Our Team
Joanne Gillespie – Middle School English Teacher – Grade 6 Homeroom Mentor
My name is Joanne (Jo) Gillespie. I have been teaching at St Thomas’s since 2012, and in that time, have worn many hats, from Grade 3 classroom teacher, through to Primary Coordinator. This year, I am the English teacher for middle school.
I am a New Zealander, and my first experience teaching English was as a 14 year old, helping foreign students settle into boarding school life and learn a new language. At 17, I went for a year abroad in Istanbul, Turkey. This was a life-changing year, and set my feet firmly on the career path of teaching.
At university, I studied Linguistics and Education, and then qualified as a teacher. After teaching for some time in New Zealand, I experimented with various careers (chef in an Indian and Indonesian restaurant, librarian in a Forensic library, advertising clerk for a local newspaper amongst others…) and finally decided to leave New Zealand as a roving English teacher.
I taught English in a small city in the Czech Republic – Mlada Boleslav, the home of Skoda Automobile. I saw in the new Millennium there, but had already met my future husband, so moved to Italy at the end of that academic year. I worked in the north of Italy as an English teacher for one year, and then made the final move to this area. I have a real interest in language assessment, the teaching of writing, and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). In fact, my final thesis for the Cambridge Delta was on CLIL in international schools, and I was also the head of an Erasmus + project at St Thomas’s which was about training teachers in CLIL methodology.
I live with my husband and children in a very small village, where we grow olives and all our vegetables, and keep chickens, too. My main interests, outside of teaching and learning, are sewing, reading, and discovering new podcasts to listen to while going on very long walks. I have two children who both attended St Thomas’s, but now go to high school in Viterbo. We have many outside cats, and have been considering getting a puppy for about 15 years now…Is this the year? Who knows?
Heather Viall – Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher
My name is Heather Viall and I am the Grade 5 class teacher as well as the math teacher in grades 1 and 2. I have been working at St.Thomas’s International School since its opening for the 2010-2011 school year. I have had the opportunity to teach many of the grade levels at the school from Prep to Grade 5 as well as working on math coordination. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and have been living and teaching in Italy since 2002. I began working in the American public school system, but moved to Italy shortly after. I have my degree from the University of Washington, as well as a Cambridge certification for ESL and a Cambridge TKT in CLIL certificate. I was a Cambridge Examiner for 8 years for A2-B2 levels. I was fortunate to have been the lead representative of our school for an Erasmus+ project “We Are a Sustainable Community” hosted by a school in Catalonia from 2016-2018, as well as participating in material creation for another Erasmus+ project that our school was involved in which focused on CLIL in 2018. I love teaching all subjects and I especially love teaching math and science. I enjoy teaching in a transdisciplinary way making connections across each subject. I believe in hands-on inquiry based learning which allows for multiple learning strategies giving students the opportunity to strengthen their abilities through multiple methods. I encourage students to look at the world from different points of view and to challenge their thinking to help them become more empathetic and understanding of others. I believe that through this our learning environment is most effective. I truly enjoy working with the students and my colleagues at St. Thomas’s International School because we all have different backgrounds and ideas to share and perspectives to learn from. In my spare time I enjoy spending time on our family farm riding horses and lending a hand to my husband. I also enjoy visiting my family in America and travelling during holidays as well as spending quality time with my husband, my daughter and our friends. I always enjoy a good puzzle or card game and good conversation.
Isaac Driver – Head Teacher
My name is Isaac Driver and I am the Head Teacher. I was born and grew up in London, England but both my parents are from the Republic of Ireland. I started my teaching career in state schools in London and then Manchester in England but I have been working in international schools since 2005. I have a degree in Business Studies, a PGCE in Primary Education and I am a trained workshop leader and school site visitor for the International Baccalaureate (IB). I have worked at three international schools in Italy; Marymount in Rome, International School of Siena and St. Thomas’s International School in Viterbo. I have also worked at the International School of Düsseldorf in Germany, Osaka International School in Japan and Canadian International School in Singapore. I am passionate about creating stimulating, engaging and relevant learning experiences for our students. I value all subjects including physical education, music, art and drama as they are critical to the development of skills across all aspects of life as well as for the social and emotional wellbeing of all children and adults. I believe that education should focus on skills for life long learning, as well as conceptual and creative thinking that is necessary in a complex and interconnected world full of information and opportunities. I wish that all students learn about their own culture but also understand and appreciate the perspectives of humans across the world. I love having friends from all over the world and I thoroughly enjoy working at St. Thomas’s International School because the teachers are passionate and talented, the students are friendly and enthusiastic and Viterbo is a fascinating city. In my spare time I love to walk in the hills and mountains and be in my garden with my olive trees and honey bees. Four years ago I planted a very small vineyard and I am learning how to make Montefalco Rosso wine. I have travelled to over 60 countries, across 5 continents, and embrace experiencing and understanding life on earth from all human perspectives. I love eating food from all around the world and playing or watching any sport. My wife, Megan, is American, and we live in the scenic countryside near the beautiful historic town of Amelia in Umbria. We have two wonderful and lively shepherd dogs called Bruno and Cookie who love to join us hiking.
