Spain Faculty and Staff
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Dear Prospective Students,
Why spend a semester or year away from your school, family, and broader community in the United States? It’s easy to imagine the things you’ll miss at home. What is more difficult to imagine is the unique potential of SYA-Spain to enrich you immeasurably in an academic, cultural, and broader personal sense. Allow me to paint a picture for you.
As a resident of Zaragoza and SYA student, you’ll exit the tourist bubble, from which you observe local culture from an outsider’s perspective, and come to see this bustling, authentically Spanish city as home. The everpresent northwest wind (the cierzo), local specialties like roasted lamb and borrajas (a green vegetable), and distinctly Aragonese vocabulary will be part of your daily life. Your host family and teachers will guide you in adapting to Spanish culture and provide you with an immersive linguistic environment, which is the most powerful motor for rapid progress towards communicative confidence in a language. Traveling in Spain with classmates and faculty, you will encounter breathtaking historical and natural landmarks that will deepen your knowledge of history and contemporary culture. An extraordinarily experienced local faculty, several of whom have guided SYA students for over a quarter century, will support your academic growth across a range of subjects. Undoubtedly, your memories of Spain will accompany you for the rest of your life.
For sixty years SYA has provided US high-schoolers with a unique opportunity for academic growth, cultural enrichment, and self-discovery in Spain. Former students’ comments echo, at times from a distance of decades, those of departing students when we bid the latter farewell in December and May: their time with SYA was transformative and life-changing. Unsurprisingly, students’ experiences here frequently inflected their academic and professional trajectories.
As I often tell my students, life abroad is great training for life generally. To adapt to a new setting and community, to manage independence and freedom in a big city, to respond to a new culture with an open mind and a will to seek understanding – these are essential human skills that SYA will nurture in you.
If you or your parents have any questions about Spain or the program, feel free to contact our Admissions Office at 978.725.6828. They will be glad to answer your questions and tell you about our school in Zaragoza and the SYA experience.
Sincerely,
Andrew Gray
Resident Director
SYA Spain
![Andrew Gray]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756909050/sya/s25zrtdg9kv96g5jqezm/AndyGray.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756909050/sya/s25zrtdg9kv96g5jqezm/AndyGray.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756909050/sya/s25zrtdg9kv96g5jqezm/AndyGray.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756909050/sya/s25zrtdg9kv96g5jqezm/AndyGray.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1756909050/sya/s25zrtdg9kv96g5jqezm/AndyGray.jpg","width":1431}])
Role at SYA Spain
Resident Director
Pronouns
He/His
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
My neighborhood in downtown Zaragoza!
What is your hidden talent?
Reading books to children and removing stains from clothes.
What is your favorite hobby?
Reading literature and learning languages.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
I’ll give two. First, remember that immersive language learning requires humility, some social discomfort, a sense of humor, patience, resilience, a growth mindset and plenty of rest for your exhausted brain. Don’t think that you can just sit back and let it sink in. But if you have the right attitude, the process is a lot of fun and enables endless self-discovery. Second, avoid judgment, at least in the first weeks. Observe your host country, its people and customs, without rushing to any generalizations. As your appreciation of cultural nuances grows, your initial impressions will always be defied.
![Álvaro Ávila de la Torre]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916009/sya/paw858efetftuwtmw8er/ES-AviladelaTorre_Alvaro.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916009/sya/paw858efetftuwtmw8er/ES-AviladelaTorre_Alvaro.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916009/sya/paw858efetftuwtmw8er/ES-AviladelaTorre_Alvaro.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916009/sya/paw858efetftuwtmw8er/ES-AviladelaTorre_Alvaro.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916009/sya/paw858efetftuwtmw8er/ES-AviladelaTorre_Alvaro.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1634916009/sya/paw858efetftuwtmw8er/ES-AviladelaTorre_Alvaro.jpg","width":2200}])
Role at SYA Spain
History, Art and Political Science Teacher
Pronouns
He/Him
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
Any place with mountains and sea.
What is your hidden talent?
I have a green thumb.
What is your favorite hobby?
Learning!
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Don’t be shy and expose yourself to new experiences.
