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
Kristi O'Connor, World Language Sales Consultant, 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.
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
Katie Mickel, World Language Sales Consultant, 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.
Tyler William Johnson, World Language Sales Consultant, earned his M.A in German Language and has taught German at the elementary and intermediate levels in the college setting. In this new role, Tyler is leveraging his extensive and practical experience in using KWL’s instructional materials and digital learning environment in the classroom to now help guide educators in the implementation of a truly memorable language learning experience.
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.
Midwest Team
Juanita Calvo, World Language Sales Consultant, 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.
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.
West Team
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.
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.
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.
Implementation Team
Dr. Sara Stefanich, Professional Development Coordinator, 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.
Tyler William Johnson, Instructional Technologist Specialist, earned his M.A in German Language and has taught German at the elementary and intermediate levels in the college setting. In this new role, Tyler is leveraging his extensive and practical experience in using KWL’s instructional materials and digital learning environment in the classroom to now help guide educators in the implementation of a truly memorable language learning experience.
Camila Wede, Events Coordinator, recently finished her undergraduate degree in political science, from Northwestern College. She honed her design skills through various art styles including theater, which allowed her to travel across the United States and to Ethiopia. Having studied language and culture in school, she is looking forward to fostering and promoting foreign language education through Klett World Languages.
Italian
Dr. Maria Teresa Bonfatti Sabbioni, WL Sales Consultant is a native of Northern Italy. She holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a focus on second language acquisition and bilingualism. She worked Italian Government, promoting Italian writers in the US. At Klett WL, she is excited to combine her passion for language teaching and learning at the college level, with her experience in marketing.
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.
Anica Aguilera, EdTech and E-Commerce Assistant, has extensive experience in ArcGIS, HTML, and Python coding. A Chicago native, she earned her B.A. in Combined Honours in Social Sciences (German and Geography) from Durham University, UK. Fluent in German, Anica supports KWL’s global mindset and commitment to sustainability.
Marketing
María Jesús Abilleira, Marketing Director, 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.
Camila Wede, Events Coordinator, recently finished her undergraduate degree in political science, from Northwestern College. She honed her design skills through various art styles including theater, which allowed her to travel across the United States and to Ethiopia. Having studied language and culture in school, she is looking forward to fostering and promoting foreign language education through Klett World Languages.
Pilar Puyana, Marketing Specialist, 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.
Operations
Tomasz Cebrat, Vice President of Operations, has extensive experience in research, programming, and ArcGIS. Born in Poland, Tomasz earned his M.A. from Northwestern University and a B.A. from Washington University. He brings a wealth of global proficiency to KWL including an intricate knowledge of international policies and supply chain management. Tomasz speaks English, Polish, French, Spanish, Hebrew, and German.
Alexis Pinzon, Project Manager, is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis where she studied International and Area Studies and Spanish. Alexis is an advocate and champion of real-life language learning thanks to her experiences in Spain, Chile, and Switzerland. Alexis is passionate about the importance of intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy and being a global citizen. Alexis speaks Spanish, French and some Tagalog.
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.
Rafael Quixano, Finance Specialist, earned a B.A. in Finance from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and has over 15 years of industry experience including corporate work with Gillette. Leveraging his extensive knowledge and skillset, Rafael will support KWL's financial goals vital to overall success. He is fluent in both English and Spanish and as a parent, recognizes the value of bilingual education.
Lisa Coleman, Office Manager, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis from Purdue Global University. With a rich background as a seasoned Behavior Analyst and successful event planner, Lisa brings a wealth of expertise to her role at KWL. Lisa's meticulous attention to detail, outstanding communication skills, diverse knowledge, and project management abilities make her invaluable to the KWL team.
Anett Rollin, Operations Specialist, is a German native and joins us with a thorough understanding and appreciation of the foreign language learning community. In her previous role as a German Language Program Coordinator she honed her attentiveness to the needs of young and adult students but more importantly: to the needs of teachers who she considers the core of each class and program.
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.
