PP3 Faculty

Head of Preschool

Julieta Carrillo

Julieta Carrillo is a bilingual teacher and administrator who came to Magellan in 2014 as the PYP Coordinator. She is also an Apple Certified Teacher and an IB Educator. She has a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education specialized in Bilingual Education and Curriculum Design. Julieta has been in Education for 25 years in many private bilingual IB schools in Mexico City, such as Instituto Educativo Olinca, The Churchill School, Colegio Williams and Colegio Internacional de México.

After teaching 8 years, recognizing the value of the IB programmes and living by the philosophy of the PYP,  she became a PYP Coordinator in 2005 and since then, she has led different schools through the process of IB verification and evaluation visits in a very successful way.  She proudly guided all the self-study process for The Magellan International first evaluation visit.

IB Educators perform three different roles: as a workshop leader, Julieta has been training teachers and administrators in regional and on-site workshops throughout IB Americas. As a site visitor, she takes part in visiting teams that authorize and evaluate schools and as a consultant for interested schools through their feasibility study and early implementation of the PYP. These experiences enable her to enrich her role at MIS because she has plenty of opportunities to discover the power of different realities and perspectives in our globalized world.

Julieta describes herself as an inquirer by nature and a creative open-minded life long learner.

Lead Teacher

Carolina Palacios

Carolina Palacios was born in Valencia, Venezuela. She loves reading, listening to music, going to the movies and the cultural scene in general. She loves animals, the sea and nature. In her spare time she likes to paint.

In 2004 she graduated from the University of Carabobo, obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Since then she has not stopped working in the educational field.

With more than 14 years of experience she has held the position of teacher with preschool and elementary school children. She also had the opportunity to work in the administrative area of ​​a school as coordinator of the teachers’ curriculum. She considers this a great experience since it allowed her to know the operation of not only the curricular side but administrative side of a school.

In 2018, she moved to Austin, TX where she works as an assistant teacher. She is very grateful for this new opportunity because it allows her to develop her greatest passion, which is to teach.

Lead Teacher

Diana Thomas

Diana was born and raised in Germany where she graduated as an Occupational Therapist. Throughout her career she has enjoyed working with children from multiple backgrounds in diverse settings.  Together with her husband and their two daughters, Diana has lived in Peru, Germany, Indonesia and now Austin.

In the Peruvian Andes she worked at a special needs school, helped manage a project for street children and provided psychomotricity lessons at Davy College school.  She moved to Lima, the capital of Peru, in 2001 and worked as an assistant teacher at San Silvestre School and then transitioned into private practice. Upon her return to Germany, Diana entered private practice. In this stimulating environment she fine-tuned her theoretical and practical skills working on a broad range of learning disorders in cooperation with parents, teachers and doctors.

During her stay in Indonesia she engaged with the diverse Indonesian culture by volunteering for a German NGO supporting low-income students. While in Indonesia, Diana also studied and received her Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Cambridge. Working with children, and supporting them on their individual paths, is her passion.

Preschool Lead Teacher

Alejandra Rodríguez

Alejandra es Licenciada en educación preescolar de la universidad de San Buenaventura Bogotá, Colombia; cuenta con más de 15 años de experiencia en la educación de niños entre los 3 y 10 años de edad. Durante su carrera profesional asistió al seminario de aplicación de competencias básicas para el preescolar, luego al seminario de motricidad y grafismo y por último al taller enfocado en trastornos en el desarrollo del lenguaje; todos estos realizados en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Realizó un diplomado en educación inicial del siglo XXI desarrollado por el Instituto Colombiano de Neurociencias(ICN) y la Asociación Andina de Colegios de Bachillerato Internacional (AACBI). Ha recibido dos certificaciones del IB categoría 1 y 2 y una distinción por realizar su trabajo constantemente según el perfil del IB.
A lo largo de su carrera ha trabajado en diferentes colegios como el Abraham Maslow, Gimnasio campestre Maryland, Gimnasio campestre Oxford, Colegio Helvetia de Bogotá y sus últimos 8 años en el colegio Gimnasio del Norte con el programa PEP del bachillerato internacional (IB); con el cual se ha apasionado ya que el objetivo del IB es “formar personas con mentalidad internacional, velando por crear un mundo mejor y más pacífico”, y Alejandra está segura que este es el mejor camino para la evolución de la educación en el mundo.
Alejandra comparte su tiempo libre en familia, le encanta viajar, ha vivido en Colombia, en la Florida, en Chicago y ahora está feliz en Austin TX que es su nuevo hogar, emprendiendo un magnifico viaje de grandes aprendizajes en Magellan International School.