![Tomás Arruebo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916008/sya/xh5yk3wqsm1nbzirdc9y/ES-Arruebo_Tomas.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916008/sya/xh5yk3wqsm1nbzirdc9y/ES-Arruebo_Tomas.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916008/sya/xh5yk3wqsm1nbzirdc9y/ES-Arruebo_Tomas.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916008/sya/xh5yk3wqsm1nbzirdc9y/ES-Arruebo_Tomas.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916008/sya/xh5yk3wqsm1nbzirdc9y/ES-Arruebo_Tomas.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1634916008/sya/xh5yk3wqsm1nbzirdc9y/ES-Arruebo_Tomas.jpg","width":2200}])
Role at SYA Spain
Instructional Technology Coordinator and Environmental Science Teacher
Pronouns
He/Him
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
The pyrenees, a mountain range close to Zaragoza where I spend many days playing sports or hanging out with relatives and friends.
What is your hidden talent?
I have a black belt in karate.
What is your favorite hobby?
Riding my bike through the countryside, playing other sports such as swimming or trekking, traveling and spending time with my family and friends are my favorite hobbies.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
I would advise them to live in the present moment taking full advantage of this amazing, wonderful experience (it will probably change them forever), to be patient with themselves at the beginning and ask for advice when required (we are all here to support them), to be curious in their day-to-day to get to deeply understand their new cultural surroundings, to take full advantage of all the opportunities that SYA offers them while they are in the local schools, to be open to make new local and American friends (they will probably make some friendships for life) and to try to establish a close relationship with their host families.
![Andrea Arribas]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756412551/sya/f6w0jvcfgiq50aagptel/AndreaArribas.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756412551/sya/f6w0jvcfgiq50aagptel/AndreaArribas.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756412551/sya/f6w0jvcfgiq50aagptel/AndreaArribas.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756412551/sya/f6w0jvcfgiq50aagptel/AndreaArribas.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1756412551/sya/f6w0jvcfgiq50aagptel/AndreaArribas.jpg","width":1534}])
Role at SYA Spain
Extracurricular Coordinator
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
My favourite place in my country is the Aragonese Pyrenees.
What is your favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is sport, all kinds of sport: football, skiing, pelota, paddle surfing, etc.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
My advice for students is: keep an open mind and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Talk to the locals, even if your Spanish isn't perfect, because it's the best way to learn and make friends. Enjoy the food, customs and pace of life, which will surely be different from what you're used to. Above all, be curious, respectful and make the most of every experience, because time flies.
![Marta Escartín]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916009/sya/slw5qcvgzbslmo6kzcxn/ES-Escartin_Marta.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916009/sya/slw5qcvgzbslmo6kzcxn/ES-Escartin_Marta.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916009/sya/slw5qcvgzbslmo6kzcxn/ES-Escartin_Marta.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916009/sya/slw5qcvgzbslmo6kzcxn/ES-Escartin_Marta.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916009/sya/slw5qcvgzbslmo6kzcxn/ES-Escartin_Marta.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1634916009/sya/slw5qcvgzbslmo6kzcxn/ES-Escartin_Marta.jpg","width":2038}])
Role at SYA Spain
Spanish Language Teacher
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
The Basque Country (especially San Sebastian and Fuenterrabia)
What is your hidden talent?
I'm a very transparent person so talents, if any, would not be hidden ;)
What is your favorite hobby?
Being in the mountains (climbing/cross-country skiing and reading up there is a magical combination)
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Cultivate humility and a genuine desire to learn from everything and everyone. Do not be spectators in life, take sides when possible with empathy and respect for others.
![Soledad Gutiérrez]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916009/sya/chqh9qoavzewmji3ghki/ES-Gutierrez_Soledad.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916009/sya/chqh9qoavzewmji3ghki/ES-Gutierrez_Soledad.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916009/sya/chqh9qoavzewmji3ghki/ES-Gutierrez_Soledad.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916009/sya/chqh9qoavzewmji3ghki/ES-Gutierrez_Soledad.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916009/sya/chqh9qoavzewmji3ghki/ES-Gutierrez_Soledad.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1634916009/sya/chqh9qoavzewmji3ghki/ES-Gutierrez_Soledad.jpg","width":2200}])
Role at SYA Spain
Art History and Spanish Language Teacher
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
Costa Brava
What is your hidden talent?
I don't think I have one!
What is your favorite hobby?
Museums, walking, cinema, going to a music concert.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Be open minded and have the courage to leave your comfort zone.
![Pilar Iribas]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1689099983/sya/qnfxadtnrjbwhohsmihn/PilarIribas.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1689099983/sya/qnfxadtnrjbwhohsmihn/PilarIribas.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1689099983/sya/qnfxadtnrjbwhohsmihn/PilarIribas.png","width":800}])
Role at SYA Spain
Experiential Spanish Teacher
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
There are so many! Pina de Ebro, Estella, Donostia, the Alhama River, the Maestrazgo, the Hecho Valley...
