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Team
Klett World Languages
Sales
Hanne Sinclair, Vice President of Sales, has 20 years of experience in education having earned a M.S. in Spanish Language Education coupled with leadership training and coursework on standards requirements for language learning. She leverages this knowledge in second language acquisition and teaching to guide KWL through adoptions and sales in the U.S. A native Spanish speaker born in Mexico, Hanne is an advocate for multilingual and multicultural education.
Aisha Khan, Director of Sales, taught and designed curricula for novice to advanced Spanish classes for 11 years. With an M.Ed in K-12 Teaching and Learning, a B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in Psychology, Aisha believes culture and language learning positively influence students’ development into global citizens. Having studied and worked in Spain, she is passionate about building language proficiency through cross-cultural learning experiences.
Dr. Kathryn Miner, Director of Strategic Opportunities, holds a Ph.D. in French from Emory University, where she taught French language courses for 7 years. She has also worked for the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States, partnering with cultural institutions and Alliance Française chapters across the Southeast. At KWL, Kathryn enjoys helping educators find materials tailored to their specific program goals and needs.
Northeast Team
Iván Ferrero, World Language Sales Consultant, taught higher education and high school world language for twelve years. Earning an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a Translation Studies Concentration at Universidad de León (Spain), Iván sought to transform language learning in his classes. In this new role, Iván will continue making a difference by supporting educators.
Sergio Troitiño, World Language Sales Consultant, holds a Masters degree in Spanish as a Second and Foreign Language from the University of Barcelona. He taught Spanish in Chicago and Barcelona for 6 years. He has worked as an editor, as an author, and as a teacher trainer. Additionally, he has experience with teaching materials analysis and design in master's programs at Nebrija University, Barcelona University, and SDI-München.
Southeast Team
James Duprey, World Language Sales Consultant, brings a passion for world language education to his role at KWL, having worked alongside language educators in various capacities for six years. He earned a B.A. in French and Canadian Studies, completed a French Immersion program at Université de Montréal, and interned at the Eastern Townships Research Centre. James is committed to supporting teachers in fostering global connections through language and culture.
Laura Pearson, World Language Sales Consultant, earned a B.A. in French and Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Tech and a M.A. in Education. Laura has worked and studied in France and has over a decade of experience teaching secondary French. She brings her passion and robust knowledge of world language education and love for creating intercultural connections to KWL where she can support teachers and learners.
Molly Rowland, World Language Sales Consultant, earned an M.A. in German Language from Bowling Green State University. Molly has over a decade of experience working with German language learners and educators. Having lived, studied, and worked in Germany and Austria, Molly brings a passion for language learning to KWL. She looks forward to equipping teachers with tools to impart real-world language skills that benefit students in school and beyond.
Brittany Williams, World Language Sales Consultant, has 15 years of experience teaching Spanish and developing curricula in K-12 and higher education. A Georgia native, she earned a B.A. in Spanish, an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics, and an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. Brittany’s extensive travel throughout Spanish-speaking cultures inspires her to promote language learning in the U.S. and help educators use authentic resources to foster intercultural connections and advance language proficiency.
Midwest Team
Kathrin Frenzel-Luke, World Language Sales Consultant, received her M.A. in Second Language Acquisition from the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany. Her passion for sharing the German language and culture with others has led her to teaching German to all age groups and language levels. She spent the last 6 years teaching at The Ohio State University, where she assisted the Language Program Director as well as acting as Peer Coordinator.
Tyler William Johnson, World Language Sales Consultant, earned an M.A. in German and has taught at the elementary and intermediate levels in college and language school settings. At Klett World Languages, he draws on his practical classroom experience using KWL’s materials and digital platform to guide educators in adopting a truly communicative and effective language learning program.
Julianne Brooks, World Language Sales Consultant, earned an M.A. in French and Francophone Studies from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Having lived in France and Québec, she values the intersection of North American and European roots that Klett World Languages offers. Julianne has taught French in secondary and higher education, drawing on communicative language teaching. She looks forward to collaborating with educators to create authentic, interactive language classrooms.
