About the World Languages Staff
Mrs. Jing Cassaro
Chinese Instructor
Mrs. Jing Cassaro, is the the Mandarin Chinese instructor from Kindergarten to Fifth grade. She is from China and she has worked as a Chinese instructor for several years. For Mrs. Cassaro teaching Chinese is "A dream come true". She always loves sharing Chinese language and culture with all her students. She fosters Leadership in her students by making them constantly reflect on the Seven Habits by Dr. Stephen Covey. Her character strengths as a teacher are Honesty and Gratitude.
Chinese Instructor
Mrs. Jing Cassaro, is the the Mandarin Chinese instructor from Kindergarten to Fifth grade. She is from China and she has worked as a Chinese instructor for several years. For Mrs. Cassaro teaching Chinese is "A dream come true". She always loves sharing Chinese language and culture with all her students. She fosters Leadership in her students by making them constantly reflect on the Seven Habits by Dr. Stephen Covey. Her character strengths as a teacher are Honesty and Gratitude.
Ms. Danielle Dolphin
Spanish teacher
Ms. Danielle Dolphin is a Campbell University graduate, who received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and holds her N.C. Initial Licensure in Spanish K-12. Because of her early language learning background, starting at the age of 9, she is a strong advocate for students being exposed to a second language in their early school years. She likes to grow students’ confidence in her class with their ability to learn a second language by constantly reassuring students that she was once where they are now. Ms. Dolphin encourages students to lead their fellow classmates in having a positive mindset about the process of language learning through engaging students in roles around the classroom. She strongly believes that each child can change the world in their own unique way! Her top character strengths are Fairness and Humor.
Spanish teacher
Ms. Danielle Dolphin is a Campbell University graduate, who received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and holds her N.C. Initial Licensure in Spanish K-12. Because of her early language learning background, starting at the age of 9, she is a strong advocate for students being exposed to a second language in their early school years. She likes to grow students’ confidence in her class with their ability to learn a second language by constantly reassuring students that she was once where they are now. Ms. Dolphin encourages students to lead their fellow classmates in having a positive mindset about the process of language learning through engaging students in roles around the classroom. She strongly believes that each child can change the world in their own unique way! Her top character strengths are Fairness and Humor.
Ms. Yolima Lara
Spanish Teacher
Ms. Yolima Lara is from Barranquilla, Colombia. She holds a Master Degree in Education with Emphasis in Language Didactics. She has worked as Spanish as a Second Language teacher for 12 years in both lB schools and diplomatic missions. At Green's she teaches from Kindergarten to Fifth grade. Her main goal as a Spanish teacher is to inspire her students to learn Spanish and also about the culture of Spanish speaking countries: "Being able to communicate in many linguistic codes is also a form of Leadership" she claims. Her character strengths are Integrity and Creativity.
Spanish Teacher
Ms. Yolima Lara is from Barranquilla, Colombia. She holds a Master Degree in Education with Emphasis in Language Didactics. She has worked as Spanish as a Second Language teacher for 12 years in both lB schools and diplomatic missions. At Green's she teaches from Kindergarten to Fifth grade. Her main goal as a Spanish teacher is to inspire her students to learn Spanish and also about the culture of Spanish speaking countries: "Being able to communicate in many linguistic codes is also a form of Leadership" she claims. Her character strengths are Integrity and Creativity.
Ms. Jenny Penagos
Spanish Teacher
Ms. Jenny Penagos is from Bogotá, Colombia. She is 32 years old and she has been teaching at Elementary Schools for six years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education with emphasis in Humanities and Foreign Languages, and a Master degree in Applied Linguistics. After she graduated college, she participated in an exchange program as a Spanish Assistant in Minnesota and after that, she taught ESL for five years in Bogotá. She likes her students to assume different learning roles in the classroom, and in this way, she fosters leadership and the use of Spanish language. She loves dancing, traveling and meeting people from different countries. Her character strengths are Open-mindedness and Perspective.
Spanish Teacher
Ms. Jenny Penagos is from Bogotá, Colombia. She is 32 years old and she has been teaching at Elementary Schools for six years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education with emphasis in Humanities and Foreign Languages, and a Master degree in Applied Linguistics. After she graduated college, she participated in an exchange program as a Spanish Assistant in Minnesota and after that, she taught ESL for five years in Bogotá. She likes her students to assume different learning roles in the classroom, and in this way, she fosters leadership and the use of Spanish language. She loves dancing, traveling and meeting people from different countries. Her character strengths are Open-mindedness and Perspective.
Ms. Kimberly Kelly
Spanish Teacher
Ms. Kimberly Kelly is from New York and relocated to North Carolina in 2005. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish from UNC Greensboro, a Master of Education in Bilingual Special Education from George Washington University, and has completed coursework towards an Education Specialist degree. Since 2000 Ms. Kelly has taught PK-12 Spanish, K-12 ESL, & K-12 Bilingual Special Education. She is also an adjunct instructor at Durham Tech and an educational researcher at UNC Chapel Hill. Her hobbies include studying the Romance Languages, traveling, collecting foreign currency, and collecting authentic masks. Most of all, she cherishes spending time with her immediate family, which consists of Charles, their three adult children, 2 dogs and a cockatoo. Ms. Kelly believes that families can reinforce what students learn inside the classroom which will contribute to student success as a language learner and 21st century leader. Her character strengths are Love of learning and Honesty.