Meet the staff

Nuestro Mundo's Co-Founders

Joseph Maruszczak, Ed.D.
Executive Director
jmaruszczak@nuestromundopcs.org

a veteran educator with 30 years of experience as a high school chemistry/science teacher, principal, charter school director, and superintendent. A graduate of Providence College and Johnson & Wales University, he currently serves as the superintendent of schools of the Mendon-Upton (MA) Regional School District. He is passionate about creating innovative educational opportunities that empower a new generation to tackle the issues of our time, specifically reducing inequality, combatting climate change, and creating sustainable communities.

Katie Cardamone
Program Director
kcardamone@nuestromundopcs.org

is an experienced elementary educator, working 15 years as an elementary Spanish immersion teacher. After graduating with her bachelor's and master's degrees from Clark University, she lived and worked in Guatemala. She currently serves as Program Coordinator for the Multistate Association of Bilingual Education, Northeast (MABE).  Katie is passionate about the key outcome of a strong, innovative dual language program: empowering multilingual and multicultural learners to understand their importance as global citizens.

Faculty

Kelly Freeman
Special Ed Teacher
kfreeman@nmpcs.k12.ri.us 
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​My name is Kelly Freeman. I have lived in different countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guatemala but I call Texas home. I earned my B.A. in English and Spanish from Howard Payne University in Texas and my M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix satellite campus in Seoul, South Korea. I conducted my student teaching at Seoul American Elementary School (DoDDs).  I have taught for 7 years (2 years of Spanish and 5 years of Special Education). I enjoy kayaking and hiking with my family and reading and writing.

Kayla Chavier
6th Grade Spanish Side
kchavier@nmpcs.k12.ri.us​
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​I will be the Project Based Learning and Spanish Language Arts teacher on the Spanish part of the day. I am originally from Massachusetts, and I just moved to Rhode Island from Boston! I studied at Boston University, and much of my family still lives in Massachusetts. I began learning Spanish in school when I was eleven, but I also have family from the Dominican Republic! Last year was my first year of teaching, and I am definitely looking forward to a full year of teaching in person! I love hiking, rock climbing and being outdoors!

Kathy Frechette
6th grade English Side
kfrechette@nmpcs.k12.ri.us​​
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​Hi! My name is Kathy Frechette and I am the Sixth Grade English Language Arts and Math teacher on the English part of the school day.  I can’t believe that I am going into my sixteenth year in education!  Time definitely flies when you do what you love!  I have taught kindergarten, first, and fourth grade in Connecticut and Rhode Island.  I also spent some time in my career as an Associate Dean of School Culture supporting students and classroom teachers.  I am originally from Brooklyn, NY and went to college in Connecticut. My family still lives in NY and my husband and kids love visiting as often as possible. I am excited to be a Founding Member of the Nuestro Mundo Team. I look forward to getting to know our kids and their families! Here is to a memorable year!

​Devlin Lowrey-Demchak
K English Side
ddemchak@nmpcs.k12.ri.us​

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Catlin Preston
1st Grade English Side
cpreston@nmpcs.k12.ri.us​

Marta Reina Pueyo
Special Ed Teacher
mreina@nmpcs.k12.ri.us ​
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​I am the Kindergarten and 1st grade Special Education Teacher. It’s my first year teaching in the United States but my 12th year as a teacher. I grew up in a beautiful city in the south of Spain called Seville where I have been a homeroom teacher in PreK&K and a Special Ed teacher. It is not my first time living abroad as I lived with an English family in my early 20s. This time I am so excited to work at Nuestro Mundo as part of this family, ready to meet every child's needs. The most satisfying part of teaching is watching the progress the students make and how they surprise themselves.​

Marta Naderpour Peñalver
1st Grade Spanish Side
mnaderpour@nmpcs.k12.ri.us 
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​Marta Naderpour Peñalver (1991) Soy de Valencia, una ciudad muy bonita que se encuentra al Este de España. Tengo 7 años de experiencia como profesora con niños y niñas de 0 a 6 años, aunque desde muy pequeña he vivido la educación desde muy de cerca en mi familia y siempre supe que quería dedicarme a ello. 

