15+ years in education · 3 countries · 3 languages
Belonging doesn't happen by accident. It is something we design.
The best systems don't replace relationships. They make better relationships possible. My work focuses on designing inclusive structures that give educators greater clarity, help teams work with shared purpose, and create more opportunities for every learner to belong, grow, and thrive.
Inclusive Education Leader · Learning Support & EAL Coordinator · International Educator
15+
Years
Still learning.
3
Countries
One idea of inclusion doesn't fit everywhere.
3
Languages
Language changes how we see learners.
1
Question
How can we design school so everyone belongs?
About
A little about me
I'm originally from Cartagena, Colombia, and I grew up moving across different parts of South America because of my father's work. Looking back, that experience shaped much more than my love of travel. It made me curious about people, cultures, languages, and the different ways we experience the world.
That curiosity has stayed with me. I've been fortunate to live and work in several countries and to travel across five continents, always drawn to local stories, food, music, and the small things that make a place feel like home.
Vilnius, Lithuania, holds a particularly special place in my life. I lived there for three years, grew professionally, and met my wife. Together, we love traveling, cycling, discovering new places, and finding reasons to laugh along the way.
Outside of education, being outdoors is what keeps me grounded. Whether I'm running, cycling with my wife, hiking, or simply exploring somewhere new, being outside gives me space to slow down, think, and reconnect. I also love music, dancing, good food, and discovering the flavors and rhythms that make every place unique.
I'm passionate about building an inclusive culture and embracing belonging.
Experience
The work that shaped me
Fifteen years of experiences that continue to shape how I think about learners, leadership, and belonging.
2020 — Present
Seoul, South Korea
Learning Support & EAL Coordinator
Seoul Foreign School
- Lead school-wide inclusive education priorities in partnership with Senior Leadership.
- Built a database to track support plans and interventions, and to improve sectional transitions.
- Streamlined student support policies and ILP/AP systems to ensure equity and clarity.
- Facilitate SST meetings and coach on data-driven MTSS interventions using MARIO and STAR data.
- Lead reading and math data analysis cycles to inform instruction.
- Model inclusive co-teaching in the MYP, focused on executive functioning and literacy.
- Design and deliver professional development on UDL and neurodiversity for teaching and support teams.
2017 — 2020
Vilnius, Lithuania
Inclusive Education Coordinator & Teacher
American International School of Vilnius
- Launched and led the first inclusive education program at AISV.
- Delivered school-wide workshops on inclusion and neurodiversity for families, students, and faculty.
- Coached co-planning and co-teaching practices across Elementary and Middle School teams.
- Led academic interventions in reading, writing, and math for Elementary students.
- Led the MAP data analysis cycle to identify learning needs.
- Co-led the school's SEL program (Second Step).
- Managed IB-DP accommodations to ensure equitable access.
2013 — 2017
Bogotá, Colombia
Special Education Teacher
Colegio Nueva Granada
- Co-taught inclusive, inquiry-based lessons in AP English, Math, and Science for diverse high school learners.
- Facilitated study skills sessions on executive functioning, metacognition, and self-advocacy.
- Developed and monitored IEPs in collaboration with students, families, and teachers.
- Partnered with families and college counsellors to guide post-secondary transitions, including accommodations planning.
2012 — 2013
Bogotá, Colombia
ESL Teacher
Gimnasio Los Arrayanes / Royal English School
- Middle and high school English teacher.
2011 — 2012
Bogotá, Colombia
ESL Teacher
Learn English in Colombia
- Business English teacher to adults at multinational companies including YARA, AIG, and Ecopetrol.
Journey
Places called home
Four cities on three continents, in the order I lived in them — each one shaping the same conviction about who a classroom is designed for.
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Bogotá, Colombia
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Seoul, South Korea
Where it starts
Cartagena
Colombia
Born on the Caribbean coast, then a childhood spent moving through South America.
2011 — 2017
Bogotá
Colombia
Six years teaching — first ESL, then special education at Colegio Nueva Granada.
Bienvenido
2017 — 2020
Vilnius
Lithuania
Launched the first inclusive education program at AISV. Met my wife in the greenest capital of Europe.
Sveiki atvykę
2020 — Present
Seoul
South Korea
Leading learning support and school-wide UDL strategy at Seoul Foreign School.
환영합니다
Leadership & Articles
From ideas to impact
Systems, projects, workshops, and writing shaped by a simple question: how can we make schools work better for every learner?
Strategy
UDL School-Wide Action Plan
Seoul Foreign School · 2022 — 2025
Led the strategic implementation of Universal Design for Learning across the school, in collaboration with the assistant head of school and the Senior Leadership Team.
