Meet the Founder
Angie Marino—Teacher and Founder of Writing Wonders——Available year round: W-11am-1pm, 3:45-5:45pm, TH-9am and 1:30pm (Eastern)
Angie received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish from DePaul University in Chicago in 2000 and has been observing young writers and language learners ever since. As a result, she has been able to clarify common confusions, patterns of error, and the frustrations that children have when trying to write.
Since starting Writing Wonders in 2013, she has learned how to make writing fun for students and set them on a path to confident writing! Under her instruction, students feel motivated, supported, and proud of their work. She would be delighted to work with your child!
When Angie’s not teaching writing, she’s gardening with her four children, cooking with her husband, catching up with friends, or running with her new dog, Nash. Angie is available year round. Click below to schedule a class!
Meet the Teachers
Meet Kaye, a dedicated educator based in Austin, Texas, with a decade of experience in the field of education. Kaye has worn various hats during this journey, including 7 years as a homeschool teacher, 3 years as a classical tutor, and 2 years teaching at a classical charter school. She is specifically trained in the Institute of Excellence in Writing, Spalding Method, and Writing with Ease. She teaches children grammar, poetry, creative writing, and expository writing. She also has extensive experience working with students with special needs such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD.
Outside the world of education, Kaye enjoys staying active with regular exercise sessions alongside her husband. They are also board game enthusiasts and cherish competitive, lively game nights with their three sons. Kaye is passionate about making learning fun and personalized for every student. She is available September-May, T-TH, from 9am-3pm EST and would love to work with your child!
Kaye Herbert—Basics and Regular Writing Teacher
Braden Studhalter—Teacher of Regular, Advanced Writing Classes, and Writer’s Workshops
Braden has been teaching English language, literature, and writing for 18 years. He lived in China for 5 years and in Costa Rica for one year. He also spent 6 months in Russia completing volunteer work. His wife is Chinese, and together they have 3 beautiful children who speak Mandarin and English. Braden is continually learning Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Russian, and Italian. He can also read ancient Greek and Latin. Additionally, Braden loves to write poetry, short stories, articles, and songs. When he’s not writing or teaching, he enjoys creating music, riding his mountain bike, working with animals (especially horses), and growing vegetables.
Braden specializes in our advanced writing classes and our writer’s workshops. The writer’s workshops are for young authors aspiring to write novels and narratives. It is his joy to help young people express their ideas in writing, and he would find it an honor to write with your child! Braden is available year round on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 5:00-9:00pm (Eastern).
Nancy has been working with students for over 30 years and currently teaches Spanish immersion language arts, math, science, geography, history, and social studies to grades 1-3 at an international Montessori school. There she fosters curious and confident students who embrace diversity and have a positive impact in the world. She wants to continue supporting young learners in writing and multilingualism to deeply enrich their lives.
She is Colombian and Puerto Rican and grew up in New Jersey. She has three beautiful adult children and two curious kitties. Working with children brings her great joy as does gardening, reading, and dancing in her spare time. She’s available to teach September-May on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 5-8pm.
Writing Wonders is thrilled to have Alexandra join our team! She teaches the regular writing classes (ages 7 and up) in SPANISH. Alexandra is originally from Medellin, Colombia. She moved to the United States to attend graduate school and study environmental sciences and engineering. She worked in environmental consulting for over 12 years before pursuing a career in Montessori education.
Alexandra is starting her 6th year as a Spanish specialist at the elementary level and was an elementary lead teacher at a Spanish Immersion program for three years. Teaching has been present all throughout her life, starting with her high school track diploma in teaching, two years of teaching assistantship while in graduate school, and close to a year of Spanish teaching at the undergraduate level. When she is not teaching Alexandra loves to spend time with her two kids, Latin dancing, doing yoga, and brainstorming ways to become zero waste.
Alexandra is available year round on Wednesday afternoons, Friday mornings, and weekends (upon request). Click below to schedule a class!
Alexandra Zapata—Spanish Teacher—Available September-May on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons (Eastern)
Yolanda Barham - Elementary Writing Teacher—Available year round: Sat/Sun 7am-12pm (Eastern)
Yolanda has been teaching for 24 years and is currently a full time kindergarten teacher in North Carolina. She is also a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, UNC Chapel Hill Borchardt Award recipient, and a Fulbright-Hays ambassador who has represented teachers from the US. Yolanda earned her Bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Southern Indiana with a focus on early childhood literacy. When she is away from her students, she enjoys traveling, time with friends, and attending cultural events. Yolanda is available to teach on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
