Our Leadership Team
Wara González, Head of School
My name is Wara González. I am an educator with more than 30 years of experience in the field. As a licensed psychologist with a Master’s degree in Education and a postgraduate degree in Early Childhood, I believe that teaching is about inspiring young minds to achieve their intellectual and emotional potential through the acquisition of life skills and strategies for critical thinking. I am myself, inspired by many educators, among them Loris Malaguzzi and the Reggio-Emilia educational philosophy, and hold that all education is training for citizenship. My personal goal is to help our students be conscientious, well-adjusted, happy and committed members of a functioning society.
Norma Oliveira, Currriculum Director
My name is Norma Oliveria, it is with great pleasure that I introduce myself as the Curriculum Director at the American School of Santo Domingo. It is our mission to create innovative learning experiences for our students that will allow them to cope and thrive in the future, a future that is completely unknown to us. With this in mind, we strive to create a curriculum that is relevant and challenging, as well as develop a methodology that is engaging and interactive, stressing not only knowledge, but creativity and the ability to think flexibly. After 26 years of experience in the area of education, my passion for teaching has not only increased, but has found a home.
Marisela Bencosme, Middle School & High School Principal & Students and Parents Affairs Director
My name is Marisela Bencosme. I have 38 years of teaching experience, obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Postgraduate in Early Childhood Education, and a Postgraduate Degree in Educational Management at UTE. My goal is to guide teachers in the implementation of new learning strategies for students, that promote the development of learning skills, involving parents and guardians in the school dynamic. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me, my doors will be always open. I motivate you to work together with us as a team for the academic and emotional well being of your child. Thank you for trusting your child’s education to our team of dedicated educators and support staff.
Patricia Cáffaro, Academic Management & Wellness Director
My name is Patricia Cáffaro; I’m a psychologist that has developed my career around Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I’ve been in this area of education for more than 20 years and 11 years as a school principal, planning, working and supervising teachers, working with parents and most importantly, giving my best to provide the students the best example as a teacher and as a leader. I have a Bachelor’s degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and a Master’s degree in Education teaching English as a second language at Framingham State University. I’ve been interested in several educational literacy methodologies; such as, the Montessori method, Whole Language and the Orthon-Gillingham method. During the last three years, I have practiced some strategies in teaching for understanding and have completed the Teaching for Understanding course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) making this framework the priority for my professional development.
Alicia de Pool, Preschool and Elementary School Principal
My name is Alicia De Pool. I have worked in the field of Education for 12 years and one thing has not changed over the course of my career: children never seize to amaze me. The way I see it, Education is the stone layer that molds the road of children’s lives, shaping who they are and who they will become. Thus, it is our job as parents and educators to provide guidance, opportunities, support, and most of all, love, during this journey, inspiring in them the faith, resilience, and grit they will need to overcome obstacles and be successful in achieving their goals. Every child has a story. It is my mission to be of service and contribute to the story of your child.