Samantha Ackland – Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher
My name is Samantha Ackland and I have been working at St. Thomas’s for over 7 years. I grew up in London, part of a large family, very much immersed in a world of The Arts. My father was a Londoner and my mother from Scotland though she grew up in Central Africa. I studied at Exeter University where I got a BA in Art and Italian and continued at the Froebel College in Roehampton to obtain a PGCE in Primary Education. After working in the center of London I moved to Italy and spent a period in film production. However I was drawn back to working with children, following an intrinsic drive to connect and inspire young people to learn to learn, to follow their innate desire to discover in a way that learning is always a positive experience. There is nothing more grounding in this complicated changing world than working with innate curiosity and scaffolding natural learning blocks to encourage student agency and lifelong learners. Sensitive to children’s different needs I do my best to individualize each child’s learning path so learning is a natural stress-free experience. I follow a multi-sensory approach to learning and incorporate art, music and dance throughout the curriculum. Creativity and spontaneity are important facets in the primary classroom. I like to inspire children to express themselves without inhibitions, encouraging them to be confident about who they are and become well rounded human beings.
I have learned through my years of teaching that young children are predisposed to latch onto big ideas and hence provoke thinking on a deeper level discussing the philosophical concepts present in children’s literature. I reach learning objectives by eliciting inquiry and scaffolding stepping stones to discovery. I highly value home school relations and aim for inquiry to pass spontaneously from school to home where hopefully further discussion will bring feedback to the classroom motivating deeper discussion and extending and consolidating learning. My inherent approach as a teacher aligns perfectly with the PYP attitude. I am excited that St. Thomas’s is actively forward thinking and inspired by its vision and openness to contemporary thought and future challenges. It offers the teachers a pathway to professional development and provides the student with a healthy, forward thinking, global, learning environment. I am proud to be part of a dedicated team. Diversity and life experience are inevitably high up on my values list. In consequence I have a large family, a fact that urged me to move from Rome to the beautiful hills of Umbria where Nature dominates. Nature has been a touchstone in my personal life while bringing up children in this changing technological world. Exploring, appreciating and taking responsibility to safeguard the environment is an essential part of the curriculum and fundamental to the well being and mindfulness of the child. I am presently living in the heart of Umbria with five of my nine children, surrounded by olive trees, wine groves and woods. I have spent much of my spare time exploring the territory on horseback in Umbria as well as Tuscany.
Roberta Latilla – Spring/Nursery Class Italian Homeroom Teacher
My name is Roberta. I am the Nursery class teacher. I have been teaching for over twenty-five years, in primary, kindergarten and nursery schools. My teaching methodology is based on independence, autonomy and respect for the natural physical, psychological and social development of the child. I have been working at St. Thomas’s International School for four years. My colleagues have been very welcoming since the first day I’ve worked here and they’ve helped me gradually understand the school’s international-mindedness. I am at present completing a Masters in psychomotricity: development of the personality as a combination of the body, mind and emotions during the different stages of growth and life. I firmly believe that as a teacher you have to excite and be excited. The child is a hope and a promise for humanity. I live in a charming village in the outskirts of Viterbo, rich in woods, chestnut trees, history, culture and traditions. In my free time I like to be with my friends, read and take care of my four beloved cats.
Aurora Zocchi – Spring/Nursery Class English Homeroom Teacher
My name is Aurora I have been working for four years at St.Thomas ‘s International school. I’m a bilingual assistant with experience in the childhood sector for seven years. I was the owner and teacher of a learning center specializing in English for children. I have practiced teaching in preschools and nurseries with projects aimed at an early age where play becomes knowledge. I was born in Italy and I lived in Netherlands for ten years where I worked and studied English and Dutch. I love trekking and history of art.
