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 Resende

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Ms. Carol Carvalho was born in Volta Redonda in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and moved to Rio de Janeiro city in 1982 to study languages at UERJ. 

Since coming to EARJ 13 years ago, MS. Carol has had different jobs.  She started as a telephone operator; then she worked in the Admissions Office; after that she was the headmaster’s secretary; and now she is working in the MS Office as the Middle School counselor’s secretary. She has also been involved with the school magazine design; she edited the school newsletter for ten years (Extra Edition); and she helps to coordinate the Framingham Master Program during vacation.

Outside the school, MS.Carol loves to travel, to dive, to read and to do anything that is near the sea.

Written by Kevin Ortiz

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