Faculty
Aïda Garcia-Pons
Lower School Spanish Teacher
Aïda Garcia-Pons is a native of Barcelona, Spain, and has been teaching languages and translating young adult novels for over 25 years. She graduated from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona with a B.A. in interpreting and translation in five different languages (the equivalent of a master’s degree in the U.S.), and obtained a TESOL certificate in the U.K. before teaching English and British literature and culture in China and Bangladesh. She also trained in the Responsive Classroom approach. After returning to Europe, she taught Spanish and English in Oxford, U.K. In the classroom, Aïda loves to turn language into a real and fun tool, and gives her students multiple opportunities to use it in real life-situations, whether through role-playing, class field trips, or establishing connections with Spanish-speaking students overseas. Aïda is an avid reader and a passionate student of languages. When not teaching or translating, she enjoys going on adventures with her family and friends. Aïda joined the Black Pine Circle community in 2022 and loves sharing her knowledge and experience with her students, from whom she also learns a lot.
Why I Work with Children
Children are our future, it is a joy to be learning from them.
A Favorite Book
Viaje al país de los lacetas, by Sebastià Sorribas.
Quick Fact
Aïda attended the same elementary school as opera tenor Josep Carreras.
Other Faculty for This Grade
Chelsea Feldman
First Grade Head Teacher, Kindergarten and First Grade Garden Teacher
Learning to play the Celtic Harp and studying Irish Gaelic
Nicole Lockwood
Lower School Science and Second – Fifth Grade Garden Teacher
Apprenticed at the National Theater of Croatia
Romina Ronquillo
Second Grade Head Teacher and Lower School Assistant Teacher Coordinator
Mad for dancing
Tess Leverenz
Third Grade Head Teacher
Took three and a half months to bike across the country with my husband