School Staff
Brenda Martínez is a co-founder and the Lead Teacher at ALBA School. She is a proud MPS graduate of Milwaukee High School of the Arts. Ms. Martinez has a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from UW-Milwaukee and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis at UW-Madison. She is National Board Certified in English as a New Language. She enjoys working at ALBA because it provides robust academic, artistic, and cultural experiences for students.
Contact: checkybj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Radamés Galarza is a co-founder and lead teacher at ALBA School. He has been teaching at ALBA since 2004. Mr. Galarza has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UW-Milwaukee along with a 1-6 license in Bilingual Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. He enjoys working at ALBA because parents and students make our school a special place for learning and growing via the arts and curriculum.
Contact: galarzr@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Secretaries
Milca Cortés began working at ALBA in 2014 as a Paraprofessional and she became a secretary at the school in 2016. She has a nursing degree from the University of Puerto Rico – Recinto de Arecibo, and an Associate degree in Natural Sciences from the same University. She enjoys working at ALBA.
Contact: cortesmy@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Andrea Rivera began working at ALBA in 2014 as a Paraprofessional. She became the attendance secretary at the school in 2021. She has an Associate Degree in nursing. She enjoys working at ALBA.
Contact: riveraaj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Loida Alonso began working as a secretary at ALBA in 2021. Fun fact-Her oldest son was a student at ALBA.
Contact: alonsol@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Parent Coordinator
Petra Juarez is our school Parent Coordinator and is also a proud MPS alumni. She attended Allen-Field Elementary School, Kosciusko Middle School, and Milwaukee High School of the Arts (Dance Major). She has been with ALBA Family since 2008. Her role as a parent coordinator helps establish and improve the relationship between families and ALBA staff while supporting the children´s education.
Contact: juarezp@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
K3 Teacher
Maria Inez Medina García is a Bilingual Teacher. She has previously taught K4 and in 2nd grade in prior years. She began working in MPS in 2006 as a Para-professional. Mrs. Medina has an Early Childhood Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She enjoys working at ALBA because of the students and supportive parents.
Contact: medinami@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
K4 Teachers
Sandra Sánchez Segura is a K4 Bilingual Teacher at ALBA School. She’s been teaching for 17 years and started teaching at ALBA School in 2009. Ms. Segura graduated from Marquette University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature, Linguistics, and Philosophy and she also has a License in Early Childhood Bilingual Education. Ms. Segura enjoys working at ALBA because children learn and develop strong academic skills to become successful students. Ms. Segura was the WIABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 2016.
Contact: sanches1@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Diana Vizcaya Kroger is a K4 Bilingual Teacher at ALBA School.
Contact: vizcayd@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
K5 Teachers
Jennifer Valdivia is a K5 Bilingual Teacher at ALBA School.
Contact: valdivj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Jenny Garcia is a K5 Bilingual Teacher at ALBA School.
Contact: garcj2@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
1st Grade Teachers
Elissa Guarnero is a co-founder and 1st Grade Bilingual Teacher. Previously she taught K5 and 2nd grade. She is a proud MPS graduate of Milwaukee High School of the Arts (Visual Art). Ms. Guarnero graduated from Alverno College with a degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree from UW-Milwaukee. She enjoys working at ALBA because it is a wonderful place full of learning.
Contact: guarneex@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Maria Herrera is a 1st Grade Bilingual Teacher.
Contact: herrm2@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
2nd Grade Teachers
Luz Martinez is a 2nd Grade Bilingual Teacher.
Contact: martinlz@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Luzmeidy Franco is a 2nd Grade Bilingual Teacher. Ms. Franco began teaching at ALBA in 2021. She is a proud graduate of UW-Milwaukee with a degree in Elementary Education.
Contact: romerol@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
3rd Grade Teachers
Patricia López Torres is a Third Grade Bilingual Teacher. Previously she taught K5 and 4th grade. She has an Associate’s Degree from MATC and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary (1-6) education from Alverno College.
Contact: lopeztpl@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Fabiola Rodriguez is Third Grade Bilingual Teacher. She has been teaching in MPS since 2013. Ms. Rodriguez graduated from Alverno College and has a PreK-8th grade license and currently working on her Early Childhood license. She enjoys working at ALBA because ALBA has all the qualities needed for a successful school: parental involvement, teacher leadership, and excellent students.