Valentina Terribili – Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher and Parent Support Advisor
Hello! My name is Valentina V. Terribili and I teach Grade 4 and I am the Parent Support Advisor. I have been at St. Thomas’s since 2012 teaching Prep, Grade 4, and Middle School. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California although my father is Italian and my mother is Nicaraguan. Growing up in “Southern Cali” has been a privilege as my circle of friends and experiences have been with people of all different backgrounds and walks of life. I love enriching my knowledge on different cultures and customs. I have a Master’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture, a Post graduate degree in International Education and I am IB certified in Teaching and Learning. I have taught language and literature in university, in both the USA and Italy, High School (upper division level) and now I have spent the past years teaching different levels of Primary and Middle School. My free time is usually spent with family and friends. I love cooking traditional dishes, spending time in the garden, and learning new DIY activities with my children.
Annunziata Brachino – Grade 5 & Middle School Italian Teacher – Grade 8 Homeroom Mentor
My name is Nunziatina Brachino and I started teaching at St. Thomas’s five years ago, after teaching the lower and upper secondary school for many years. This work has always been my passion. In fact, I like to pass on the knowledge I have acquired, the discoveries I have made to others, so that they can enjoy it with equal satisfaction and enthusiasm. My main goal is therefore to make people love the subjects I teach and school in general; I set myself as a final goal that of bringing children closer to the various disciplines with the curiosity of discovery and with the satisfaction of success. School should be, in my opinion, not a heavy and nagging job, but something pleasant, which satisfies and makes you better day after day, a community in which teachers and students work and grow together in a friendly and highly stimulating atmosphere. I would also like that, precisely because I am working in an international school, all subjects have a role of equal importance, because, in my opinion, the individual is complete when he has basic knowledge in every area: the specialization will come later. I would still like the pupil, once he has become an adult, to remember with pleasure the school experience and the teachers they met, teachers who made them what they have become: a person satisfied because they are rich inside.
Adelaide Ranucci – Administrative Director and Deputy Head
My name is Adelaide Ranucci and I arrived at St. Thomas’s six years ago after earning my master’s degree in modern Italian philology. My hope was to work and understand all aspects of an international education programme. I was the Middle School Italian teacher before I moved into administration which has allowed me to greatly develop my knowledge and skills. I am now the administrative director, deputy head and Italian coordinator. My main goal is to make St. Thomas’s International School more and more functional so that pupils are able to have an open mind to every innovation, to every diversity, but at the same time acquire a preparation that allows them to face successfully any high school. I came to work at St. Thomas’s because I wanted to work in a different educational environment to that of Italian school. My experience is positive because I like the way in which the students make use of the knowledge they have learned, placing them in the reality of today’s life. I would like to see St. Thomas’s grow, and develop as a highly respected and well known international school . I would also like that the daily communication and collaboration that I have with our community of families will help this goal.
Saskia Menting – EC Atelierista and Primary/Middle School Visual Art Teacher
My name is Saskia Hélène Menting and at our school I teach visual arts and music in primary (Grade 1 and 2) and I am also the Atelierista and music-teacher for the early childhood classes. I have been working at St. Thomas’s International School since 2011 soon after the school was established. I appreciate the positive and open minded atmosphere at this school and the respectful and trusting relationship between teachers and parents. I was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Switzerland, where I went to school and finished my studies as a teacher. Having spent my childhood in two different nations, it was normal for me to be open to different cultures and different languages. I speak English, German, Dutch, French and Italian. After my degree I arrived in Italy where I studied fine arts and stage design at the Art Academy of Florence. This was the beginning of an interesting and wonderful period as a leader of art-workshops for children and adults in museums, public libraries and schools all over Italy. In 2000 I was asked by the District Hospital Belcolle in Viterbo, together with two other artists, to design and implement the interior of the pediatric department and to develop a daily ART therapy activity in collaboration with the head of pediatrics and the psychological service. Teaching is a passion for me and in my teaching approach, creativity is the key word that is fundamental in visual art and music. I differentiate between creative teaching (in the sense of creating innovative learning access and making learning as interesting and effective as possible) and teaching for creativity (focussing on the development of the students’ personal, creative potential, including promotion of divergent thinking). To put it in the words of Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Children approach: “When curiosity is aroused, the wonder of learning can take place and be expressed in the hundred languages of a child”. I live with my family next to the wonderful lake of Bolsena and I love the beauty of the nature around me. I recognise its vulnerability and I am convinced that we must take care of its condition and salvation. I am fascinated by the Etruscan culture and on the external wall of our house I painted a copy of a fresco from the necropolis of Tarquinia.
