Abigail is a passionate educator and a lifelong learner. She began teaching in her hometown in Virginia when she was 22, shortly after completing an undergraduate degree in elementary education and theatre. After six years of teaching pre-k and kindergarten in Virginia public schools, Abigail made the move to a private school in Guatemala City. She quickly fell in love with the country, especially Lake Atitlan. She also has a certificate in gifted and talented instruction. One of her greatest joys is teaching young learners through play. When she is not teaching she is knitting sweaters, baking vegan desserts, and walking her dog Lucy. Abigail joined the team in 2023 and she and Lucy are very excited to call Panajachel their home.

Rachael is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She has a Masters degree in Elementary Education and is certified in teaching English as a Second Language. She spent last year teaching Kindergarten in Taiwan. She also has experience teaching English to Spanish speakers. Beyond the classroom, Rachael loves traveling, going on adventures, scuba diving, reading, and doing art. When she was younger, she traveled to Guatemala and is now very excited to live here and to immerse herself in the vibrant culture. She is thrilled to be a part of Life school!

Erin O’Flaherty is from Minnesota, USA. She has been teaching for over ten years and joined LIFE School in 2024. She holds a degree in Elementary Education. Erin has taught and lived in La Rioja, Spain and Queretaro, Mexico. She has taught 1st through 4th grade. Erin is passionate about helping students develop into world citizens. She enjoys playing sports, reading, dancing and traveling.

Originally from California, Erik is thrilled to embark on a new chapter as a teacher at LIFE School. He has most recently served as a 4th-grade educator in a public school in California, and he is eager to continue nurturing young minds in an international setting. Erik holds a Master’s degree in Teaching from the University of Southern California. He is passionate about teaching, project-based learning, and seeing the growth and development of his students. Erik’s family and ancestry also hail from Guatemala. He is looking forward to immersing himself in the rich, vibrant culture of Panajachel and learning from his students. Beyond the classroom, Erik finds joy in reading, origami, sightseeing, and experimenting with food. He is looking forward to being a part of the community in Panajachel.

Rachel Weight is originally from California, where she double-majored in SocioEconomics and Politics of Latin American and Spanish at UC Santa Barbara. She started her teaching career at a classical academy, where she taught middle school Latin, Spanish, and Drama. Rachel has also taught English in Brazil and most recently first and fourth grade in Hong Kong. In her fourteen years of teaching she has developed a passion for making grammar fun, project-based inquiry learning, and using digital tools and games to enhance learning. Outside of school, Rachel's favorite things are meeting new people, baking treats, reading, playing guitar, hiking, and traveling. Rachel is incredibly excited to return to Guatemala - a country where she spent time backpacking in 2008 - and getting to know the community of LIFE school. 

Michael is originally from Belfast, Ireland. His first degree was in French and Spanish before he decided to move into education. He has been recently working with children with Special Educational Needs and has found it really inspiring. He loves teaching as it is never boring, and each day is different. He really enjoys seeing the growth in his pupils as learners and as human beings. Outside of work, he loves cooking and eating new foods, learning new languages, reading and all kinds of sports (particularly basketball). He joined life school in 2023 and loves being a part of the team at LIFE School and the wider community in Panajachel.