What is your hidden talent?
If I say it, it will not longer be hidden.
What is your favorite hobby?
Reading and walking in the countryside.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Be curious, ask, observe, participate. Always use your Spanish, we know that it is not your first language, so don't be ashamed of making mistakes. We learn from mistakes. Open your mind, enjoy and learn from this opportunity that the SYA experience gives you.
![Elena Laín]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916009/sya/jaycw9qeeqqrnwqvnkxr/ES-Lain_Elena.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916009/sya/jaycw9qeeqqrnwqvnkxr/ES-Lain_Elena.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916009/sya/jaycw9qeeqqrnwqvnkxr/ES-Lain_Elena.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916009/sya/jaycw9qeeqqrnwqvnkxr/ES-Lain_Elena.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916009/sya/jaycw9qeeqqrnwqvnkxr/ES-Lain_Elena.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1634916009/sya/jaycw9qeeqqrnwqvnkxr/ES-Lain_Elena.jpg","width":2200}])
Role at SYA Spain
Administrative Assistant
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
I can not choose just one favorite place ;) I like the North (Asturias), the Pyrenees and Valencia.
What is your hidden talent?
I play the drum during Easter, it is a tradition in my mother’s village.
What is your favorite hobby?
I like going to zumba classes, walking, photography and traveling.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Speak Spanish as much as you can, pay attention the things around you and make the most of your time in Spain!
![Marimar Orós]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916010/sya/nwevag1ft8mbx1l90lvg/ES-Oros_Marimar.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916010/sya/nwevag1ft8mbx1l90lvg/ES-Oros_Marimar.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916010/sya/nwevag1ft8mbx1l90lvg/ES-Oros_Marimar.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916010/sya/nwevag1ft8mbx1l90lvg/ES-Oros_Marimar.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916010/sya/nwevag1ft8mbx1l90lvg/ES-Oros_Marimar.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1634916010/sya/nwevag1ft8mbx1l90lvg/ES-Oros_Marimar.jpg","width":2200}])
Role at SYA Spain
Economics Teacher and Financial Administrator
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
Orotava, Cádiz
What is your hidden talent?
I am good at resolving conflicts, I always approach positions between friends and family.
What is your favorite hobby?
Reading and walking in nature.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Have an open mind; observe everything around you and be flexible.
![Pauline Pauzauskie]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634916010/sya/czo04xbafaoxfk3ttczr/ES-Pauzauskie_Pauline.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634916010/sya/czo04xbafaoxfk3ttczr/ES-Pauzauskie_Pauline.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1634916010/sya/czo04xbafaoxfk3ttczr/ES-Pauzauskie_Pauline.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1634916010/sya/czo04xbafaoxfk3ttczr/ES-Pauzauskie_Pauline.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1634916010/sya/czo04xbafaoxfk3ttczr/ES-Pauzauskie_Pauline.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1634916010/sya/czo04xbafaoxfk3ttczr/ES-Pauzauskie_Pauline.jpg","width":2200}])
Role at SYA Spain
College Counseling Liaison
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
The Pyrenees
What is your favorite hobby?
Hiking, biking, climbing and spending time outdoors as often as possible.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Don't be afraid to make mistakes, speak Spanish at every chance!
![Elena Schupp]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1689080736/sya/udsnsysg0qs27azvbixz/ElenaSchupp.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1689080736/sya/udsnsysg0qs27azvbixz/ElenaSchupp.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1689080736/sya/udsnsysg0qs27azvbixz/ElenaSchupp.png","width":800}])
Role at SYA Spain
Student Life Coordinator and Summer Program Coordinator
Pronouns
She/Her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
The Pyrenees Mountains in Spain.
What is your hidden talent?
Cooking
What is your favorite hobby?
Traveling, listening to music and spending time with family.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
Enjoy every moment of the amazing experience of studying abroad. Learning new ways of living will open your mind and change the way you see the world. Be ready!!
![Sara Villalba]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761238485/sya/efvqr432ciagbolka0yj/SaraV.jpg","width":100}])
Role at SYA Spain
English Teacher
Pronouns
She/her
What is your favorite place or site in your country?
La playa de la concha in San Sebastian (north of Spain).
What is your hidden talent?
I know how to surf.
What is your favorite hobby?
Scuba diving and trying new foods.
What is one piece of advice for future SYA students?
I would tell you, you are ready to embrace with an open mind what will be one of the best experiences you will have in your life!