Staff Photos & Bios
Program Staff
International Director - Sarah Krueger
Sarah is a San Diego native who has spent her career working with youth in various nonprofit and educational settings. She studied sociology and nonprofit leadership in school and spends her days storytelling for businesses and finding new adventures. She loves camping, hiking, reading, and traveling the world, and is so excited to share the magic of Playa Junquillal with GLA students this Spring!
Local Director - Juan Carlos Alvarado
Juan Carlos has worked with GLA for 12 years. He started contributing with transportation logistics and later on became a Local Director for different programs. He studied English in a local university and also learned about automotive mechanics. He and his wife have a four year old son. In his free time, he likes off-roading around Costa Rica, traveling and meeting new people. Students enjoy their time with “JuanCa” because he is passionate about community service projects and shares a lot of Costa Rican culture with them.
Mentor - Marco Campos Valadez
Marco is an engineer degree holder, who is currently studying Masters in Project Management. He also is passionate about the outdoors and was a part of the Scouts for most of his life. Working on a variety of camps around the world made him realize that the best kind of teaching and learning is outside a classroom. When he isn't at a camp, he loves spending his time in great outdoors doing activities like kayaking and traveling. He has traveled around Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
He is a GLA alumni Mentor and is excited to share a great adventure in Costa Rica with GLA students again.
Mentor - Milena Gomez (Sessions 3 and 4 only)
Milena was born on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica in Liimón. She studied English teaching at Universidad Latina of Costa Rica and has a degree in Accounting. She has been working as an English and science Teacher for 6 years. She is also a volunteer firefighter. She likes to dance, sing, cook and spend time with her family. She really has a passion for teaching and leading students into discovery and learning.
Milena has also worked with GLA as a Local Director and can't wait to mentor students in the Spring Break program this year.
GLA Staffing - Roles
GLA staff are native to the host country and international, usually from the US, Canada or Europe. All staff are highly qualified adults with college degrees. Most of our staff are educators and/or working professionals with higher degrees of education. All of our staff have extensive experience working with teenage students, international programs and/or a specific knowledge of the program country.
GLA staff consists of a local program director, someone from the host country with extensive experience working with international students and also an international program director, someone from the west with extensive global experience working with this age group, who together bridge any cultural differences. Mentors work with the students on a day to day basis. Staff ages usually range between 25 – 35 years old. In addition, we maintain a student to staff ratio of 8:1.
Local Director
Local Program Directors are responsible for co-managing the overall experience alongside International Program Directors. First and foremost, they protect the health and safety of students at all times, reinforcing standards of safety and community culture. The Local Program Director is also responsible for planning excursions, speakers, and community service projects
International Director
International Program Directors are responsible for co-managing the overall experience alongside Local Program Directors. Along with the Local Director, the International Program Director protects the health and safety of students at all times, reinforcing standards of safety and community culture. The International Program Director is also responsible for structuring a dynamic learning environment by developing curriculum, facilitating the implementation of GLA’s service-learning workshops through group-wide discussions
Mentor
Mentors are also responsible for structuring a dynamic learning environment by working as part of a team to implement GLA’s service-learning leadership curriculum; leading daily discussion, reflection or journaling sessions with small student groups; and helping Directors plan additional workshops and activities to engage students in their “free” time.
Program Administrator
Country Administrators are responsible for managing the overall experience of multiple programs in a certain country. Along with the Local Director, and International Program Directors, the Administrator protects the health and safety of students at all times, reinforcing standards of safety and community culture. The Country Administrator is also responsible for structuring a dynamic learning environment by developing curriculum, facilitating the implementation of GLA’s service-learning workshops through group-wide discussions.
In-Country Coordinator
Our In-Country Program Coordinators are people with close ties to the local community. Their connections are what allow our groups to be welcomed as friends into a community, and their knowledge of the challenges facing local people allow our work to be a meaningful and valued contribution.
Program Manager
Our Program Managers support the International and Local teams over the course of summer programming. The Program Managers have extensive training in risk management, cross cultural communication, student and group dynamics, mental health protocols, staff management and GLA policies and procedures. Program Managers posses and in-depth knowledge of each program site, partner, service activities, and excursion. The Program Managers communicate weekly with each team in the field and provide ongoing support during the summer to ensure safe and successful programs.