Hillcrest Language School teachers

A Message from Marcela Privat-Gilman, HLS Director

Hola Hillcrest! My name is Marcela Privat-Gilman and I am in my second year as director of the Hillcrest Language School. My daughter, Isabela, is in the fourth grade at Hillcrest, so I am quite familiar with this wonderful learning community. The HLS teachers and board collaborate to maintain a solid language program in which K-5 students gain basic Spanish-speaking skills (while having fun!) that will better prepare them for future language classes in middle school. Please feel free to approach me in the yard or hallway if you have any questions or concerns about HLS. Here's to a great year!

Yolanda Gaytan

Yolanda Gaytan Yolanda has an elementary teacher degree from "Colegio Fray Martin de Valencia" in Mexico. She has taught for 24 years, including 9 years in Mexico and 14 years in Berkeley (Emerson, Malcolm X, and Jefferson Elementary) and Oakland (Chabot and Hillcrest). She was born in Los Mezquites, Mexico. Her favorite food is steak. Her favorite hobby is cooking. Her passion is teaching.

Johanna Suarez

Johanna Johanna is a native of Colombia and has lived in the U.S for ten years. She is a recent graduate of Mills College and holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and another one in Dance. Her experience is as an arts educator focusing on using art (dance, storytelling, music, poetry & theater) as a medium to teach the Spanish language, socio-political issues, culture and tradition of different communities. Her work as a youth activist focuses on promoting youth development and participation in the community through the arts. She frequently performs in the Bay Area and has performed in Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina, countries where she has taught and coordinated intercultural programs for small communities.

Tania Figueroa

Tania Figueroa is a native of Chile and has been living in the U.S. for nearly six years. Educated at Universidad Católica de Chile, she has a background in art and design, which she enjoys putting to work with her Spanish students. She has taught Spanish in the East Bay for many years. She is a creative, passionate instructor, and loves to use music, movement, and physical challenges during her classes in order to teach a new language. She enjoys her free time doing social art, practicing yoga and karate.

Claudia Mariolle

Hi, my name is Claudia Mariolle. I was born and educated in Torreon Coah, Mexico. I am a DDS and specialist in endodontics. I have been involved in the Hillcrest language program for a long time. I started teaching Spanish seven years ago and have worked for private schools and organizations around the Bay Area. I stopped teaching two years ago to finish the requirements for my career as a general dentist. I am very pleased to come back and teach the language and the culture that I come from. I have two kids, Patrick and Victoria who speak Spanish fluently. Victoria is in the 9th grade and Patrick is a junior at Saint Mary's High school in Berkeley. Teaching Spanish is something that I truly love to do. I'm looking forward to meeting your kids this year and am glad to have the opportunity to share my knowledge with them.