ASM Behind the Scenes – the podcast where questions are asked and answers are provided – explores the things you don't know about the high school staff and alumni. Host seniors Jaime Gómez Arreche, Eco Cavero, and Sofia VanDonk bring you stories and conversations about high school, college and life. You will find this podcast sometimes funny, sometimes awkward, but always relatable.
Jingyao Wang, Jimena Roces and Sergio Merchan ran this podcast, but what happens when they graduate high school? In this episode, the hosts become the guests as the torch is passed down to the new cast. Why was the podcast created? What core memories has ASM provided? The original casts dives into their personal lives and memories in high school as they prepare so say goodbye.
Ben Weinberg took a decidedly different career path to arrive at his current position of Headmaster at the American School of Madrid.Ben was born in Boston and moved to St. Louis in the fourth grade. Ben went back to the East Coast to start at Bates College but left college after three semesters, determined to leave school behind. He was successful for many years working as a commercial fisherman, organic farmer, builder, and writer.Education found him when he volunteered to read aloud to a student at a Vermont elementary school. Ben began working as a Special Education paraprofessional in rural Maine schools and completed his degree in Education at Lesley University. Ben's international career began in 1999 when he moved with his family to South Africa to work at the American International School of Johannesburg. Ben was chosen to start AISJ's Pretoria satellite campus in 2001. Ben completed his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Massachusetts while serving as the Pretoria principal.Ben joined ASM in 2013 as the Lower School Director. He was chosen to be the Headmaster in 2015.
Darlene Oehlke was born in Hudson, Wisconsin, and spent the first 18 years of her life with a family in Afton, Minnesota. She is the middle of seven siblings. After completing a degree in chemistry at the University of Minnesota with minors in biology and mathematics, Darlene moved to Marburg, Germany to work as a chemist at Phillips University for half a year. She also led wilderness trips with Wilderness Inquiry. Following her return from Germany, she attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to complete a degree in Physical Science education. She taught chemistry and physics in Minnesota for three years, married Rick Vezzoli, and moved overseas to teach IB Chemistry. Since 1991, she has lived in Brazil, Switzerland, Norway, Kazakhstan, Chile, Brazil (again), and Spain and has taught a combination of chemistry, physics, biology, and environmental systems and society. Somewhere along the way, she finished her master’s in Curriculum and Teaching at Michigan State University. This is Darlene’s 3rd year at the American School of Madrid where she teaches IB Chemistry and Grade 10 Integrated Science. She also advises a grade 10 group and an Environmental Club. When she is not teaching, she loves to spend time with her daughter and family, especially when there is a chance to be outside.
Eric Foinquinos is a fourth-year, full-time Upper School teacher at the American School of Madrid, where he currently teaches Theory of Knowledge, Filmmaking and Sociology. He has a Master’s in Music Composition and a Mechanical Engineering Diploma. Prior to his current position at ASM, he has worked in a wide array of areas as a composer for film, television, internet content and theater, as well as as a screenwriter, short film director, marketing copywriter, screenplay translator, as an engineer at an aluminum extrusion factory, and as a teacher's assistant during his engineering and music studies in University.
Tim Eddy was born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. After finishing his B.A. in Political Science at Hamilton College, he spent five years living and teaching history in Tangier, Morocco, where he also made frequent visits to Spain. In 2015, he completed a Master's Degree in Political Science at the American University of Beirut and continued in Beirut for the following six years as a teacher of history and social studies at the American Community School of Beirut. Tim joined the American School of Madrid in 2021; he teaches Integrated Social Studies 10, Global Politics, and Theory of Knowledge and coaches the Speech and Debate Club.