English as Additional Language Educator @ Escola Americana de Campinas 

Colin is originally from Seattle, Washington, and for the past ten years, has called Brazil home. A lifelong learner who celebrates diversity in all forms, Colin specializes in multilingual and inquiry-based education. With 21 years of teaching and leadership experience, Colin seeks to inspire students and educators and empower them to make the world a more just and peaceful place. 

PYP Coordinator & Assistant Principal@ EABH – The American School of Belo Horizonte 

Christina has always been a supporter of Student Support Services within schools. In her 25 years as an educator, she has worked with students across all spectrums and is dyslexic herself, which allowed her to connect well with students who needed accommodations, modifications, and extra support. While studying for her Master’s in Educational Leadership, Christina relied on the same strategies she used with her students to support her learning challenges of dyslexia, Irlen's Syndrome, and audio processing. Christina was born in Australia but worked in Japan, Canada, and the UAE before moving to Brazil in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys gaming, reading, and traveling.

Student Support Services Coordinator @ EABH – The American School of Belo Horizonte.

Hello everyone. My name is Erin Polowin, and I am originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. I hold two bachelor’s degrees, one in Sociology with a minor in History, and a second in Education, and have completed additional qualifications in Teaching English Language Learners and Special Education.

I began my international education journey in 2015 teaching Social Studies in Wuhan, China, followed by a year teaching English Language Learners in Madrid, Spain. I then spent three years in Egypt, working as a Grade 7 homeroom teacher and later as a Grade 5 homeroom teacher. During the pandemic, I returned to Canada, where I taught a Kindergarten to Grade 2 special education class.

I am currently the Student Support Services Coordinator for the Lower School at Escola Americana de Belo Horizonte in Brazil. In this role, I support inclusive practices,  collaborate closely with teachers and families, and help develop systems that promote student wellbeing, access, and success.

I bring to the SENIA board a strengths-based, collaborative approach, with a strong focus on inclusive education, data-informed decision-making, and capacity-building within school communities. I am passionate about supporting diverse learners and empowering educators to create equitable learning environments.

Outside of school, I enjoy coaching and playing soccer, traveling, spending time outdoors, getting creative, and spending time indoors with my cat and a good book, movie, or TV show. I value community, connection, and lifelong learning, and I am excited to contribute my experience and perspective to the SENIA community.

Optimal Learning Services Teacher @ Graded – The American School of São Paulo 

Marla is an Optimal Learning Services teacher at Graded in São Paulo, Brazil. She has a Masters in Special Education and a Doctorate in Education in Educational Leadership. She started teaching in Chicago but has since lived and taught in five other countries around the world. Marla has two cats, is an accomplished runner (57 marathons!), and as a painter, she has exhibited works in the Tokyo National Museum, Madrid, and Miguel Cervantes Avenida Paulista. 

Working in Canada. 

For the past 4 years, Pauline served as the Lower School Student Support Services Coordinator at the American School of Belo Horizonte before moving back to Canada. She has an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction in Reading Intervention and is currently working on her MEd in Special Education. Her reason for championing inclusion and inclusive educational practices and serving through SENIA is that she is enthusiastic and passionate about ensuring that all children experience success emotionally, mentally, socially, and academically. Pauline firmly believes that our world is more positive, compassionate, and healthy when all people are given respect and dignity! In her spare time, Pauline loves practicing Pilates, cooking, and reading. 

Upper School Support Services Coordinator @ EABH – The American School of Belo Horizonte.

Sadie is the Upper School Support Services Coordinator at EABH, and loves living in Brazil! Originally from Kennewick, Washington, she spent time teaching in the US (Utah) before Dubai, and now onto Brazil. She has a BS in Special Education (Mild-Moderate Disabilities) and a minor in TESOL. Through the last 10 years, she has taught in a variety of capacities and subjects as Inclusion Co-teacher and subject-area teacher in secondary settings. She feels that this helps her demonstrate empathy for and collaborate effectively with her teacher colleagues while in a leadership position outside of school, Sadie loves to read, sing, watch comedy TV series (usually the same ones on repeat!), and play with her 2 cats.