West Team
Brooke Campbell, World Language Sales Consultant, earned her B.S.Ed. in Spanish Education from Ohio University and an M.S.Ed. in Learning and Technology. Brooke has extensive experience in education, including teaching Spanish at the secondary level. She is also highly skilled in delivering effective professional development, supporting curriculum implementation, and ensuring seamless technology integration. In her role with KWL, Brooke brings a passion for empowering educators and advancing language learning worldwide.
Brittmarie Solís, World Language Sales Consultant, is an accomplished educator with a passion for languages and curriculum writing. A native of Panama, she earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature and an M.A. in Foreign Language Teaching. Brittmarie will leverage her 15 years of teaching high school Spanish as she transitions to supporting world language educators and empowers them by bringing the world into their classroom.
Alba Vega, World Language Sales Consultant, earned a B.A. in English Philology from Universidad de Oviedo and an M.A. in Education. With a decade of global experience working with both children and adults, Alba has taught ESL and Spanish in diverse settings. Her passion lies in helping teachers craft engaging communicative classes and fostering an inclusive classroom environment, ultimately empowering students to achieve their goals.
Alexandra Shaeffer, World Language Sales Consultant, has a rich teaching background in French, spanning primary to graduate levels and all proficiency levels, including immersion. She has worked with the Alliance Française and served as a DELF/DALF examiner. A California native, Alexandra earned a B.A. in Modern Languages from Kenyon, an M.A. from Illinois State, and a Ph.D. in SLA from Iowa. Bilingual in English and French, she is committed to creating engaging learner-centered language experiences.
Adoptions Team
Maria Magdalena Connell (Maggie), Adoptions Manager, holds M.S. in RESOL. She is an experienced bilingual educator with over twenty years of experience as a teacher, district specialist, and professional development consultant. Her most recent practical experience was establishing and overseeing the Dual Language program in a school district in Florida. Maggie is a native Spanish speaker born in Chile.
Melissa Schwab, Document Production Specialist, is an experienced grant writer with a demonstrated history of 20+ years working in education and nonprofit. Before KWL, she worked for a school district raising $220+ million through government and foundation sources. Melissa earned a B.A. in Mass Communication/Media from Temple University. She now leverages her results-oriented background to support KWL’s efforts by crafting successful proposals.
Patrick Wallace, Strategic Relationship Specialist, has 30+ years of experience in public education that spans from the classroom to the Department of Education. Fluent in German, he earned a MEd with an emphasis on German from Georgia Southern University. Having served at the state level supporting world language and DLI programs in Georgia, he brings a unique perspective and passion for advocacy to KWL.
Ellie Karck, Strategic Research Data Associate, earned her B.A. in German Language and Literacy and Geography from DePaul University. A passionate advocate for world languages, Ellie honed her fluency in German while studying in Austria. After two successful summers as a KWL intern, Ellie is thrilled to officially join the company, where she will leverage her strong research expertise and exceptional organizational skills to support adoptions and sales efforts.
Implementation Team
Dr. Sara Stefanich, Implementation Manager, holds a PhD in Spanish Linguistics with a focus on Bilingualism and Language Acquisition from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having taught Spanish for 10+ years and served as a Language Program Coordinator, she believes strongly in the power of the language classroom to provide transformative learning experiences as well as foster an environment for social and linguistic justice.
Juanita Calvo, Implementation Specialist, has 15+ years of experience in education from teaching Spanish at high school and college levels to serving as an administrator. A Chicago native, she earned a B.A. in Secondary Spanish Education from DePaul and a M.A. in Hispanic Studies from UIC. Juanita’s passion for teaching includes instructional design as well as safeguarding inclusion and diversity within the classroom.
