New Teachers 2024 – 2025
Lia Barnes, a native of the U.S. state of Florida, holds degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies and Elementary Education with Reading and ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) Endorsements, both from the University of Central Florida. She began her teaching career working with primary school students and later moved to middle school education. There she taught ESOL Language Arts, Intensive Reading, and United States History. Lia is excited to share her love of reading, writing, and social studies with students at CIPLC while building vibrant classroom communities and helping students achieve their personal best. Outside of the classroom, you can find Lia biking, hiking, or in the water. An avid traveler, she hopes to explore the beautiful country of Venezuela and discover all it has to offer.
Email: lia.barnes@ciplc.org
Mr. John is very excited about joining the CIPLC community as Grade 5 teacher and is looking forward to meeting his new students and parents, and living in Venezuela. Mr. John has three grown children; Sean, Jody and Jack. He is originally from the UK and has taught and worked in the USA, Canada, UK, China, Indonesia, Russia, Myanmar, Kazakhstan and Singapore. Travel has always been an interest and has included trips to South America visiting: Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru. He is an experienced elementary and middle school teacher who firmly believes that teaching is one of the most important jobs a person can do. Mr. John encourages high levels of student participation and agency in his classes, and he understands that students who look forward to attending school, who smile and laugh a lot, and who are active in their learning, will learn best. He is passionate about being outdoors and active. He enjoys all water sports and cycling, badminton, football, pickle ball and tennis. You may see him playing and watching local football in the Lecheria-Barcelona area. He is an avid reader and loves motorcycles, movies, pizza, landscapes, spicy food, dogs, ice cream, Led Zeppelin, and Leo Messi.
Email: john.campbell@ciplc.org
Jennie Thompson, an American educator, brings over two decades of teaching experience to CIPLC in South America. With a Bachelor’s in English from Villanova University and a Master’s in Education of Reading from West Chester University, she’s taught students from Kindergarten to 8th grade and served in various roles, including as a reading specialist and coach. Having taught in Asia for nine years, Jennie is eager to share her passion for literacy and global perspectives with her 3rd grade students. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys design, art, photography, and travel, especially to destinations with beach and ocean vibes. Excited for her new adventure, Jennie looks forward to embracing the rich culture of Venezuela and sharing her experiences with loved ones worldwide.
Email: jennie.thompson@ciplc.org
Terry and Wendell Thomas are excited about returning to CIPLC after 14 years away. The couple taught overseas for many years; besides 5 years in Venezuela, they have worked at international schools in Qatar, Belgium, and Colombia, and both completed their student teaching in Seoul, Korea. For the past 10 years, they have been living in Salt Lake City, Utah where Wendell has been the Director of Teaching and Learning at Rowland Hall, a preK-12 independent school. In his previous role as a teacher, Wendell taught a broad range of secondary sciences, including three different Advanced Placement courses (biology, chemistry, and environmental science). He has also been a science department chair, homeroom coordinator, and a grade-level and Upper School team leader. Wendell earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Texas A&M University, a M.S. in Physiology from Colorado State University, and a M.S. in Educational Administration from Purdue University.
Terry always knew she wanted to teach internationally, following the path her parents set for her as expats in Saudi Arabia. Terry (along with Wendell) launched into the international teaching scene as a high school English teacher on the island of Guam. During her first stint at CIPLC, she started as the middle school English teacher and eventually moved into a full-time library position while earning her masters in library science from the University of North Texas. She has her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from Colorado State University and, although ten years in Utah is the longest that she’s lived anywhere stateside, she still calls Colorado “home.” She can’t wait to see how CIPLC has changed and how it has stayed the same.
Both Terry and Wendell love to hike, explore new cities, snorkel, scuba dive, attend concerts, and spend time with their four adult children– all of whom are proud Geckos who wore the red, white and blue shirts but never made it to “brown” during their time in Venezuela.
Email: wendell.thomas@ciplc.org, terry.thomas@ciplc.org
Employment Opportunities
If you would like to work in an excellent school with wonderful colleagues and students being supported by engaged parents, contact the Superintendent at superintendent@ciplc.org
(We only hire certified teachers with at least five years of experience.)