Andrea Ricaurte
About Me
Introduction:
I began my career as a teacher in 2008, teaching for three years at the high school and middle school level in New York City. This experience was part of the rigorous Teach for America program, which trains qualified graduates from top universities to become teachers in some of America's most under-served school districts. I taught in New York City, first teaching high school Earth Science in the Bronx, and then middle school general science, health, and reading in Brooklyn.
Since then I have gone on to lead an exciting career that has spanned everything from technical sales for an artificial intelligence startup, to launching my own clothing line as an entrepreneur and fashion designer. Public speaking, presenting, and training have been my areas of expertise across a range of industries, from pitching software to major companies to training hotel owners on using an online data management platform. I love presenting and teaching, and I use my sense of humor to connect with my students throughout the journey.
After an exciting and unconventional career path, I now live in Oaxaca where I focus entirely on teaching English and pursuing creative work in art and fashion design. I believe in teaching the most relevant English, tailored to each student's learning goals. I have experience creating a curriculum from scratch, building an authentic and rigorous program for my students. I believe in routines and structure, and maximizing class time by designing lessons that speak to different learning styles, respect attention spans, and dedicate the most time on the highest value activities.
Education
UNI-Prep Institute
Certified Teacher of English as a Foreign Language
June 2020
Yakaitian Instituto de Diseño de Moda y Alta Costura
Coursework towards diploma in fashion design
June 2020
Lehman College
Coursework towards MS Secondary Science Education; 30/36 credits complete
May 2011
Duke University
B.A. Environmental Science and Policy
May 2008
Experiences
Entrepreneur, Clothing Designer, Shop Owner
OAXAKIMONO | FASHION & SUSTAINABILITY
January 2018 to Current
Designer of kimonos, boho and festival style garments, home decor, and jewelry, incorporating upcycled materials wherever possible and continuously striving towards zero waste
Owner of OAXAKIMONO Etsy shop and pop-up store, managing all aspects of product sourcing, photography, digital marketing, logistics, and shop operations
Business Development Manager
Greenview Advisors | HOSPITALITY & SUSTAINABILITY
February 2019 to November 2019
Led sales and technical training for users of hotel sustainability data management platform, creating training videos for hotel owners and other users, a high touch role supporting customers globally
Business Development Associate
Renewable Energy Systems Americas | ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
March 2018 to January 2019
Drafted proposals for renewable energy megaprojects, pitching renewable energy investment to Fortune 500 companies
Technical Sales & Marketing Associate
CognitiveScale | TECHNOLOGY
October 2014 to December 2017
Recruited into an apprenticeship role that rotated through marketing, project management, and sales at an artificial intelligence startup focused on personalization in retail, healthcare, and banking
Worked on several of the retail industry’s earliest algorithms for personalization in online shopping
Executive Director
CleanTX Foundation | ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
March 2013 to October 2014
Led a non-profit clean energy industry group in Texas, serving as a connector and advocate for local cleantech professionals, regularly hosting trade missions for delegations from other countries
Produced conferences, professional education courses, networking events, and published newsletter
Business Development Manager
Agrion | ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
September 2011 to June 2012
A passion for sustainability and renewable energy led to business development at Agrion, a clean energy industry group and event production company
Produced conferences, courses, and networking events for clean energy industry professionals
Middle School & High School Earth Science Teacher
Teach for America | EDUCATION
August 2008 to May 2011
Taught Earth science, general science, reading and health over three year period at the high school and middle school level to more than 300 students in New York City
Created an original curriculum based on requirements for NY State Regents Exam, balanced with practical knowledge and life skills in science
Skills
Languages
Videos
Portfolio
I live in beautiful Oaxaca, Mexico, a ve...
When I'm not teaching English, I design ...