DISCOVERY LANGUAGE ACADEMY
Official Professional Faculty & Academic Support Roster • 18 Distinguished Members • 2026
ACADEMY ADMINISTRATION & CLINICAL SUPPORT
Dr. Leslie Ribeiro Vicente
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Expertise: Ph.D. & MA in Teaching (4.0 GPA). 15+ years of leadership in educational policy, Academy growth, and strategic institutional development.
Dr. Shantel da Silva
ESL DIRECTOR
Expertise: Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. Specialist in accreditation, grant writing, and English Language Development (ELD) curriculum strategy.
Dr. Vanussa Lima
ACADEMIC COORDINATOR
Expertise: Ph.D. Luso-Afro-Brazilian Studies. MA Applied Linguistics. Expert in instructional coaching and culturally responsive pedagogy.
Alexandra Mano, MA
DLA SOCIAL WORKER
Expertise: MA Rehab Counseling (UMass). 20+ years clinical counseling. Facilitates student well-being and community integration.
PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE FACULTY
Ana Almeida
PORTUGUESE FACULTY & CULTURAL COMMUNICATOR
Profile: Writer, radio host, and cultural communicator. Specialist in Luso-media, storytelling, and connecting the diaspora through public dialogue.
Sandra Cunha, MA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Expertise: MA Applied Linguistics (4.0). Licensed School Principal. 20+ yrs expertise in bilingual instruction and literature.
Sílvia Belo Oliveira, MA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY & PEDAGOGICAL CONSULTANT
Expertise: MA Modern Languages (Coimbra). Licensed MA Educator. Specialist in teacher training and curriculum alignment.
Phebe Maria Ditata, BA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Profile: Licensed MA Portuguese Educator (Grades 5-12). 40+ years experience. Specialist in bilingual instruction and outreach.
Carla A. Rocha-Gil, BA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Profile: 25+ years international business experience. Native speaker. Specialist in L2 acquisition and Escola Virtual digital pedagogy.
Rosa Almeida, BA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Expertise: BA in Spanish & TESOL Certified. 20+ years instruction. Trilingual specialist (PT, ES, Creole) supporting diverse student populations.
Fernando da Silva, BA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Profile: 16 years instruction in PT/ESL. Medical and Technical legal terminology specialist. Expert in technical translation.
Lucília R. Gomes De Freitas, BA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Profile: 22 years service (CV Ministry of Ed). Specialized in Elementary Education and Artistic Pedagogical methodologies.
Neusa Pires Monteiro, BA
PORTUGUESE FACULTY
Profile: PK-7 Instructional specialist. Multilingual proficiency (PT, Creole, EN, ES). Focused on foundational development.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) FACULTY
Melissa Marie Branco, M.Ed.
ESL TEACHER
Expertise: Master of Education. MTEL Certified in English/ESL. 20+ years experience in multilingual instruction. Native PT/EN fluency.
Sara Pacheco, M.Ed.
ESL TEACHER
Expertise: M.Ed. in English Literacy. Specialized in advanced, literacy-based English Language Development (ELD) and multicultural pedagogy.
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM
Carla Gui
CLASSROOM AIDE
Expertise: Trilingual specialist. Former Special Needs Child Assistant (Portugal). Expert in storytelling & adaptive arts. Candidate for Interpreter & Nurse Assistant degrees.
Paula Peres, BA/BS
CLASSROOM AIDE
Academic: BA in Portuguese & BS in Accounting. Trilingual support. Specialized in administrative coordination and academic tracking.
Claudia S. Arsenio
ESL AIDE
Profile: Pursuing BA degree. Former Lead Flight Attendant. Specialist in cross-cultural communication and student engagement. Native PT/EN fluency.