Homework

Mr. Daren Johnson

Homework

Mr. Daren Johnson is known around the Hale campus as the cool teacher who likes snakes and critters.

He is the first to admit that, yes indeed, he is partial to all things science – and math, too, for that matter. In addition to being a pioneer member of the Hale faculty, Mr. Johnson taught for one year at Nature’s Classroom, an outdoor education program with several locations in the Northeast. And he graduated from nuclear power school in the U.S. Navy, where he operated a nuclear reactor on a submarine for four years.

In 2004, Mr. Johnson won the Henry Salvatori prize from Hillsdale College for excellence in education. Besides math and science, Mr. Johnson admits to being crazy about sports.

Mrs. Cindy Marshall

Homework

Mrs. Cindy Marshall is a fireball of talents and energies, which she readily shares with both Middle and Upper School students.

She holds a master’s degree in psychology with a specialty in school and clinical child psychology. She is a professional free-lance writer, has taught students of several levels and helped develop Hale’s popular READ program, which encourages students to read and love books.

Mrs. Jane Levine

Homework

Ms. Jane Levine earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Slavic Studies from Brown University and her post-graduate teacher certification in Russian language from the University of Connecticut. She recently received permanent Florida certification in several subject areas.

Ms. Levine has an extensive background in teaching at several levels, from elementary through adult. She also has extensive experience in social services, working in the areas of disabilities, employment training, and epilepsy awareness. Besides teaching, Ms. Levine is passionate about American history, singing and teaching songs of other cultures, and greyhound rescue efforts. At Hale, she is known for her love of language and fine literature. Ms. Levine’s students benefit richly from her diverse background and accomplished teaching skills.

Mrs. Karen Puracan

Homework

Mrs. Puracan spent her high school and college years in Dumaguate City, Philippines, attending a Filipino high school and college where her parents were professors. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Biology from Silliman University in 1993.

She married her high school sweetheart, Jef, in 1993, and then took a post-graduate internship in the Philippines. Her daughter, Hannah, attends Hale Academy.

Mrs. Puracan worked as a naturalist/environmental educator with the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation in Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2010. She also worked as an outdoor education instructor at Black Rock Retreat from 1997 to 2010, and taught high school biology for a home school co-op from 2003-2008.

Her hobbies include music (violin/fiddle, mandolin, guitar, learning harp) and textile arts, especially hand-quilting, knitting, and crochet. Mrs. Puracan is very passionate about ecology and is an avid birder. She also loves insects, especially bees and wasps, and native plants.

Mrs. Lorene de Aranzeta

Homework

Mrs. Lorene de Aranzeta provides her students with a strong academic foundation and a challenging environment, drawing upon her extensive background as a teacher, adviser and supporter of youth leadership opportunities.

Mrs. de Aranzeta has spent much of her teaching career at the secondary level. In summer 2007, she escorted 42 high-school students overseas with the People to People Student Ambassador Program. She has also served as facilitator for the National Youth Leadership Council, based in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. de Aranzeta holds a BA degree in political science from Stetson University and she earned her Master Teacher Certification through the University of Central Florida.

Mrs. Midori Storms

Homework

Students can’t wait for Spanish class ¬– and it’s no wonder, given the language and travel background of Señora Midori Storms.

Born in Brazil, Señora Storms has lived, taught and traveled across the globe, from Mexico to Europe. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and German and a Master’s degree in modern languages.

Señora Storms also brings to Hale a love for students and an unparalleled devotion to teaching. Each school day, she arrives at 6 a.m. to assist students with their lessons. How students love her experiential approach to teaching! At each grade level, projects focusing on everyday Spanish increase in difficulty, culminating in skits performed entirely in Spanish.

Mrs. Fabiola Ruiz

Homework

Mrs. Fabiola Ruiz was born in Colombia, South America. She received her Speech and Language Therapist degree from Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario in Colombia, her home town.

She later received a Specialist degree in Audiology from Universidad Iberoamericana. Mrs. Ruiz’s expertise greatly enriches the Spanish program at Hale.