Randolph English Learning Team

Sherri Sewall, 4th Grade EL
Email: sherri.sewall@apsva.us

Sherri Sewall is an English Language Specialist who holds a master’s degree in Reading (Mercer University). Before becoming a teacher in public schools, she trained Customer Service Representatives at Blue Cross Blue Shield of the National Capital Area where she assisted in writing the training curriculum. She has taught in Washington, DC, Roanoke, Virginia, and Stone Mountain, Georgia where was voted Teacher of the Year at her school. She was born in Washington, DC. She enjoys spending time with her sons, reading, walking the Wilson Bridge, dancing and genealogical research.

Dr. Terry Kita, 5th Grade EL
Email: terry.kita@apsva.us

Terry Kita holds a Ph.D. in Anthroplogy (University of Pittsburgh), an M.A. in History (University of Illinois/Urbana), and an Honors B.Phil. in Japanese Language and Literature (University of Pittsburgh). Before becoming a teacher, she worked in museums including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh), the Tokugawa Art Museum (Japan), and currently consults for the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University in Indiana. Dr. Kita completed her teaching courses at the University of Virginia and the Montgomery Montessori Institute.  Dr. Kita is certified as an Elementary (Pre-K-6th grade), ESOL, and Montessori teacher. She has also written several books and articles, the most recent of which is “Unintentional Cooperation: The Friendship Doll Mission and the Inescapable American Image of the Kimono-clad Little Japanese Girl” for Brill/Leiden and The Sun Shines for Us All:  The Friendship Dolls from Japan (Brauer Museum of Art/Valparaiso University). She lives in Falls Church with her art historian husband, Sandy Kita. Her hobbies include knitting, drawing, and doll collecting.

Karina Fasullo, 3rd Grade EL
Email: karina.fasullo@apsva.us

Karina Fasullo is a Third Grade ESOL teacher at Randolph. Before Randolph she taught  first grade teacher for seven years at ATES in Annandale, Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree from Fordham University  in New York City  and her Master’s in Education from the University of Virginia. In her free time she enjoys long runs on the W&OD trail, nature hikes with friends, and spending time with her nephew and nieces. Additionally, she spends her summers backpacking internationally, as she has a great zest for learning about different cultures and traditions.

Mercedes Oetgen, 1st Grade EL

Email: mercedes.oetgen@apsva.us

Mercedes Oetgen is a First Grade EL teacher at Randolph Elementary School. She received her undergraduate degree from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain and her M.Ed in ESL Education from Marymount University. Mercedes is bilingual in English and Spanish and also speaks French and Italian. In her free time she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.

Rachel Gunawardena, 2nd Grade EL

Email: rachel.gunawardena@apsva.us

Rae Gunawardena is teaching English Language Learners for the second grade students at Randolph. Rae has a B.A. in Spanish from Carthage College in Wisconsin and an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She has previously taught English in China and in Ecuador to various ages. In her spare time, Rae runs marathons and enjoys baking desserts.

Lupita Rodriguez-Lopez, Kindergarten EL Teacher

Email: lupita.rodriguezlopez@apsva.us

Greetings! This is my fourth school year at Randolph Elementary! I have served as a third grade classroom teacher, a Kindergarten special education teacher, and a Kindergarten English language learner teacher. It is my second year as an English language learner teacher. I enjoy spending my free time with my family and my dog Coco. A fun fact about me is that when I was 9 years old I was stranded in a tropical rainforest with my family!

Margie Graham, Upper Elementary EL Assistant

Email: margie.graham@apsva.us

The Randolph ESOL team provides services for all students who need language-related support.  This includes newcomers who need basic conversational English, students who have been in the U.S. for more than a year and need to strengthen reading comprehension and writing skills, and any student who needs differentiated instruction to help master academic content.  The ESOL team includes several members with advanced degrees and several bilingual speakers.  We also provide before and after school English language and test-prep clubs throughout the year.

Karen Novello, Lower Elementary EL Assistant

Email: Karen.novello@apsva.us

Elizabeth Varela, EL Teacher

Email: elizabeth.varela@apsva.us