Meet Our Team
The heart of the Puerta Abierta begins with our local staff of over a dozen dedicated, enthusiastic and innovative educators, many who have been a part of the Puerta Abierta family for over a decade.
La Puerta Abierta Administration
Juanita Chiviliu
Director
Juanita began volunteering at the Puerta Abierta as a high-school student and quickly connected with our programs. In addition to working at the Puerta Abierta, Juanita is a registered psychologist and collaborates with a mental health initiative in our community called IX Colibri. She enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her family (she is the eldest of four sisters) and reading. Juanita feels fortunate to work in her community where she can support the formation of young leaders. She believes in using empathy, education and positive energy to generate a movement for a more just and equal world for all.
Amanda Flayer
Professional Development Support and Co-Founder
Amanda taught bilingual elementary education in Oakland, California. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a focus in education and Spanish. Amanda arrived in Guatemala in 2003 as a Peace Corps volunteer. While she never imagined that she would be planting her roots in rural Guatemala, she couldn’t be happier living in a colorful rural village with her husband, two rambunctious daughters and equally rambunctious dogs. Amanda feels fortunate to have work that is creative, meaningful, and keeps her connected to the playful spirit of children.
Candalaria Esquina
Education Director
Candelaria also started at La Puerta Abierta as a volunteer while she was in high school. She has been a lead elementary school teacher at our center for several years, is now our math coach, and the new school Academic Director. She is involved in developing our own creative math teaching curriculum. In addition to working at La Puerta Abierta, she also coordinates the teen reading circles for The Sparks Foundation. Candelaria graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Pedagogy and Educational Administration.
La Puerta Abierta Teachers
Febe Reanda Quinillo
Preschool Teacher
Febe has been collaborating with La Puerta Abierta for many years, first as a volunteer and now as a lead preschool teacher. She is dynamic, creative, and fun. When she is not at La Puerta Abierta, she works as a professional lash artist, enjoys designing clothes, going to the gym, and listening to music. Febe graduated in 2021 with a Secondary Education Teaching Degree specializing in Learning Disabilities from Universidad del Valle de Sololá.
Lidia Ajcabul
Kindergarten Teacher
Lidia is the new kindergarten teacher at La Puerta Abierta and is also pursuing a Teaching Degree in Learning Disabilities at the university. She considers herself an active, sociable, and kind person. She loves embroidery and watching TV series. Lidia is very excited to contribute to creative and innovative education for preschool students at La Puerta Abierta.
Pedro Misael Ajcabul Ruiz
Music Teacher
Pedro has a natural talent for music and is a jazz lover. At La Puerta Abierta, he teaches children incredible and fun things about music, helping them develop their skills and sense of sound. When he is not at La Puerta Abierta, he enjoys practicing with his saxophone, performing at events as a soloist, and going for walks. In 2024, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Teaching Degree in Music.
Chonita Tzina
1st Grade Teacher
Chonita joined our team at the Puerta Abierta in our first year of existence and has helped shape our literacy programs, preschool classes, early stimulation classes, and the Traveling Library. Three things that bring joy to Chonita are painting, embroidering, and interacting with children.
Ana Mesia Ixlaban
2nd Grade Teacher
Ana first learned about La Puerta Abierta when she enrolled her son in our preschool class. She began collaborating with our programs as a volunteer mother and is now a lead teacher. In addition to teaching, she is also the coordinator of our Mothers' Artisan Group. She describes herself as enthusiastic, creative, fun, and happy. Ana enjoys reading children's books, cooking, and playing basketball.
Lisette Ajchomajay
3rd Grade Teacher
Lisette is the lead 3rd-grade teacher at La Puerta Abierta. She is Primary Education specialist teacher and has worked with students of various ages. She loves teaching math and language, especially writing. In her free time, she enjoys observing landscapes, drawing, painting, embroidery, and reading. She considers herself a creative, organized, and kind person who constantly seeks different ways to support students, providing them with quality education and meaningful learning experiences.
