Meet the teachers

Meet our passionate teachers, whose diverse backgrounds and dedication make learning Spanish engaging and enjoyable. Discover their stories and see how they inspire and guide students on their language journey.

  • Señorita Daneel Dafni is an experienced Spanish teacher and former nanny with a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Spanish and International Business. As a veteran Spanish teacher who adores children, she has developed a plethora of educational resources to accommodate a variety of learning styles. She has lived in Spain and Costa Rica and has traveled to many Spanish-speaking countries to perfect her knowledge of the language. When Señorita Dafni is not teaching Spanish, you can find her selling real estate, or playing in nature with her sweet perra named Sola. She is excited to share her teaching techniques with the local community and is hoping to spread her passion for the Spanish language to your child, too!

  • Robbie (he/him) is a Spanish teacher and theatre educator. He has lived in Chile and Spain, where he has taught English and studied theatre while practicing his Spanish. While living abroad, Robbie loved trying new things, including watercolor painting and flamenco dancing. Robbie loves teaching learners how to have their first conversations in a new language.

  • Señora Alejandra (Ale) grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. A few years ago, she moved to Chicago, IL, and graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Advertising. Ale has always had a true love and passion for language. In 2016, she completed her certification in translation and interpretation (English/Spanish) for the Illinois Early Intervention program (EI) (a statewide program that provides services for children who have delays in development or a medical diagnosis), and since then, has been working with children professionally.

    Additionally, Ale tutored children in Chicago who had recently arrived in the United States. She provided these young students with one-on-one ESL (English as Second Language) services. Ale recently relocated to Portland, ME with her husband and is excited to bring her expertise to Escuela Pura Vida. In the future, she hopes to go back to college to become an Occupational Therapist and continue to help children. When not working, she loves art, traveling, flowers and fashion.

  • As his Spanish students quickly discover, Dave Schaefer lives in the Guatemalan Highland village of Santiago Atitlan, a historic location surrounded by three volcanoes on a precious lake. While he is not enjoying the local sites and Mayan culture, Dave does what he has been doing for the past 20 years: he teaches students! Dave grew up in Southern California and got his multiple-subject teaching credential from San Diego State University in 2001. An interest in anthropology led him to earn a Master's degree from the University of Texas, Austin, in 2011. Over the years, he has taught American and Guatemalan students at a number of academic institutions subjects ranging from science and math to art and social studies ... and Spanish! In his free time, Dave loves to play soccer, study, and participate in the local traditional culture, as well as travel. He lives in the village of Santiago with his wife, Mary, and their 4-year-old daughter, Avelina. They are pictured here during a recent trip to Peru!

  • Señora Deborah Grayson is an experienced Spanish teacher with a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic studies

    and social science, currently also working on an MBA. She is a member of Phi Sigma Iota-the International

    Foreign Language Honor Society and Alpha Kappa Delta-The International Sociology Honor Society. She

    teaches students of all ages and specializes in spelling and grammar, and also works as a writing tutor in

    English and Spanish. Sra. Grayson lives in a bilingual home in Portland and is raising her children to speak,

    read and write in both English and Spanish.

  • Señorita Madi Tait is a passionate teacher who loves travel and language learning. Having a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Education and a Master's degree in ESL and Bilingual Education has allowed her to travel and teach across Latin America, with her longest time spent in Chile. She has worked in many formats of teaching with elementary-aged children through adults and strives to bring a holistic approach that is based on the individual's needs and goals. Her favorite part of being an educator is witnessing her students' growth in the language and experiencing them develop a passion for the Spanish language and culture. When Madi is not teaching, you can find her traveling to new countries, spending time with family and friends, playing and coaching volleyball, and exploring the beautiful nature Maine has to offer (especially in the summer!) Madi is super excited to start working with you to help you reach your language goals!

Our mission is to create a fun, immersive environment where students of all ages can confidently learn and embrace the Spanish language and culture.

Explore our thoughtfully designed curriculum that makes learning Spanish engaging and effective for students of all ages.