About Na’atik

Catherine is from Alexandria, Virginia. She came to Carrillo Puerto to do environmental education with a local NGO from Seattle. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, spend time with friends, and cook with her kids.

Pedro is a co-founder of Na’atik and began teaching Spanish with Na’atik in 2011. He was a social studies teacher and administrator and retired in 2014. He loves history, reading, traveling, talking about politics, and learning about different cultures.

Mari lives in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and studied Administration at the Tecnológico de Carrillo Puerto. She loves spending time with her two boys and when she has free time, she relaxes by listening to music.

Odilia (Oddi) is a graduate of the Instituto Tecnológico de Carrillo Puerto with a degree in Administration. She loves learning new things and has a strong passion for creating crafts. Her favorite music genres include banda, romantic songs, and cumbia. In her free time, she dedicates herself to her family — her husband and two children. She is excited and happy to be part of Na’atik.

Dafne is originally from Oaxaca, but grew up in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. She studied Marketing and Administration and has a master’s degree in International Peace Studies. She is studying a second master’s in Project Management. She loves dogs, traveling, penguins, chocolate, reading and trying food from all over the world.

Abigail is from Felipe Carrillo Puerto. She studied Business Management Engineering at the Tecnológico Nacional de México. She enjoys playing musical instruments, reading, cycling, watching series, crocheting and spending time with her family.

Elizabeth, originally from Kansas, studied Spanish and Global Development at Calvin University. She was a Fulbright García Robles grantee, spending a year in the State of Mexico teaching English and volunteering with Mazahua and Otomí communities. She brings strong experience in education and cultural exchange and enjoys dancing, reading, and baking.

Adrian Ortega joins Na'atik with experience in journalism and digital marketing. He studied in Mexico and Canada, earning diplomas in social media and marketing. Fluent in Spanish and English, and learning Italian, Adrian now lives in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and is eager to support Na'atik’s mission with creative strategy.

She defines herself as a curious mind who seeks to understand the “why” behind things and finds inspiration in the beauty of life’s small details. She has had the opportunity to work with people from countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and France, which gave her a broader perspective of the world and inspired her to continue learning new things. During her studies in International Marketing, she collaborated with students from different backgrounds and completed her professional internship at a museum, where she developed skills in photography, photo editing, and social media management while working with people from various parts of the world.

Erick is from the X-Pichil Maya community and speaks Maya, English and Spanish. He is a former recipient of Na’atik’s MY scholarship program and studied English at the University of Quintana Roo. He also teaches Spanish. Erick is passionate about cinema.

Nick is our Fundraising Manager. Originally from the Lake District in the UK, he has lived in various countries teaching. He has an MA in Linguistics and English Language and a BA in Film and Television. He was a teacher at Na’atik, and in Japan and Bulgaria. He previously worked on linguistic research projects for Manchester Metropolitan University and The Living Tongues Institute.

César was born near Mérida and grew up in Carrillo. He studied education in the Universidad de Quintana Roo. He plays various musical instruments and likes talking about the history and culture of México.

Licey was born in Carrillo Puerto, where she still lives. She studied Tourism and Alternative Tourism at the Universidad de Quintana Roo and is currently studying a second degree in Maya-Spanish Bilingual Basic Education: Historical and Cultural Heritage of Mexico.

She loves gardening, painting on canvas, travelling, yoga, learning new things and Music, especially Trova and Rock.

Rita grew up here in Carrillo and studied English at the University of Quintana Roo. Rita has family roots in the local Maya community and is interested in her culture and history. Having worked in tourism she is now focused on a career as a teacher. She likes working with children and helping them harness their creativity to help them learn. She loves nature, history, listening to music and spending time with family, especially her cousins.

Evelyn is from Chetumal, the small capital city of Quintana Roo in the southeast of Mexico. She studied English Language at the Universidad de Quintana Roo. She is passionate about Folkloric dance and her dream is to travel everywhere.

Naila is from Felipe Carrillo Puerto but her parents and family are from a nearby Mayan community called X-pichil. Naila studied English Language at the University of Quintana Roo. She speaks Spanish, Maya, English, and knows French at a basic level. Naila likes travelling and learning from other cultures. She enjoys teaching languages

A Maya anthropologist with experience in teaching and research, he is dedicated to the study of human societies and cultures, with a particular focus on the Maya communities of Quintana Roo. His thesis, titled “The Social Organization of the Traditional Festival of Kopchen,” explored the intricate dynamics of community life. His background in ethnographic research allows him to approach complex topics in an accessible way, using real case studies to illustrate cultural diversity and human behavior.