Susana Mendoza
4th Grade Teacher
Susana has worked for several years at La Puerta Abierta as both a lead teacher and a reinforcement teacher. She is passionate about teaching grammar to her students. She describes herself as friendly, calm, active, responsible, and eager to learn every day. She enjoys spending time with her students, and each year brings a new experience with joyful, fun, intelligent, and energetic learners.
Claudia Pacach
5th Grade Teacher
Claudia is the new lead teacher for 5th grade this school year. This is her first year at La Puerta Abierta. She is a primary education teacher and a secondary education professor specializing in pedagogy and educational administration. She considers herself cheerful, understanding, and supportive. She loves listening to music and reading. Claudia is motivated to stay up to date on teaching methodologies in order to provide quality education, allowing students to explore their skills and potentialt
María Chiviliú Ajtujal
6th Grade Teacher
Mari is a graduate of the Maia Impact Program that cultivates young female leaders to be agents of change in their community. Mari is passionate about music, fashion, art and nature. She is studying psychology at the university. In her free time, she can often be found walking her adorable black dog, Noche.
David Culán Tziná
Physical Education and Gardening Teacher
David is both a teacher and a friend to all the students at La Puerta Abierta. He loves teaching the importance of exercise and sports, offering challenging, innovative, and fun classes. He also coordinates our gardening classes. In addition to teaching, he runs his own bakery, enjoys woodworking, gardening, and being a loving father. David's dream is to become a specialist in recreation and extracurricular activities for children and families.
Antonio Vicente Sol
English Teacher
Antonio is the English teacher for all the children at La Puerta Abierta. He has worked as a language tutor, specializing in English, in various institutions and communities across Guatemala. He considers himself a dynamic, creative, and responsible person with a deep love for humanity. In addition to teaching English at La Puerta Abierta, Antonio also collaborates with our Mothers' Artisan Group and the Puerta Abierta store.
Lesly Micayla Reanda
Administrative Assistant
Lesly is a great help at La Puerta Abierta, interacting with parents, students, and teachers. She manages the relationship with the Ministry of Education and supports the coordination of various activities at our center. Lesly describes herself as an organized and responsible person. In addition to working at La Puerta Abierta, she provides physiotherapy services in the afternoons to those in need. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, exercising, and learning new things.
Mariana Ixmucané Guzmán
Librarian
Mariana is the librarian at La Puerta Abierta, interacting with parents, students, and teachers to ensure access to books. She collaborates on innovating the book registration system and integrating technology into our library. She also leads the Traveling Library program, creating connections with other institutions to organize storytelling sessions for children.
Sonia Ruiz
Assistant Teacher
Sonia is an Early Childhood Education teacher and has been part of La Puerta Abierta for several years. She currently works with preschool and pre-kindergarten classes. She is also studying Clinical Psychology at the university. She loves being with children, especially when they’re young, to make their days fun and engaging. In her free time, she enjoys singing, reading, embroidery, walking, and listening to music.
Jacqueline Ajchomajay
Assistant Teacher
Jacqueline is our newest member in the preschool and kindergarten section at La Puerta Abierta. She is a Primary Education teacher and is passionate about teaching through play. She describes herself as a responsible, friendly, and very active person. In her free time, she enjoys doing crafts, watching movies, spending time with family, reading, and cooking.
Paola Elena Tziná Petzey
Volunteer Coordinator & Reading Circle Mentor
Paola is our Volunteer Coordinator and loves organizing collaborations with other organizations and volunteer friends. If you ever visit La Puerta Abierta, she will surely be delighted to give you a tour of our center.
In addition to coordinating volunteers, Paola is also a mentor for our reading circles for girls and women.
Denis Anny Mayalitza Sosof
Mentora de Círculos de Lectura y Escritura Feministas
Lizty, as we know her, is passionate about literature, music, and the arts in general. She is currently the mentor of one of our reading circles and the coordinator of our first creative writing circles with a feminist focus..
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