I am originally from Chile and moved to the USA in 2019. After arriving, I dedicated four months to volunteer work, which provided me with valuable experience. Subsequently, I enrolled in GJ as an MBA in PPK and was later promoted to VPK dual language. I pursued my education at Pinellas Technical College, where I earned my Child Development Associate credential.

My teaching philosophy centers around play-based learning and positive reinforcement, creating an interactive and engaging classroom environment. I am proud to share that I have two children who also attended GJ. Teaching is my true vocation, and I am passionate about fostering a love for learning in my students.

Mrs. Shaw is a graduate of Florida State University and is certified to teach PreK to 3^rd grade and Music K–12 in Florida. She began teaching in the DL VPK program at Garrison Jones in the 2017-18 school year and absolutely loves to be a part of the program!

Mrs. Shaw has two grown children that both attended Pinellas County Schools and graduated from UF and USF. She teaches private music lessons (oboe students), gardens, and paddle boards in her spare time!

Sra. Cobo is proud to be a representative of the Ecuadorian community. Sra. Cobo has 29 years of experience working with young children. She obtained her Child Development Associate in 2002. Sra. Cobo has obtained various training sessions related to Early Child Education. She is First Aid and CPR certified.

In 2023 Sra. Cobo joined the Garrison-Jones family as a Spanish teacher in the pre-school Dual Language Program. She is grateful for the exceptional opportunity she has been offered.

Sra. Cobo has been married for 32 years. She has two children, a son and a daughter who graduated from USF, becoming an accountant and a nurse. Her son works in a firm in Tampa and her daughter works at Tampa General Hospital.

Sra. Cobo loves to teach in a fun way, “I love seeing those little smiles having fun and learning at the same time.”  When Sra. Cobo is not teaching, she is traveling overseas.

Sra. Cobo believes love, compassion and tolerance are the keys to encouraging students to be successful.

Ms. Valentina is originally from Bulgaria. She lives in the Palm Harbor area with her husband and 7-year-old daughter. She has an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Saint Petersburg College, and she is getting her Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies and Community Leadership in Early Childhood Education, also from Saint Petersburg College.

She has been teaching previously at Magnolia Day School. This is her first year at Garrison-Jones Elementary, and she loves teaching in the Dual VPK program. One of her favorite quotes is “To learn a second language is to have one more window from which to look at the world”.

Ms. Valentina likes spending time with her daughter and husband, reading books and playing tennis.

Sra. Brito graduated from St. Petersburge College where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with ESOL endorsement. She worked at Ridgecrest Elementary Center for Gifted Studies as a 1st Grade teacher with gifted learners in a Spanish Imersion program. In 2013 she optained a Gifted endorsement and graduated from the University of South Florida receiveing a Master’s Degree in Gifted Education.

Sra. Brito is passionate about learning, helping students believe in themselves, and succeed in dual language programs. She has been at Garrison-Jones Elementary since 2014. Teaching Science & Math in Spanish inspired her to pursue her Masters in this area in 2016.

Teaching kindergarten has been an enlightening experience. She is passionate about technology, STEM, and dual language education. Her students learn early on that “if they believe...they will achieve.” Her knowledge of dual language pedagogy was strengthen by participating in a cohort certificate program along with other dual language teachers at Garrison-Jones and recieved a Certification.

She hopes to continue to inspire children to discover their strongest abilities and develop a love for learning throughout their life journey.

Sra. Arguelles graduated from FIU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and an ESOL endorsement. Her career as a teacher started in 2010 working for Miami Dade County Public Schools. During her time there, she had the opportunity to experience teaching in several different grade levels of the elementary years.

Sra. Arguelles started her journey at Garrison Jones in January 2018 as a 4^th Grade teacher for the Dual Language Program. Most recently, she is enjoying teaching 2^nd Grade for the same program.

Sra. Arguelles enjoys spending time with her family. She has a daughter that is also a student at the school and is in the Dual Language Program. In her free time, Sra. Arguelles and her family enjoy going on their boat on fishing trips or just cruising the bay area.

Mrs. Ashley Scavino graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Journalism. She worked for several years as a newspaper reporter and later returned to school at the University of West Florida, where she earned a Master's degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction.

Mrs. Scavino has been teaching since 2004 and has taught at Garrison-Jones since 2013. She has experience teaching special education, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. 

Mrs. Scavino is married and has two sons who attended Garrison-Jones. Her children participated in the Dual-Language Program.

When she is not working, Mrs. Scavino enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with family.

Sra. Carrasquillo, graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao, where she got her degree in Elementary Education.

She is a graduate of Cambridge College, where she received a Masters in Education. 
Sra. Carrasquillo has been a teacher in Puerto Rico for 12 years and 7 years at Garrison-Jones.
She is excited to be part of the Dual Language Program. 
 
Sra. Carrasquillo is married, and enjoys spending time with her husband and her Shih-Tzu named Sassy.

My name is Mariangelie Vazquez Llanis.  I am married to Alexander Cintron Marrero who is a teacher too.  We have two boys: Alejandro and Diego Armando.  Alejandro is a musician and he will start his college studies in Aeroespacial Engineer next fall.  Diego Armando loves baseball, and he is part of the Dual Language Program of our school.

I have 22 years of experience as a primary and elementary level teacher. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Preschool, Primary, and Elementary Education at the University of Puerto Rico, in the Bayamon Campus. Years later, I completed my Master’s Degree in Curriculum of Primary Level. Last summer, I completed the Dual Language Master Certification from UCF.  I feel privileged to be a teacher. Being able to serve our country through the magisterium is for me a great honor.

Three years ago, I came to the United States after experiencing the ordeal of Hurricane Maria. This experience allowed me to reach Garrison Jones Elementary School, where I work as a fifth-grade teacher in the Dual Language Program. It is here that I have had to face different and new challenges that have made me a stronger person. I realize that it is permissible to learn, dream, fall, and get up, regardless of age, language, or any barrier or limitation that we have as individuals. I think, “When you want, you can, you just need the desire to do it”.

The Dual Language Program is a perfect opportunity to connect with students that come from different parts of the world.   I enjoy seeing students progress in their Spanish language skills at the same time they learn Math and Science.

Mrs. Valentino graduated from Kent State University in Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in English. She received her teaching certification from Notre Dame College in Ohio and her master’s certificate in TESOL from Cleveland State University. Mrs. Valentino taught High School Language Arts in Ohio before moving to Florida in 2011 with her family. After her twins started kindergarten in the Dual Language program at Garrison Jones, Mrs. Valentino became certified in Elementary Education K-6 and returned to teaching in 2014.

In her free time, Mrs. Valentino enjoys spending time with her husband, twin daughters, and her 2 adult sons. She also enjoys traveling, paddling, biking, and of course, reading!