Lidia Galarza, Teaching Assistant

Lidia was born and raised in the beautiful country of Peru.  She is very proud to be an American citizen as well.  She grew up in a family where learning took place not only at school but also in everyday life.  In addition to attending school, she helped in the family business where she learned to manage her time and be responsible for the decisions that she made. Most importantly, she learned the value of hard work, determination, and education.  

After receiving her B.A. in Economics from the Universidad San Martin de Porres in Lima, Lidia came to the United States to pursue graduate studies. She first attended an English language immersion program in Washington, D.C. which gave her the opportunity to learn a new language and be exposed to the rich culture and history of the United States.

Lidia was awarded a merit scholarship from Ohio University to pursue a degree in International Affairs. While attending Ohio University, she taught Spanish to college students and tutored at-risk youth in the Athens, Ohio area.  Upon receiving her M.A. in International Affairs from Ohio University, she returned to Washington, D.C. to work in the area of International Affairs and to pursue her M.A. in Economics from George Washington University.

As a mother, Lidia has found it very fascinating to observe the inquisitive nature of children. Their natural curiosity leads them into learning new things, including languages, almost effortlessly.  Lidia's love for children inspired her to become a teacher. Upon relocating to Austin, she enrolled her children in the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and became very active in the school community. In addition, she became a substitute teacher in the Modern Languages Department where she taught Spanish for eight years. Teaching Spanish from elementary to advanced levels was an inspiring and very rewarding experience for her. She is currently completing work to obtain her Texas Teacher Certificate in the area of foreign languages.  

Lidia was attracted to the Magellan International School because of its multicultural and multilingual IB program. She believes that such an approach to teaching sets the framework for a successful and relevant education.  She is very excited to be part of the Magellan International School community. Lidia is looking forward to contributing her knowledge and experience to help her students become happy, caring, and intellectually curious individuals who approach the process of learning with joy and confidence.

Lidia truly enjoys being a mom to her two sons and seeing them achieve their dreams. She is an avid reader and traveler.