FACULTY

Sally Burtnette-Leser, B.A. in French, German and Education; teaching degree in French and English from the Universität Göttingen and Pädagogische Hochschule. She taught for eight years in high school and adult education systems in Germany. 207-230-0098 sally@leser.us

Julien Covos, Penobscot School’s French Exchange Teacher for 2007-2008 was born in 1985 in Angers, France, and is currently a student at the University of Angers. His major is English and he wants to become an English teacher upon graduation. He has been teaching children and adolescents English for three years and sees this year in Rockland as a fantastic opportunity to practice and improve his skills in teaching and in English as well as to be involved in a new culture and setting. He is interested in English literature, specifically E. Welty, W. Irving, Faulkner, Japanese painting, basketball and football and is proficient in web design.

Nohora Estes who is a native from Colombia taught Spanish through Adult Education Program in Rockland Main. She established the Spanish Program at Riley School eight years ago and has been teaching there ever since. Nohora also teaches private Spanish lessons to the community and has been sharing her love for Latin Dance with the people of Maine for several years. Nohora enjoys reading, walking and dancing. She lives with her sons Paul and Michael in St. George, Maine. luznohora@hotmail.com

D. Peter Fasoldt earned his B.A. in Hispanic Studies-Spanish from the University of Southern Maine and in 2005, he studied in Santiago, Spain focusing on advanced grammar and local Galician culture. 207-756-0384

Julianna Gerrity, Russian native, grew up in the northern Caucasus Mountains. She graduated from the university in Nalchik with a degree in English and American Literature and afterwards taught English to children. 207-319-7709 therussian99@yahoo.com

Elisabeth Goodridge received her B.A. in French from Wells College. She studied at the University of Paris and taught French and English at the Berlitz School in Montreal. She has taught French for Penobscot School, the Riley School, Appleton Village School, and designed and taught the first interactive television French course at the University of Maine, Augusta. babeth62@hotmail.com

Jeannie Hamrin has lived and studied in Sweden, and returns there often with her Swedish husband. She teaches for the Early Childhood Education Department at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine and lives in Boothbay. hamrin@gwi.net

Harry Kaiserian lived in Italy from 1974-76. He has returned often and since 2000, has been taking cooking lessons there from a noted Italian chef. Harry is a cooking columnist in Blue Hill and has been teaching cooking classes for ten years. He studies Italian at Penobscot School. 207-326-9309 hkaisber@mma.edu

Dennis Healy is a longtime student of French at Penobscot School. He is certified to teach in the public school system and teaches French adult education courses in Camden. Dennis previously hosted a French language radio program and he collects French language films. HealyD1@aol.com

Ritsuko Kato earned her B.A. in philosophy at Hosei University in Tokyo. In 1997, she completed her certification as a Japanese language instructor and then, Ritsuko taught Japanese at Elmira College in New York. A resident of Jefferson, Maine, Ritsuko is also a self-employed farmer, who produces organic vegetables and sells them at the Winthrop Farmers' Market. 207-549-3280 Ritkato@surfglobal.net

Silvia Marcela Moreno Lopez, from Bogota, Colombia, holds a degree in Philology and Languages with a concentration in English and Spanish from the National University of Colombia. She is professionally certified to teach Spanish in Maine and in her native Colombia, Silvia was an English as a Second Language teacher at the Nueva Granada Military University and Centro Colombo Americano. Silvia is currently a Spanish instructor at Lincoln Academy. simorype@hotmail.com

Sally Ng, who earned a B.A. in her native Taiwan and attended graduate school (education) at the University of Southern Maine is the founder and language teacher at Portland Chinese Children’s School in South Portland. She currently teaches Chinese at the Chinese American Friendship Association of Maine Chinese School and she is an English as a Second Language Ed Tech and tutor at Portland High School. Sally also taught Chinese at the Portland Regional School and was the Bilingual Program (Chinese and English) teacher and coordinator. lichumaine@hotmail.com

Estela Otero, born in New York City to Spanish and Argentine parents, is a professional caterer. Estela is interested in the Slow Food movement in Europe, organic farming and sustainable agriculture. Her catering business, Edible Art, focuses on fresh ingredients and the creative preparation and display of food. Estela loves film and will host in February and March for Penobscot SchoolÕs Cena y Cine, the monthly Spanish potluck. Estelamaris67@hotmail.com

Giovanni Perlini, Penobscot School’s Italian Exchange Teacher for 2007-2008, was born in 1967 in Milan in northern Italy, and received his degree in History. He comes to us via a former FLTA, Giovanna, so he is already a bit familiar with our school He has traveled extensively and has a good knowledge not only of English, but also of French and German, and some Russian. While working in a school library, he was involved in theater and acting, even contributing to a dictionary of the performing arts. He loves film and is passionately interested in politics and historical and cultural issues of today’s world, with a view to becoming a journalist. To this end, he is excited about the possibilities of teaching his own language and culture to Americans, while improving his English, and becoming involved in the school setting in Rockland, learning first hand about the social environment here in Maine.

Carl Putz has a Ph.D. in philosophy and taught at DePauw University in Indiana. Most recently he taught Humanities at JFK University in California and now relocated to Rockland, he continues to follow his interest in experimental education. 207-594-1794 putager@gwi.net

Emily Sapienza, B.A. Italian Language and Literature, Sarah Lawrence College, studied at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine, Trinity College in Rome, and the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts in Italy and Greece. Emily taught English as a Second Language to adults and children in Rome, and she is currently Penobscot School’s radio station manager and a teacher in the summer English Immersion Program. 207-594-0721 esapienza@aol.com

Steve Sulzer, B.A. Spanish Dartmouth College, 1972, studied in Salamanca, Spain and began his teaching career in New Hampshire. He then taught at Camden Rockport High School for 20 years, including leading student trips to Mexico and Spain. Steve loves word games, and raises Persian cats. 207-785-5269 ssulzer@midcoast.com

Billy Smith is descended on his mother's side from an old Spanish family in the Dominican Republic. He received his B.A. in English, Music and French from Notre Dame, and his M.A. in English Literature from the University of Toronto. Billy also teaches Spanish at the Watershed Community School. 207-594-5877

Julie von Kamecke, B.A. Russian, SUNY Oswego '93, studied at Moscow State University and, while there, taught English to Russian students. In Albany, she worked with Russian immigrants as a translator and interpreter. Julie teaches Spanish at Rockport Elementary School. Laika6000@yahoo.com