Four years leading the plan end to end.
Systems
Centralised Student Database
Seoul Foreign School · 2021 — 2022
Led a collaborative team of school stakeholders to build the school's first centralised student database, giving teachers immediate access to every student support record — including Individual Learning Plans and documentation that had previously been hard to find.
100% of ILPs and critical support materials now readily available.
Leadership
SENIA Korea — Board Chair
Special Education Network & Inclusion Association, Korea · Current
Chairs the board of SENIA Korea, the regional network for special education and inclusion practitioners.
Speaking
UDL — The Power of Choice
SENIA Conference, South Africa · Conference presentation
Presented on Universal Design for Learning and the role of learner choice to an international audience of inclusion practitioners.
Speaking
UDL & Inclusive Leadership Workshop
Public school special education teachers, Kazakhstan · 2024
Designed and delivered a workshop on Universal Design for Learning and inclusive leadership for public school special education teachers from Kazakhstan.
Speaking
MTSS & UDL at KORKOS
KORKOS Conference · 2023 — 2024
Workshop sessions on Universal Design for Learning, inclusive leadership, and multi-tiered systems of support for the Korea Council of Overseas Schools.
Writing
The Banner, Spring 2023
Seoul Foreign School magazine · 2023
Writing on inclusion for The Banner, the official magazine of Seoul Foreign School.
Read on Issuu
Writing
The Banner, Spring 2025
Seoul Foreign School magazine · 2025
Writing on inclusion for the Spring 2025 issue of The Banner.
Read on Issuu
Credentials
Qualifications & training
3 of the 4 were earned while holding a full-time teaching post.
2023 — 2024
M.A. Teacher Leadership
San Diego State University
Inclusive Leadership
2015 — 2016
Inclusive Education Graduate Certificate · Special Educator Certificate
University of Kentucky
2014 — 2015
Assistive Technology Specialist
California State University, Dominguez Hills
2005 — 2011
Bachelor of Arts in Education
Universidad de La Salle
English, Spanish & French
Further training
- IB Learning Diversity & Inclusion, Cat 3
- MTSS for International Schools
- ADHD, ASD & Dyslexia
- MYP Design, Cat 3
- WASC visiting committee member
Practice
Where ideas become practice
My work brings together inclusive leadership, learning design, data, and collaboration to help schools turn good intentions into better experiences for learners.
Leadership
- Inclusive education systems design & implementation
- Strategic communication & influence
- Strategic decision making & problem solving
- Cross-cultural leadership & international mindedness
- Budget management
- Interpersonal & emotional intelligence
Practice
- Executive functions coaching
- Data-informed decision making across academic and social-emotional growth
- Universal Design for Learning
- Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
- Co-teaching & co-planning
Frameworks
- IB PYP
- IB MYP
- IB DP
- Advanced Placement
Assessment & tools
- Seeing Stars
- ReadNaturally
- DIBELS
- Star360
- LEXIA
- WIDA
- MAP
- MARIO
Digital
- macOS
- Google Certified Educator
- Adobe
- AI tools for education
In their words
What students say
End-of-year notes from advisory students, kept as they were written. Names have been removed.
“I really want to thank you for helping me understand ADHD isn't a bad thing, because every time I would talk about it I would cry. Please always know you are a big part of my mental thinking of ADHD! And all the check-ins have helped me understand who I am.”
Grade 7 student, Seoul Foreign School
“Advisory has been the best moments of my life, thank you for helping my ADHD too!”
Advisory student
“Advisory wouldn't have been as memorable without you! Thank you for being so funny, positive, and happy all the time, and I will visit you next year as well!”
Advisory student
“Thank you for helping me with my everyday life. I improved myself with your help and I started getting no tardies. Thank you so much!”
Advisory student
“Thank you for being such a kind and funny teacher. Me encanta decir bromas contigo y lo pasé muy bien en Jeju. I'm gonna miss having classes with you.”
Advisory student
“Thank you for being such an amazing advisor! You always made class so fun and never failed to make me laugh!”
Advisory student
“Thank you so so much for being such a supportive teacher to me. Thank you for being my teacher this year.”
Advisory student
Contact
Get in touch
For inclusive education consulting, professional development on UDL and neurodiversity, speaking, or a conversation about a role.
Beyond the classroom
- Middle School Cross-Country coach
- IDU week — Nutrition & Biking
- Community engagement — Girls in Sports
Based inSeoul, South Korea
SpeaksEnglish, Spanish, French