Contact: rodrigfa@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
4th Grade Teachers
Fabiola Meléndez-Calderón is a 4th grade teacher. She taught at Morgandale School from 2002 to 2011 and then came to ALBA. Mrs. Calderón has a Bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Elementary Education (1-8) with a minor in Psychology. She enjoys working at ALBA because the students and parents are respectful. She loves the way ALBA has a rigorous academic program but also teaches students to be proud of their heritage.
Contact: melendfx@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Emily Scholtka is a 4th grade teacher.
Contact: coronaer@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
5th Grade Teachers
Dana Witheft is a 5th grade teacher.
Contact: withefds@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Mercedes Ramos is the 5th grade reading teacher. She has taught students in grades 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8. Fun fact-Ms. Ramos first worked as a secretary at ALBA from 2015 to 2017. Ms. Ramos is from Madrid, Spain, where she studied Business Administration. She has a Master’s degree in Urban Education from Cardinal Stritch University. She enjoys working at ALBA because of the warm environment and the good relationship between all: staff, students, and parents.
Contact: ramosm4@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Deanna M. Fayas is the 5th grade math teacher. Mrs. Fayas has a bilingual license from 1st to 6th grade of UWM. Ms. Fayas spend 1 year as an ITESSM exchange student in Monterrey, Mexico. She also spent a summer in Ecuador. She obtained a Master’s degree in Education from Viterbo University. She taught 5th grade at Pierce School for 10 years and at JW Riley School taught 5th grade for 10 years. Mrs. Fayas loves books, science, animals, nature, history, mathematics, and music. What she loves most about teaching is that her students feel like family. It’s her goal that students love school and learning and can discover a broad future of opportunities and achieve everything they set out to achieve. Mrs. Fayas is very excited for this opportunity in ALBA.
Contact: lesnerdm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
6th, 7th & 8th Grades
Patricia Arribas is the Middle School Spanish reading teacher. Mrs. Arribas is from Madrid, Spain, where she studied sociology and education. She came to the U.S. in 2013. While working as a substitute teacher she fell in love with ALBA. Ms. Arribas believes it is very important to work in a family atmosphere where the teaching staff and families work together on a single goal, the students. She says she has found that place at ALBA.
Contact: arribap@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Adriana Beltran is the Middle School Science teacher. She is a proud MPS alumni. She has a degree in elementary education from UW-Milwaukee with a 1-8 grade bilingual teaching certification and a science minor.
Contact: beltraa@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Nathaly Salazar Duffy is the Project Lead the Way, PLTW, teacher. Ms. Salazar is excited to move into the middle grades to start this new computer science and engineering class with our ALBA students. She is a proud MPS graduate of Ronald Reagan High School. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Alverno College in Elementary Education with focus in Spanish Language and Culture. Milwaukee born with parents from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She loves to read anything Harry Potter, spend time with her husband, family, and two cats. Swimming and traveling are a must for Ms. Salazar.
Contact: salazan@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Wilmer Rubiano is the Social Studies teacher for middle grades.
Correo: rubianw@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Kate Agosto Martinez is the Math teacher for middle grades. She has a Masters degree in education for Mathematics grades 4-12 and English as Second Language grades K-12. She is from Puerto Rico and during her free time she enjoys cooking.
Correo: agostoka@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Cyrille Durand Husting is the french teacher for 7th-8th grades.
Correo: durandcc@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Ginny Davila is the teacher for ELA (English Language Arts) for the middle grades.
Correo: davilag@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
English as a Second Language Teachers
Courtney Farley is an English as a Second Language Teacher. She is from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Studied at Marquette University for her undergrad and have a degree in Spanish and Elementary Education with a minor in Bilingual/Bicultural education. Also received an ESL Certification from Cardinal Stritch. Some of her hobbies include playing soccer, traveling, and being outdoors as much as she can.
Contact: farleyc@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Cyrille Durand Husting is an English as a Second Language Teacher. Ms.Durand is a native of France. After making her way to Milwaukee, WI she taught at Milwaukee French Immersion.
