Meet Your KWL Team

Hanne has 20 years of experience in education, having earned an 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 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.

Kathryn 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.

Maria Magdalena (Maggie) Connell holds an 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 is an experienced grant writer with more than 20 years working in education and nonprofit. Before KWL, she worked for a school district raising $220+ million through government and foundation sources. She earned a B.A. in Mass Communication/Media from Temple University and now leverages her results-oriented background to support KWL's efforts by crafting successful proposals.

Patrick has 30+ years of experience in public education that spans from the classroom to the Department of Education. Fluent in German, he earned an M.Ed. 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.

Vicky holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Saint Thomas University and an M.S. in Reading Education from Florida International University, and studied Educational Leadership at Florida Atlantic University. She taught elementary school for 10 years, served nine years as a district ESOL Curriculum Specialist, and spent 20 years as Director of Bilingual/ESOL for Broward County Public Schools, the sixth largest district in the nation. Born in New Jersey of Cuban descent, she speaks English and Spanish and builds partnerships that empower educators and multilingual learners.

Ellie earned her B.A. in German Language and Literacy and Geography from DePaul University. A passionate advocate for world languages, she honed her fluency in German while studying in Austria. After two successful summers as a KWL intern, Ellie officially joined the company, where she leverages her strong research expertise and exceptional organizational skills to support adoptions and sales efforts.

Sara holds a Ph.D. 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 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 an M.A. in Hispanic Studies from UIC. Her passion for teaching includes instructional design as well as safeguarding inclusion and diversity within the classroom.

Katie 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, she is passionate about creating classroom experiences that motivate, engage, and inspire language learners through real-world application and authentic materials.

David holds a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has taught Spanish in high school and college for the past ten years. A Wisconsin native, he has lived in Costa Rica, Spain, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, and speaks Spanish and Turkish. He loves working with teachers on the new ideas they bring to their classrooms.

Phil earned a B.A. in Broadcast and Electronic Communication from Marquette University and an M.A. in Training and Human Resource Development from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He spent seven years as an elementary and middle school teacher and ten years in K-12 educational technology, leading professional learning and account management. At KWL, he connects technology, classroom practice, and customer success so educators get the most out of their digital resources.

Ellie 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. She 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.

María 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, she 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 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, she speaks English, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish. Bea brings a wealth of experience teaching grades 1 to 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 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, he combines his passion for educational equity with technical and instructional expertise to make online learning more accessible for students of all abilities and backgrounds.

Jack earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa and taught 5th grade in North Carolina before joining KWL. An ed-tech enthusiast, he is currently completing his M.S. in Computer Information Systems at Boston University. He brings a growth mindset to every challenge and a deep commitment to making technology work for students and educators alike.

Kristi taught high school Spanish for 7 years. She received her B.A. in Spanish from WCSU and her master's in Education from Sacred Heart University. 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.

Eduard holds a degree in 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 earned a degree in Modern Languages from Milan State University and speaks six languages. Formerly a German language consultant, she has over 20 years of experience creating and coordinating K-12 programs. She leverages her proficiency along with her passion for language teaching and learning to craft dynamic linguistic programs that help transform world language studies in the U.S.

Maribel holds a degree in Hispanic Studies from the University of Alicante, Spain, and an M.A. 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 and has worked as an editor for the main world language U.S. publishers. She also has vast experience in the academic world, having taught at several American universities.

Maje brings over 20 years of experience in language education and publishing. She holds degrees in Spanish, Linguistics, and Literature, a master's in Applied Linguistics and Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language, and a postgraduate degree in Education. A former teacher and editorial lead, she drives marketing and product innovation at Klett World Languages. She speaks Spanish, English, and Galician, and is happily adding Italian to the mix.

Pilar brings a global perspective and sharp operational focus to marketing execution. She holds a bachelor's in Spanish Language and Literature from Vanderbilt University and a master's in European and International Business Management from the University of Deusto. With experience in marketing, communications, and project coordination, she ensures that complex initiatives stay on track and aligned with strategic goals. She speaks Spanish, English, and French.

Sarah 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.

Lane combines over a decade of experience in communication, education, and digital content. He holds a bachelor's in Communication Studies from Portland State University. Before transitioning into marketing, he spent several years teaching English, an experience that sharpened his ability to connect with diverse audiences. Fluent in Spanish, Lane brings strategic insight and creative storytelling to every project he leads.

Nerea brings a strong visual sensibility and a strategic approach to digital and print design. She holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, with advanced training in interactive and web design. With experience in UI design, branding, and content for both digital platforms and print, she transforms briefs into clear, engaging visuals.

Jenny is a dynamic professional with an associate degree in Business Administration from Puerto Rico. Leveraging her extensive background in school environments, she brings invaluable insights to KWL. Fluent in English and Spanish, she excels in customer service, project management, and administrative tasks.

Sara 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, she speaks Spanish, Catalan, and Italian, and is passionate about advancing global learning through streamlined systems.

Ileana 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, she leverages her expertise to enhance efficiency and support strategic initiatives.

Zenith holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Illinois University, an MBA, and a master's in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. With Lean Six Sigma expertise, she has driven process improvements in logistics and supply chain across private and public sectors. At KWL, she applies her strategic mindset to improve efficiency, elevate customer experience, and support growth.

Dylan 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.

Joe earned a B.A. in Geography from Northeastern Illinois University. He has 11 years of experience in logistics, focusing on operations and customer success. A Chicago native who has studied Spanish, he brings his experience in process improvement and supply chain optimization to support the Operations team.

Juan 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, he offers strong analytical skills and is committed to making impactful contributions, focusing on cost savings and sustainability.