Alejandra has a degree in preschool education from the University of San Buenaventura Bogotá, Colombia and brings more than 15 years of experience in educating children between the ages of 3 and 10. Throughout her career, she has continued her education by attending seminars on the application of basic skills for preschool, motor skills, as well as language development disorders – all at the National University of Colombia. She also holds a diploma in early 21st century education developed by the Colombian Institute of Neurosciences (ICN) and the Andean Association of International Baccalaureate Schools (AACBI). Additionally, Alejandra holds two IB category 1 and 2 certifications and was awarded for consistently performing her work based on the IB profile.

Throughout her career she has worked in different schools such as Abraham Maslow, Maryland Country Gymnasium, Oxford Country Gymnasium, Helvetia School in Bogotá, and the last 8 years at the North Gymnasium School with the International Baccalaureate (IB) PEP program. She passionate about IB education and its objective “to train people with an international mindset, ensuring a better and more peaceful world” which she believes is the best path for the evolution of education in the world.

Alejandra spends her free time with her family and loves to travel. She has lived in Colombia, Florida, Chicago, and now is happy to be here in Austin embarking on an exciting new journey at Magellan International School.

Preschool Teaching Assistant

Lety Pacchiano

Lety Pacchiano was born and raised in Mexico City. She studied Business administration at the ITAM (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México) and, following, pursued her interest in education. She has now been a teacher for 25 years.

Her passion for education stems from her parents who are also educators. Together, they founded two private schools in Mexico, Liceo Coyoacán, where she taught preschool through high school and EXCELA (Centro de Excelencia Académica EXCELA) where she taught English, music, and served as a counselor.

Upon moving to Austin, Lety taught at Escuela Hispanoamericana de Texas and is now proud to call herself a Magellan Navigator. She is happily married with three kids attending college.

Preschool Teaching Assistant

Karla Gutierrez

Karla was born in El Paso, Texas and lived her early childhood in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. Karla moved to McAllen, Texas in 2005 with her parents and siblings. After graduating from high school she attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she graduated with a degree in bilingual education EC-6th in 2016. While she was completing her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a substitute teacher and interned as a teaching practicum and student teacher for Kingsville ISD with Pre-kinder, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade.
In 2017, Karla started pursuing a master’s degree and begin working with the disability services department that the university offer. She loved her job because she was able to help students and worked with professional counselors. Karla and her husband Alejandro moved to Austin in 2018. In 2019, Karla graduated with a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She loves to spend quality time with her family, try different cuisines, and find new and exciting places around the Austin area. Karla likes to be optimistic and is always open to learn new ideas.

English Teacher, Preschool & Kinder

Whitney Winchester

Whitney Winchester was born in Houston, Texas. Whitney graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and her Masters degree in International Relations from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. After moving to Austin in 2008, she attended an alternative certification program for teaching elementary school. Whitney worked in Austin Independent School District as the Director of Child Care at Lee Elementary school before accepting a position at Gorgeous Millie, a preschool in Austin. While there, Whitney taught children ages 1-4. Additionally, she served as the manager of the school and business.

Prior to Magellan, Whitney spent 2 years teaching English at Austin International School. While there, she taught both the 3- and 4-year old classes. Whitney also served as a coordinator for the Preschool and Kindergarten teams. Whitney joined The Magellan International School Faculty in 2017. She is honored to have the opportunity to work at Magellan. Her goal is to create an environment for each of the students where they can feel safe and nurtured as they develop both as students and members of a global community.

Teacher Assistant

Alexandra Sicua

Alexandra Sicua was born in Bogotá, Colombia. There, she received a Bachelor degree in Preschool Education from Corporación Educativa Nacional de Administración in Bogotá, Colombia in 1995. Also, she attended Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia where Alexandra received a postgraduate degree in Educational Project Management.

She has more than 18 years of experience teaching in Colombia. After graduating, she began working as an educator of preschool and primary in private schools located in Bogotá focusing in Literacy, lifelong learning and Child Growth and Development from Infancy to School Age. Moreover, Alexandra has been applying differentiation in the classroom for the diverse needs of students with innovative educational projects addressed to enhance family and society values such as ‘My family’, ‘My incredible classroom’ and ‘Express your ideas’. These projects have included activities with recycled materials and the use of new technologies.

She moved to Austin with her husband Carlos Cita (MIS music teacher) and their sons Juan Pablo and David, and she is enjoying a new opportunity to share her experience with this amazing Magellan Community. Alexandra is a balanced and risk taker person, also she enjoys read, travel and spend time with her family around Austin and USA.