Katie Mickel, Implementation Specialist, received her M.A. in Hispanic Studies with a Spanish Linguistics concentration and was a college-level Spanish instructor for 7 years. With a strong background in SLA, Katie is passionate about creating classroom experiences that motivate, engage and inspire language learners through real-world application and authentic materials. She looks forward to empowering and supporting educators in this effort as part of the KWL team.
Educational Technology
Aneesh Venkata, Educational Technology Manager, is passionate about using technology to improve learning experiences. His experience includes working for a large education non-profit organization, web development, curriculum design, and teaching high school mathematics. A native New-Yorker, he has degrees from Amherst College (BA) and Relay Graduate School of Education (MAT). He is dedicated to finding innovative digital solutions.
Elizabeth Kust, Educational Technology Consultant, earned an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Loyola University Chicago. Her experience includes teaching college-level Spanish and working in immigration law. Ellie brings to KWL a global mindset having lived and studied in Mexico, Chile, and Ecuador. She is passionate about providing authentic, accessible materials for world language education and is committed to finding innovative solutions.
Cella Westray, Educational Technology Support Specialist, holds an M.A. in Music Theory & Cognition from Northwestern University, where her studies focused on cognitive-linguistic models of musical meaning. Her work at Klett is informed by her background as a university-level educator, as well as her experience in multimedia curriculum design. Having traveled and studied in Germany, she is passionate about fostering a global mindset and cross-cultural exchange in education.
María Córcoles, Educational Technology Consultant, earned a master’s in Secondary Education and Spanish as a Second Language from the University of Valencia and Nebrija University. Born and raised in Spain, María has six years of experience teaching English and Spanish at the middle and high school levels. She combines her global perspective and passion for education to develop innovative solutions for teachers and professors.
Bea Cabrera, Educational Technology Operations Specialist, earned an M.Ed. in Special and Elementary Education from DePaul University and a B.A. in Film and Digital Media. Born in the Philippines and raised in Malaysia, Bea speaks English, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish. Bea brings a wealth of experience teaching grades 1–8, specializing in bilingual and high-needs classrooms in Title I schools, and remains committed to making multilingual learning materials accessible to students with high support needs.
Matthew Woods,Educational Technology Operations Specialist, earned a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Educational Pedagogy from the University of California, Riverside. He has taught and led tech initiatives in several Title I schools across South Los Angeles, with a focus on STEM curriculum, systems integration, and digital problem-solving. At KWL, Matthew combines his passion for educational equity with technical and instructional expertise to make online learning more accessible for students of all abilities and backgrounds.
Customer Success
Kristi O'Connor, Customer Success Manager, has 7 years of teaching high school Spanish. Having received her B.A. in Spanish from WCSU, and her Masters in Education from Sacred Heart University has allowed her to continue her love for language learning. She has experience in curriculum writing as well as professional development presentations, and is very passionate about supporting teachers inside and out of the classroom.
Marketing & Product
María Jesús Abilleira, Director of Product and Marketing, holds a B.A. in Spanish Philology and an M.A. in the Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language. She has extensive experience as a Spanish teacher and also as an editor in Spain, the UK, and the US. At KWL, she oversees the Marketing department and plans, directs, and coordinates all marketing efforts. She is fluent in three languages.
Pilar Puyana, Marketing Project Manager, is a dynamic professional driving business growth through strategic initiatives. With expertise in digital marketing, brand management, and social media, she crafts impactful brand experiences. Passionate about industry trends and delivering exceptional results, she is a key contributor to our Marketing department. Pilar is fluent in English and Spanish.
Sabrina Feliz, Marketing Associate, holds a degree in English and Spanish Studies from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), with a minor in Latin American Studies. She has experience as a Spanish and English teacher and also in copy editing and creative writing. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and French.