Nick Wilson – School Handyman
My name is Nick Wilson and used to teach in the Early Childhood but now, having stepped back from teaching, I am the school handyman who fixes everything. I have been at St Thomas’s since 2014. I am Scottish and I have lived in London, Amsterdam, Rome and now Viterbo. I speak English and Italian. I have been teaching since 1995 but started working with children on a voluntary basis when I was in London. I believe that teaching should be a “hands on” experience for the children and follow the children’s needs and passions as opposed to that of the teacher. I enjoy working at St. Thomas’s because I believe that their curriculum is excellent and suits the way that I taught. After living in much larger cities, I like Viterbo because it is smaller and meets my way of living “in a community”. During my free time, I enjoy helping my friends in the countryside and cycling.
Sophia Di Lonardo – English Additional Language Teacher
My name is Sophia Di Lonardo and I am the EAL teacher for grades 1 – 3. I am Italian/American and am bilingual. I was born in Thailand and my family’s passion is travelling; we have lived in Indonesia, Thailand, Italy, India, The Philippines and Sudtirol. During our travels; I was homeschooled, I went to public schools, and boarding schools but mainly I attended International Schools. I completed the International Baccalaureate Certificate Programme at Brent International School Manila and subsequently spent a year travelling. I feel extremely lucky to have had an International upbringing, but Italy for me was always my main base in the world. After my gap year, I moved here and decided to take a course at the culinary academy for Pastry. I have a two and a half year old son, named Zeno Michael and we live together in our family-owned-home in northern Tuscia. I enjoy practicing yoga, meditation and cooking!
Lisa Shuttleworth – Prep Homeroom Teacher
My name is Lisa Shuttleworth and I am the new Prep homeroom teacher. I am from England but also studied, worked and lived in Canada, Germany, the Philippines and Portugal. I studied criminology, anthropology and international development. I qualified as a teacher through the Graduate Teacher Programme in Middlesex University in England and additionally I completed a TEFL certificate. I am a yoga teacher and in my spare time I enjoy reading, learning languages, walking with my Beagle dog called ‘Bella’ and spending quality time with friends and family.
Jessica Saporito – Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher
My name is Jessica Saporito and I am the Grade 2 homeroom teacher. I am American with Italian heritage. I majored in Journalism and Professional Writing at the college of New Jersey, USA, and accomplished TEFL certification from Rutgers University. I have worked as a teacher, private tutor, curriculum coordinator and Head Teacher at schools in Italy, Turkey, Poland and Australia. In my spare time I enjoy yoga, cycling, reading, creative writing and artistry, murals and crafts.
Amalia Salampasi – Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher
My name is Amalia Salampasi and I have been working as a PYP homeroom teacher since 2014. I grew up in Athens, Greece within a multilingual and culturally diverse environment that included lots of different languages, customs, and traditions. I attended a British school as a child but since a very young age I developed an interest in ancient Greek and I was fascinated by my grandmother’s Italian heritage. I studied Classics and Archaeology at the University of Athens and in 2011 I moved to Rome for a master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology.
After completing my studies, I have lived and worked as an educator in many different countries including Italy, Finland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. I hold a Qualified Teacher Status from the department of Education in England and since 2020 I have been involved in school leadership and curriculum planning working both as a PYP coordinator and Head of Primary.
At the moment I am following a five-year Psychotherapy Training within the Philadelphia Association in London and I live between Italy and the southeast of England. In my free time I like to volunteer, helping people in distress and taking care of stray cats. I enjoy cooking, long walks, spending time with animals, art galleries, yoga, tea, vintage dresses, and chocolate biscuits.
Delia Bassi – Middle School Technology Teacher
My name is Delia Bassi and I am the Middle School Technology teacher. I am from Viterbo province and I have taught in the Italian public school system at Institutito comprensivo Anna Molinaro di Montefiascone. I was also the Deputy Head at Grotte di Castro and Fiduciaria Istituto Comprensivo. In her spare time I like to sew, read and I enjoy looking after my Honey Bees from which I gather honey.