Oscar studied at the University of Quintana Roo. He has more than 13 years experience teaching languages; both English and Spanish. He loves reading about history and Greek mythology. His favorite hobbies are drawing and writing poetry.

Geyni was born and raised in Felipe Carrillo Puerto but her family's origins are in Tihosuco and Peto, Yucatán. She studied English Language Teaching at the University of Quintana Roo and now she is taking a diploma in ELE. She enjoys creating fun spaces for promoting learning and helping others. She likes watching doramas, singing, dancing and traveling.

Yareni studied her major and her Master Degree at the University of Quintana Roo. She has 20 years experience teaching English language and 5 years experience teaching Spanish. She loves reading and listening to music, especially Kpop. Her favorite hobbies are watching anime and baking desserts.

She taught kindergarten in San Francisco for 25 years, and after retiring, she found herself bored and searching for a new challenge. That search led her to Na’atik as a Spanish student. After visiting the English school, she fell in love with the community, left her résumé, and a couple of months later returned as an English teacher in 2024.

America Priscila Estrella, (Teacher Pris) was born on July 4th 2000, studied English driven by her fascination for languages. She is a proud graduate of Na'atik, where she strengthened her communication skills and appreciation for cultural exchange. She loves musicals, movies, and TV series, and enjoys spending her free time with her daughter, creating meaningful moments together.

Phareshia, or Phare as she prefers to be called, is originally from Belize. She has an associate degree in Business management and has graduated from the University of Quintana Roo as an English major and holds a diploma in English-to-Spanish translation. She loves discovering new hobbies and enjoys her time in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where she currently resides. She has been an English teacher for three years and has now become Naatik's librarian. She likes challenging herself to learn new things. She has a passion for learning more about music. She loves dancing, listening to music and singing. She is also fascinated by science topics, especially the universe. 

Rommel is from Tihosuco, Quintana Roo. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Language and Culture from the Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo. He has three years of experience as an English instructor and five years as an English teacher. He is also a Maya language translator, activist, and community promoter dedicated to defending territory and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Luis was born in Tihosuco, Quintana Roo. He holds a degree in Language and Culture from the Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo and is a certified interpreter and translator in Administration and Justice. He is a cultural promoter and manager focused on the linguistic revitalization of the Maya language with children and youth. He enjoys meeting people from around the world to learn from them and is passionate about sharing his culture. He also loves historical novels and watching anime.

Rosa is of Mexican nationality and holds a Ph.D. in Education. She is certified in the Maya language and has been teaching since 2015, primarily instructing Maya language courses. She has also taught Regional Issues Seminar courses and served as a thesis and monograph evaluator at the Universidad Autónoma de Quintana Roo. Additionally, she worked as the head of the virtual curriculum area at the same university. She has been a promoter of the Maya language at INMAYA and has taught at the Universidad Tecnológica de Chetumal, where she instructed courses such as Sociocultural Formation (1–4), Research Methodology (1–4), and Writing, as well as supervised internship reports.

Yohana is originally from the community of Chancah Veracruz, in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo. She was born on February 5, 2003. She completed her basic education in her community; however, in order to continue her studies and pursue professional development, she moved to attend the Colegio de Educación Profesional Técnica de Quintana Roo (CONALEP 102), where she participated in various cultural activities and state and national programs.

She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English Language at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo (UAQROO), strengthening her academic training in linguistics and pedagogy. She is recognized for her commitment to teaching and preserving her native language and Maya culture, as well as her interest in learning and teaching languages. She is also known for her responsibility, punctuality, strong work ethic, and ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

Irene is from the Maya community of Sabán, Quintana Roo. She now lives in Carrillo Puerto and her favorite pastime is spending time with her children at home.

Sugeidy was born and raised in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. She studied early childhood education. She likes listening to music, watching romantic movies and crocheting.

Daniel, lives in Carrillo Puerto and studied Business Administration at the local technical University. In his free time he enjoys watching movies and spending time with his family

Javier, is a nature tourism guide and a graduate of the Intercultural Maya University of Quintana Roo. He is passionate about sharing the cultural and environmental richness of the region, promoting authentic and sustainable experiences that connect visitors with local biodiversity and traditions.