Contact: durandcc@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Grace Robles Tillman is an English as a Second Language Teacher.
Contact: roblesg@@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Matthew Ingersol is an English as a Second Language Teacher. He has a masters degree in English as Second Language. He is originally from Milwaukee and after college he moved to Minnesota. He also lived in Sâo Paulo, Brazil. In the recent years he started teaching. In his free time he loves learning different languages and traveling. He also enjoys reading, gardening and rooting for his favorite sports team.
Contact: ingersmj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Tatiana Baskin is an English as a Second Language Teacher.
Contact: baskints@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Ursala Neuwirth is an English as a Second Language Teacher.
Contact: neuwiru@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Speech-Language Pathologists
Lauren Rivera is a bilingual Speech and Language Pathologist.
Contact: riveralb@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Lori Zahorodny is one of the bilingual speech-language pathologists. She is from Warrenville, Illinois. She has a Master of Science in Communication Disorders.
She enjoys gardening for wildlife, biking, camping, dancing, and being with family and friends.
Contact: zahorol@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Special Education Teachers
Veronica Ramirez is the primary grades Special Education Teacher. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and lived in Racine, Wisconsin for sixteen years. She majored in criminal justice and is licensed in Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence Cross-Categorical Special Education and Bilingual-Bicultural Education. Mrs. Ramirez loves the arts, traveling, and once danced with a Mexican Folklore group.
Contact: ramirev1@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Darytza Resto is the kinder grades Special Education Teacher.
Contact: restod@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Ethan Mikell is the intermediate grades Special Education Teacher.
Contact: mikellek@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Sarah Weintraub is the 6th to 8th grade Special Education Teacher.
Correo: weintrsb@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Librarian
Douglas Maierhafer is the Librarian at ALBA School.
Contact: maierhdw@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Art
Jennifer Santiago is the Art Teacher.
Contact: lorbecjm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Music & Orchestra
Olivia Halterman is the General Music and Orchestra Teacher at ALBA. She lived in North Aurora, IL for most of her life. She moved to Milwaukee, WI to attend the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, where she received a BFA in Music Education with K-12 Instrumental and General Music certification. When she is not teaching, she enjoys exploring Milwaukee, playing many different instruments, reading, singing, and writing.
Contact: haltero@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Music & Band
Kathryn Topp is the General Music and Band Teacher at ALBA. She is from Wichita, Kansas. She has a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Emporia State University and a Bachelors in Music Education from Kansas State University. In her free time she loves cooking and trying new foods. She plays a lot of instruments and music. She also enjoys going to parks with her husband and dogs.
Correo: toppkr@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Michelle Kartz is the Band Teacher at ALBA.
Correo: kartzmm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Physical Education
Sabiha Begum is the Phy. Ed. Teacher.
Contact: begums@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
IB Coordinator
Tammy Ollinger is our IB Coordinator.
Contact: ruegeta@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
School Intervention Teacher
Noelia Enriquez is our School Intervention Teacher. She is from Germantown, Wisconsin, and currently lives in Milwaukee. She has worked for Milwaukee Public Schools for 10 years. She earned her English Language Arts Secondary Education Teacher’s License from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She later obtained her Reading Teacher’s License from Alverno College. She recently graduated with her Masters’s in Curriculum and Instruction and Administrative Leadership from Alverno College. She loves to travel, try new recipes, go hiking, and watch action movies.
Contact: enriqunl@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
VILS Technology Coach
Sonja Pupovac is our Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Coach.
Contact: pupovas@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
School Psychologist
Erin Prestby is the bilingual School Psychologist.
Contact: prestbem@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Whitney Wells-Mendoza is the School Psychologist.
Contact: wellswm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
School Social Worker
Guiviny Hernandez is the School Social Worker at ALBA School.
Correo: herng2@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Resources for help and support during the quarantine: https://docs.google.com/document/d/139HETSWLksL0fXJ9Hj85QhMB7hUq
Uo3ETYPX6uWpDzE/edit?usp=sharing
Guidance Councelor
Allison Guerra is the School Guidance Councelor at ALBA.
Correo: guerraa@milwaukee.k12.wi.us