Sarah Swiecicki, E-Commerce Specialist, holds an M.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish from Illinois State University. A Chicago native, she has over a decade of experience in bilingual education. After earning her Master’s in Educational Leadership, she transitioned to Ed Tech and Curriculum, focusing on professional development and pedagogical support for teachers nationwide. In this new role, Sarah is excited to support KWL’s mission of advancing language learning.
Operations
Sara Torres, Director of Operations, brings over a decade of experience driving operational excellence. She holds a B.A. in International Business Administration and an M.S. in Supply Chain Management, and has taught Operations 4.0 and led logistics seminars at the university level. A native of Barcelona, Sara speaks Spanish, Catalan, and Italian, and is passionate about advancing global learning through streamlined systems.
Ileana Falla, Administrative Manager, earned a law degree in Venezuela and an LL.M. in Transnational Law from the University of Miami. With over 24 years of experience in operations, contracts, human resources, and accounting, she has managed international business operations and served as a liaison for legal and financial matters. At KWL, Ileana leverages her expertise to enhance efficiency and support strategic initiatives.
Susan Krueger, Operations Team Lead, earned a Bachelors in Linguistics and has a love for foreign language acquisition. Susan’s background includes a rich tapestry of education, curriculum and program design, community service, as well as teaching in a Montessori school. In her role at KWL, Susan continues her passion in helping to advance cultural knowledge and global learning by supporting schools and teachers nationwide.
Jodi Meyer, Operations Specialist, earned a M.Ed. in Secondary Education and a B.A. in Spanish from Texas Tech University after studying in Spain and Mexico. She taught Spanish and English as a Second Language in K-12 schools for 17 years. Having also studied Agile methodology, Jodi brings immense expertise to the KWL team with the goal of providing enhanced customer value and user experiences within operations.
Dylan Verdi, Operations Specialist, earned a B.A. in Art History and Women’s Studies from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Bringing a wealth of expertise in operations and customer outreach to KWL, Dylan's extensive career in hospitality has provided a strong foundation in customer service. A lifelong student of arts and culture, Dylan has also studied Spanish, French, and Italian, and is passionate about facilitating others' ability to learn world languages.
Juan Puentes, Finance Specialist, holds a B.S. in Economics and Entrepreneurship from Minnesota State University. Originally from Colombia, he is bilingual and brings extensive fintech experience to KWL. Known for his meticulous nature and leadership, Juan offers strong analytical skills in his new role and is committed to making impactful contributions, focusing on cost savings and sustainability.
Jenny Rodriguez, Events Coordinator, is a dynamic professional with an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Puerto Rico. Leveraging her extensive background in school environments, Jenny brings invaluable insights to KWL. Fluent in English and Spanish, she excels in customer service, project management, and administrative tasks. Jenny's expertise extends to proficiently utilizing search engines, navigating registration protocols, and managing databases.
Editorial
Eduard Sancho
Editorial Director
Read Bio >Eduard Sancho, Editorial Director, holds a Degree on Translation and Interpreting from the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona (Spain). He has also studied at the University of Nottingham (UK), the University of Salford (UK) and the Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée (France). He has extensive experience leading editorial teams and was, from 2007 to 2014, the Editorial Director of PONS Idiomas, a leading language publisher.
Barbara Ceruti
K-12 Editorial Manager
Read Bio >Barbara Ceruti, K-12 Editorial Manager, earned a degree in Modern Languages from Milan State University and speaks six languages. Formerly a German language consultant, Barbara has over 20 years of experience creating and coordinating K-12 programs. In this position, she leverages her proficiency along with her passion for language teaching and learning to craft dynamic linguistic programs that will help transform world language studies in the U.S.
Maribel García
Higher Education Editorial Manager
Read Bio >Maribel García, Higher Education Editorial Manager, holds a degree in Hispanic Studies from the University of Alicante, Spain, and a MA in Hispanic Language and Literature from the University of Rhode Island. She has over 20 years of experience in the publishing market in the United States. She has worked as an editor for the main World Language US publishers. She also has vast experience in the academic world, having taught at several American universities.