Me considero una persona muy activa, innovadora y que realmente cree en la educación alternativa, es decir haciendo partícipe  a los niños y niñas en su aprendizaje, partiendo de sus propios intereses, así como involucrando al resto de agentes educativos que forman la escuela, como son las familias, el colegio y el entorno. 

He realizado muchas formaciones sobre nuevas metodologías que me hacen crecer profesionalmente y ponerlas en práctica con mi alumnado. Esta es mi segunda experiencia en el extranjero, hace 6 años, estuve un año en UK y tuve la oportunidad de participar en varias escuelas y su funcionamiento.

Además, he sido gimnasta y soy entrenadora de Gimnasia Rítmica, me apasiona este deporte, así como también hacer senderismo y viajar. Este curso me hace mucha ilusión, será mi primer año en EEUU, tengo muchas ganas de aprender con vosotros, espero que juntos lo pasemos muy bien y sea inolvidable.

Joanne Abella 
English Language Development Teacher
jabella@nmpcs.k12.ri.us
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​Heartfelt greetings! I am an English Language Development teacher. I grew up in MN. I have 3 creative daughters & and a silly dog named Ziti. I have been a multilanguage teacher and a reading specialist for over 20 years. Before coming to Nuestro Mundo I taught at East Greenwich High School. I have also taught in other RI towns, New York City and Japan. I am an avid reader, outdoor enthusiast, and traveler. It has been a pleasure getting to know the students that make up NMPCS!​

Support Staff

Robert J. Brennan
Dean of Students
rbrennan@nmpcs.k12.ri.us 

​Hello I am Robert J. Brennan III. I graduated and received my teaching certification from Fairfield University. I moved to Rhode Island around 25 years ago and I have worked for these years in many diverse and unique school environments. I am a Secondary Social Studies teacher and taught in the content areas of History, Geography, Environment and Society, Service Learning, English, Art, Horticulture, and others. I am looking forward to helping the community, the students, and the staff to develop and sustain a safe, kind, responsible, and respectful school that best suits the needs of the students and their learning and growth. Personally I love to be outside either in the ocean, on a mountain, or in the woods. I love to travel and to experience new cultures, people, and environments. I love to make art, play music, and do what I can to protect, preserve, and educate about animal rights, habitat protection, organic foods, and sustainability as well.

​Marybel Martinez
TA & Founding Parent
mmartinez@nmpcs.k12.ri.us
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​Jarlenne Fermin-Hangan
Nurse
jfermin@nmpcs.k12.ri.us​
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​Diana Ferreira
Operations Associate & Founding Parent
dferreira@nuestromundopcs.org​

Diana Ferreira has been in education for 6 years working in Providence and Cranston. She is a daughter, partner, mother and grandmother to some of the most amazing human beings on this planet, immigrating to Rhode Island at a young age from Colombia, South America. 

Diana believes in the importance and value of raising not only academically bright, but also kind, respectful, socially conscious and responsible children in this world. She considers herself a fierce advocate for people that may be faced with the English language as a barrier, or just lack of knowledge to help their children succeed and have as many choices and opportunities the world has to offer. She believes in working towards a goal where all children have equitable opportunities to reach their highest potential and become contributing members of our communities and beyond. ​​

​Madison Newman
Guidance Counselor
mnewman@nmpcs.k12.ri.us​

​Amanda Seewald
Curriculum & Instructional Coach
aseewald@nmpcs.k12.ri.us 
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Nancy Rodriguez
Kitchen Staff
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My name is Nancy Rodriguez, I am from the Dominican Republic. I came to the United States in 2014 and have lived in Providence, RI since then. I currently work as a kitchen staff for Nuestro Mundo Charter School. I love working with kids and making sure they get good nutrition. I consider myself to be a very friendly, enthusiastic, and polite person.I am very grateful to be part of this organization