Art Teacher, PP3 - 2nd Grade

Dan Kaplan

Dan Kaplan received his BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. After working for several years as a visual artist, he returned to school and obtained his K-12 art teacher certification at Carlow University. He has spent his professional life working as an educator, artist, and musician.

Dan believes that art is a great way for students to express and nourish their ideas. Every student, from the most literal-minded to the most abstract thinker, can find their place in the art room. The elementary years are a great time to explore these possibilities. For the past several years, Dan has been working in Austin as a visual artist and musician, and enjoys being a teacher at Magellan International School.

Preschool Counselor

Rozette Pegues

Rozette holds a Master’s Degree in counseling from the University of North Texas and has been a counselor for more than 6 years. She has experience in counseling children, teens, and adults, and is excited to work with our PP3-PP4 students. Rozette is originally from Dallas, but recently moved to Austin from Anchorage, Alaska.

Preschool Teaching Assistant

Silvana Lalinde

Silva is a Colombian teacher and musician. She graduated from Universidad Juan N. Corpas as a professional clarinetist and has a certificate in Education from Universidad Unipanamericana, both in Bogotá.

As a music teacher, she has worked with children around the ages of 4 to 8 guiding them to express themselves through art. While in Colombia, she worked for ten years at the Santa María School located in Bogotá. In 2021 she moved to Austin and is very happy to be a part of the MIS community. Aside from teaching, she’s a happy baker who likes to make all types of desserts and give them out to family and friends. As part of leading a healthy and artistic lifestyle, Silvana loves to work out and play soccer with friends.

Head Librarian

Marion Rocco

Marion Rocco earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education & Child Study from Smith College in Northampton, MA. Her first job after college was working for the acclaimed author and illustrator Eric Carle. It was through this work in his studio that she discovered the magic and power of picture books. Marion returned to school and completed the Master of Science in Information Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. Since graduating, she has worked in school and public libraries and as an Austin ISD Program Specialist focusing on teacher and librarian professional development. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Austin where she teaches an undergraduate course in Children’s Literature.

Marion’s interest in global and international literature keeps her active in professional organizations including the American Library Association and the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY). She served on the Batchelder Award Committee for best international children’s book in 2014 and co-chaired the USBBY conference that took place in Austin in 2019. Marion has presented on international and bilingual books at the International Board on Books for Young People, International Literacy Association, and Texas Library Association conferences. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Learning Technologies from the University of North Texas.

Campus Manager, Chimney Corners

Alma Irizarry

Alma was born on the enchanting island of Puerto Rico, in the westernmost city of Mayaguez. My childhood, though, was spent in Denver, CO. After a seven-year return to San Juan, PR, she relocated to New Jersey just in time for her high school years. Rutgers University provided her with an exquisite academic experience and she then journeyed to Manhattan, where, in the dead of winter, she hurried along 5th Avenue to translate cartoons for Scripps Howard. Back in NJ, Alma became an Administrative Assistant to Corporate Tax Attorneys, and moved on to marketing life insurance as a Special Agent and Registered Representative. In time and, as a Contract Analyst, she reviewed, revised and negotiated technology agreements for five years. 

Alma has been in Austin for 18 years, and has worked as a Claims Examiner and Spanish Translator for a life and disability insurance company catering to Latin American clients, and for several years later, as Spanish Translator for the State of Texas. 

She started at Magellan International School on August 26, 2017 as an After School Care Guide and quickly became a Substitute Teacher for pre-school to middle school grades and a Front Desk administrator for our after school care program. She is currently Campus Manager at Chimney Corners and enjoys every moment she spend at Magellan.

If she’s not working, she enjoys visiting museums, good restaurants, or dancing. Alma also enjoys her family, friends, and my doggie, Milo. She cooks Puerto Rican, Cuban and Italian food every chance she gets. Her favorite person is her young adult daughter, Noelia.

Preschool PE Teacher

Tommy Flaherty

Tommy is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin studying sociology with the intention of moving on to graduate school where his focus will be youth sports and gender. He is a firm believer that participating in sports has a positive impact on students of all ages and he is excited to share in the athletic growth of Magellan students.

Preschool Nurse

Kristen Granados

Kristen was raised in central Texas and began her career in health technology, collaborating with providers to build software that improves the patient experience and clinical outcomes. After completing her nursing degree, she worked at the South Texas Medical Center at University Children’s Health, the only level one pediatric trauma center in south Texas where she cared for many uninsured and immigrant families. Most recently, Kristen focused on family-centered care at Pediatric Associates of Austin.

During her free time you can find Kristen at the YMCA enjoying fitness dance classes, meal prepping vegetarian-inspired dishes, and spending time with her family, fiancé, and their cat “Dennis”.

Kristen holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas A&M Health Science Center.