Spanish and Physical Education aaraujo@vimsia.org

Señor Araujo is a native of São Tomé, Africa, and holds a M.A. in Linguistics obtained in Besancon, France.  Since 1989, Señor has been offering a quality Spanish program to students starting at the elementary level.  In addition, Señor teaches Physical Education and coaches our elementary soccer teams.  He is a FIFA-certified soccer coach and has refereed JV/Varsity soccer for more than ten years.  Our soccer program is unparalleled on the island, and since the inception of inter-school elementary soccer several years ago, our elementary teams have dominated!

Athletic Director & PGIA Health and PE Teacher
darpasi@vimsia.org

Coach David Arpasi holds a degree in Physical Education and Health from the University of Mount St. Joseph, earned in 1995. David has a strong history with VIMSIA, including volunteering to support PE classes after Hurricane Irma and organizing after-school activities. He previously assisted Adalio Araujo with PGIA PE classes in 2020 and 2021 and served as a movement teacher for Montessori during the winter and spring of 2021. Coach Arpasi is enthusiastic about contributing to a successful year both in the classroom and on the athletic arena.  David has been an integral part of the island community since 2017 where he assisted post-hurricane rebuilding efforts with South Jersey Adjustment Bureau and ProSolar.

Director of College Counseling and Advisory
jessicabyrd@vimsia.org

Jessica Byrd serves as VIMSIA’s Director of College Counseling and Advisory, supporting students as they explore their interests, plan for life beyond high school, and navigate the college application process. With a background in education and a passion for student development, Jessica works to make college planning an intentional, student-centered process.

In her role, she supports students in Grades 11 and 12 with college research, applications, financial aid, scholarships, and post-secondary planning, while also developing advisory programming for students in Grades 6–10. Her goal is to help students build the skills, confidence, and self-awareness they need to take ownership of their futures.

Montessori Music Teacher
jbyrd@vimsia.org

Ms. Byrd is excited to be returning for her 6th year at VIMSIA! Under Ms. Byrd's musical direction, students will have numerous performance opportunities including the Peace Day assembly, the Holiday Show, and the Montessori Musicale to name a few.

In addition to providing engaging music classes for our students in La Casa, Primary, and Elementary, Ms. Byrd will also be leveraging the skills acquired thus far during her educational leadership doctoral journey as VIMSIA's Administrative Liaison. Ms. Byrd looks forward to pairing the leadership and musical aspects of her background this year to support students and staff alike. 

School Nurse
scolarossi@vimsia.org

Sarah Colarossi received her BSN from Kent State University in Ohio. She came to the island in 2012 on her first travel nurse assignment and fell in love with the people and culture and has since called St.Thomas home.

Her 18 years of nursing experience include working as a RN in different roles including Medical/Surgical, Oncology, Pediatrics, Emergency Room, Special Services and Organ Transplant Coordinator, and Clinical Nurse Educator. She is excited to be at VIMSIA as children have always been her passion and to see her son Dario flourish at the school.

Spanish Teacher
mcruz@vimsia.org

Mrs. Mirian Cruz joined the VIMSIA team as Spanish Teacher. Mirian has 32 years of experience in the Department of Education of Puerto Rico, and six additional years in private school, the last two as a Spanish teacher at VIMSIA.

Mirian also has 12 years of experience as a Cooperating Teacher, mentoring and coaching Elementary School teacher candidates, and also working as a Coordinator and Teacher with Supplemental Educational Services Federal Program (SES).

Mirian loves arts and crafts and is also our sewing teacher in our afterschool program. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and is now living in St. Thomas with her husband Gilberto, who works with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas.

Montessori Learning Specialist
ceddy@vimsia.org

Ms. Eddy is a passionate educator with over 13 years of experience in the Special Education field. She has dedicated her career to providing meaningful experiences to students of all abilities. Chelsea was born and raised in Leesburg, Virginia.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with her BS in Human Development and earned her Master’s in Special Education from George Washington University. 

Her family has been living on St. Thomas since 2021 and has fallen in love with the culture and community here. Chelsea relocated with her husband, Mark, and two children who currently attend VIMSIA. Together they enjoy exploring, cooking, boating, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Emotional Support Counselor
skaffenbarger@vimsia.org

Samantha Kaffenbarger, fondly known as Ms. K, is originally from Minnesota, and moved to St Thomas in 2015. Ms. K received her BS in Child Psychology in 2011 from the University of Minnesota, then earned her Master's Degree in Social Work, graduating from the University of St Thomas in 2014.

Having a social work background provides Ms. K a unique opportunity to understand many  dynamics included in a student’s life, and she is passionate about making sure that every student feels they are in a welcoming and safe environment.

Ms. K assists students with social and emotional needs, as well as support within the classroom to help students strengthen their emotional and behavioral regulation. Ms. K strongly believes that the youth, especially in St Thomas, are remarkably resilient in adverse situations and strives to help assist students in our ever dynamic culture.

Returning to the VIMSIA community, Ms. K is energetic to engage in long lasting student relationships, while providing a voice to every student. Off campus, you will likely see Ms. K at a beach with a book in hand, or at any Kes or Patrice concert.

Learning & Student Support Coordinator
sotto@vimsia.org

Miss Otto holds a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Texas and an M.S. in Educational Studies from The Johns Hopkins University. She began teaching in Baltimore, Maryland after moving from her home state of Texas.

Since that time, her teaching career has spanned four continents. She has worked primarily as secondary English Literature teacher, but is additionally certified in English for Speakers of Other Languages and Special Education.

Her passions as a teacher include connecting with specialized populations of students within the school and helping students to deepen their understanding of themselves and their world!

Miss Otto also works as a volleyball coach. Outside of school, she enjoys reading on the beach, listening to Broadway soundtracks, and traveling!

Technology Coordinator tech@vimsia.org

Rob joined VIMSIA in the Spring of 2026 with an extensive background in IT, including careers as a Senior Systems Analyst for the City & County of Denver, as well as working in aircraft navigation technology with Jeppesen, a Boeing Company.

Rob and his wife moved to St. Thomas in 2021 and we were very happy to welcome him to our school. Rob has a unique passion for technology, problem solving and teamwork, making him an excellent addition to our team!

Librarian
kschlesinger@vimsia.org

Ms. Schlesinger has been a St. Thomas resident since 1981. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Princeton University and a Master's of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. Prior to joining our staff in 2010, she had over 20 years of management experience at a well-loved local bookstore. Ms. Schlesinger has two children who have graduated from the PGIA, and has been active in the VIMSIA community since her eldest child started in the Montessori program in 2002.

Learning & Student Support
wmoreno@vimsia.org

Wendy is excited to enter her third year on the Student Support Team at VIMSIA.  She moved with her husband Brandon and four children to St. Thomas in 2023. Two of her children attend VIMSIA, while the other two are college-age.

Wendy’s career in education began as a fourth-grade teacher in Cupertino, California, after earning her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Utah.  She ater discovered a passion for supporting students in a different way and earned a second degree in Communication Disorders and Deaf Education from Utah State University.  As a speech-language pathologist, she had the opportunity to work with students ages 3-21 in preschool, elementary, and high school settings.  

Wendy loves helping students recognize their strengths, build confidence, and become engaged and enthusiastic learners. She is especially passionate about creating positive learning experiences that help students develop a genuine love of learning.  

When she’s not at school, you'll most likely find Wendy traveling, enjoying time on the water, decorating cookies and cakes, or reading a good book.