Pour chaque niveau, deux classes d'anglais (homerooms) sont divisées en trois classes pour l'enseignement du français. Chaque professeur a la responsabilité d'un, deux ou parfois parfois même trois niveaux pour l'enseignement de la langue française (1h20 par jour) et des matières d'ordre disciplinaire (4 h par semaine en maths, sciences, histoire et géographie).

At each grade level, two homerooms are divided into three groups for French instruction. French teachers may be assigned to teach one, two or sometimes three different grades for French language classes (1:20 per day) and for Content classes (4 hours per week). 

Lead Teacher:      Tere Parr
First Grade:           Jeanette Acevedo and Cora Nusbaum
Second Grade:     Ilene Hamilton and Esther Viteri
Third Grade:          Patricia Garffer and Faith Hutin  
Fourth Grade:       Connie Massey-Winds and Rebecca Cherlo
Fifth Grade:           Mari Pujol and Suzy Capote

I am a native Miamian and have been a teacher for 12 years. I began my career teaching kindergarten at Crestview Elementary School. For four years, I enjoyed teaching young children how to read and write and was part of the recruitment team established for creating that school into a writing magnet school. In 1990, I came to Sunset Elementary and taught 3rd grade in the Spanish International Program for four years. In 1994, I assumed the position of Lead Teacher of the International Studies Magnet Program. I have a Master's degree in Elementary Education and am certified in Early Childhood and English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL). My responsibilities include being a liaison between teachers, parents, administration, the community, and the governments of France, Germany and Spain, assisting teachers with curriculum planning, presenting demonstration lessons in the classrooms, assisting students and parents with transportation, recruiting students from the targeted population needed to improve the racial balance in the school, and many other duties. I have had the opportunity to travel abroad to Spain with the 5th graders and see how well our students are performing compared to their counterparts. I enjoy my job and look forward to coming to work everyday. There is such a variety of cultures and different children and people from around the world at this school. The International Studies Magnet Program provides students with opportunities to become bilingual, bi-literate and bicultural. I am proud to be part of an institution that prepares children to have the ability to live more effectively in the future world, a world that will be increasingly interdependent.

Jeanette Acevedo
First Grade Teacher

I teach first grade in the French International Program. I began teaching at Sunset Elementary in April 1994 as a gifted teacher. Shortly thereafter, I began teaching Spanish in the International Program and then the following year, I began teaching first grade which I love. It is a critical year for all children because it is where they receive the foundation and backbone needed to be successful both academically and socially. I am very happy to be at such a great school as Sunset Elementary proves to be.

Cora Nusbaum
First Grade Teacher

I was born in Cuba and moved to the United States when I was nine years old. Miami has been my home most of my life. I graduated from the University of Miami and have been working with children in one capacity or another since graduating from High School. In the past I have taught at Henry M. Flagler and Bel Aire Elementary. Teaching reading to my first graders at Sunset Elementary is my favorite subject to teach.

Ilene Hamilton
Second Grade Teacher

Esther Viteri
Second Grade Teacher

This is my seventh year at Sunset Elementary. The first five years were as a parent, and these past two years it is both as a parent and teacher. I feel very blessed to work at Sunset with such wonderful students, parents and staff. In1983 I graduated from Florida International University with a degree in Business Administration - Accounting. I worked many years in this field and found it very challenging and interesting. Ultimately though I decided that I wanted to work with children. I find my new career as a teacher very rewarding and enjoyable and I am very proud to be able to contribute to to the academic success of the children at Sunset

Pat Garffer
Third Grade Teacher

Faith Hutin
Third Grade Teacher

Canadian-born and raised until age ten, having lived abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland for a year at age eleven, then attending secondary school in Minnesota, graduating from High School in Claremont, California, and finally graduating from college from the University of Minnesota (with a B.A. in Art History, and a B.S. in Elementary Education), I adapted early to different cultures, languages and geographies. While studying in the South of France at the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, I met my future husband, a Frenchman, and we were married two years later. I taught English at the Berlitz School in Paris for five years and then, upon returning to the U.S. taught E.S.O.L. to Vietnamese refugees in the Minnesota Public schools for five years. We initially settled in Miami, Florida, have lived here twenty years, and have brought up two French-speaking bilingual daughters who both completed the French International Studies Program at Sunset Elementary. This is my ninth year of teaching in the Dade County Public schools and my sixth year at Sunset, teaching fourth- grade in the French International Studies Program. As a result of my early travels and "globe-trotting", I have developed an enthusiasm and passion for geography. I have been trained as a teacher consultant by the National Geographic Society at its summer Urban Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., and last summer in Hawai'i as a Jason Project teacher consultant. At Sunset Elementary I have been chairperson for the annual National Geographic Society's National Geography Bee for five years, and coached Sunset's Geography Bee team, who achieved lst and 2nd place county-wide at the Miami-Dade County Geography Bee. Most recently I started Sunset's extra-curricular "Geography Club" for 3rd to 5th graders, which meets weekly, and offered to Sunset parents and students the "Family Geography Challenge" where families commit themselves to watching or reading current events, and discussing and locating events on a world map weekly for five weeks. It was a great success and will be offered again this year at Sunset.

Ms. Massey-Winds
Fourth  Grade Teacher

Ms. Massey-Winds website

Rebeca Cherlo
Fourth Grade Teacher    

This is my first year at Sunset. I am proud to be working at such a fantastic school where students and teachers are able to learn in an international setting. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida and after four years of college at Florida State University it is nice to be back home.
 I received my Early Childhood Education degree, along with the Esol Endorsement at FSU and am certified to teach K-6. In the fourth grade the focus for students is on all subjects, specifically to become great writers, learn about our state of Florida and gain a lifelong interest in learning.  

Mari Pujol
Fifth Grade Teacher

Susy Capote
Fifth Grade Teacher

I graduated from the University of Florida in 1991 and received a Master's in Education degree in the following year. I have been teaching at Sunset since February 1993. I taught 4th grade in the School of Choice for one year and then 5th grade in the School of Choice for five years. This year is my third year in the International Studies Program. I chair the Talent Show and the Spelling Bee every year. This year I am serving as fifth grade level chairperson.

Ms. Rey's Class

Hello! My name is Nieves Rey. I am a fourth grade teacher in the French International Program. This is my first year at Sunset Elementary, however it is my fourth year teaching. I previously worked at Lake Stevens Middle, where I taught six and eighth grade Reading and Language Arts. 
In 1991 I graduated from South Miami Sr. High, attended Miami Dade Community College and Florida International University, where I got my Bachelors in Elementary Ed. and my Masters in Special Ed. I am currently working on beginning my Doctorate studies in Reading Ed.  

I am truly enjoying my first year at Sunset. I love all the students, staff and parents that I have met so far. I am looking forward to a long career here! I am also happy to be a part of the Sunset Reading Club, which was started this year. 
Personally, I have no children of my own as of yet, but do have a nine year old Labrador Retriever mix named Mama and a two year old sugar glider named Precious. I have lived in Miami for 22 years and am a native of Cuba. I enjoy roller-blading, dancing, reading, and spending time with my friends, family, and students.