Coordinators
PYP and DP CoordinatorClaudia Ourthe-Cabale
I come from Montevideo, Uruguay. I have been at Westlake Academy for four years and I am currently the PYP and DP Coordinator.
After starting University study in the Faculty of Law at Universidad de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay for three years I decided teaching was my calling. I changed career, obtained my teaching degree and then my postgraduate degree with the Institute of Education University of London. I also earned the Advanced Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages and a Diploma in TESOL. In Texas I took the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas focusing in Spanish at the Secondary level. I am currently planning on starting my MA in International Education with the University of Bath.
I was first involved with the IB as a DP student, and later on as a PYP and Middle Years Programme (MYP) practitioner. I have implemented the PYP as a generalist teacher in grades 4 and 6, as a grade 6 Spanish teacher, and have also taught MYP Spanish.
I am a PYP Workshop Leader and Site Visitor for IB North America and the Caribbean. I have been appointed an Online Curriculum Center Faculty Member for IB.
MYP Coordinator
Daniella Lira
I was born in Mexico City and grew up in Barcelona, Spain. I began working at Westlake Academy in 2005 as a part- time Spanish teacher for grades 4th through 8th. For the school year 2008-2009 I was appointed MYP Coordinator. I will also teach DP and MYP Spanish and MYP IT.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of North Texas and I’ve been accepted to the Masters in Humanities program at the University of Dallas, which I will pursue upon completion of my current graduate coursework for a Masters of Arts in teaching Spanish as a Second Language from the University of Léon, Spain in October 2008. I live in Dallas, have been married for 12 years and my three boys are students at Westlake Academy.