Olga Ruiz Lobo – Middle School Spanish Teacher
My name is Olga Ruiz Lobo and I am the Spanish teacher in middle school. I arrived in Viterbo 27 years ago from Spain with Erasmus and in the end, I stayed here! I initially dedicated myself to raising my triplets and slowly, as they grew up, I started teaching my language. I have twenty years of experience in this field. I really enjoy teaching kids and I always try to do it so they have fun. I enjoy reading, cooking and traveling with my children.
Laura Bellavia – Primary and Middle School Music Teacher
My name is Laura Bellavia and I am the music teacher in the Primary and Middle School. I come from Viterbo, where, after a classical studies, I attended the “Università degli Studi della Tuscia” while also working as tutor. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and Cultures and a master’s degree in Languages for International Communication. Music has always been a huge part of my life. Coming from a family of musicians, I was exposed to, introduced to and learned about music from a very early age, first playing the piano and then the violin, which I have been studying for more than 12 years. Occasionally, I still perform in concerts with professional orchestras as well as chamber music groups in the local areas. Music is a wonderful way to express ourselves and I hope to be able to convey the passion for this art to my students. In addition to music, my other greatest passions are photography, excursions in nature and Artù, my awesome maremma sheepdog!
Roksana Yordanova – Early Childhood, Primary and Middle School Physical Education Teacher
My name is Roksana Yordanova, I am from Bulgaria and I am the physical education teacher in primary and middle school. I was a professional basketball player. I played in Israel and Ukraine and then I came to Italy (13 years ago). In Italy I played A2 in Alghero, Orvieto (2 years), Selargius (2 years) and Viterbo (4 years). In my last season as a player, with the Ants Viterbo team we were promoted to A2. I was also captain of the Bulgarian senior national team, where I played more than 50 games. I have a degree in “Basketball Coach” and specialization in “Physical Education Teacher”. For several years I have been teaching physical education in elementary and middle schools and I hold mini-basketball courses.
Raman Ganesh – Middle School Science Teacher
My name is Raman Ganesh and I am the Science and Technology teacher in Middle School. I have a background in Electronics, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering and Design. I have Cambridge teaching qualifications across Primary, Middle and High school and I have been teaching mathematics, physics and Infographics in Montefiascone, Orte and Ronciglione respectively. I was an Assistant departmental Professor of Mechanical Engineering at SRM University in India and then I became the International Relations Officer collaborating with students and universities all across the world. I believe that to become a
scientist, and learn science and mathematical skills, students need to be exposed and guided through a lot of practical experiments and applications. I enjoy working with the students, teachers and parents at St. Thomas’s International School.
Clare Fog – Drama Teacher
My name is Clare Fog and I am the drama teacher. I am originally from the United States and I have taught in Pennsylvania, California, Japan, and Italy. I have also been lucky to study in Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, and Estonia. I specialise in improv and creative movement but I am also certified in yoga and dance, and I have a passion for woodcarving marionettes and sculpting stop-motion puppets. I am a published author, screenwriter, and storytelling performer with my own original characters “The Flying Fabler” and “Netta the Gnome”.
Renata Summo-O’Connell – Middle School Social Studies Teacher and Grade 8 Homeroom Teacher
Hello, my name is Renata Summo-O’Connell. I was born in Italy but left Italy after a degree in History and Philosophy to continue my studies abroad, first in Switzerland, and then later in Australia where I studied and worked in schools and universities for 20 years. I worked mainly in the fields of Sociolinguistics and Gender Studies (I have an M.A. in Linguistics).
Now in Europe for an indefinite period, I teach English as an Additional Language (EAL), work as a translator, and since 2010 I have worked as an independent contemporary art curator. I am currently Curator in Residence at the MAD Murate Art District in Florence. However, my greatest passion is teaching, which I consider the most fascinating and challenging project of all! I have two children in their twenties and a little grandchild that I am crazy about. I love visual art and architecture, reading, swimming and travel.
Eleonora Gernuzi – School Secretary
My name is Eleonora, and I have been working in this beautiful school for three years. I’m Italian, I have a diploma in Accounting. I had various work experiences before landing at St. Thomas, where I am the main secretary. I really like this job which is always different and very stimulating. It gives me the opportunity to get to know many different realities and people from all over the world. It’s also nice to see the kids learn and grow from all points of view. I live with my daughter in Vitorchiano, a very nice village near Viterbo. In my free time I take care of my two horses, 4 dogs, cats and chickens. I also like going on walks to discover ancient sites rich in history, doing outdoor activities, such as skiing and mountain biking, cooking and travelling.