Meet the team

Our mission is to transform the way English is taught to children. We only believe this is possible because we know we are not alone. There are teachers out there who are also eager to create, contribute and connect. We see our role as part of the global teaching community and through our courses and workshops, books and resources, and our community, we want to make our contribution.

Claire Venables

Claire Venables

Founder and Director

Claire Venables is a qualified English teacher who has been dedicated to ELT since 2001. After a decade in Spain, she moved to Brazil in 2011 where she has worked in the creation and implementation of bilingual programs in schools, the development of teacher development courses, as a national and international speaker, materials writer, active member of the National Association of Teachers of English (BRAZ-TESOL).  Despite her wide-ranging experience, she is and always will be most passionate about teaching children.

claire@activeenglish.com.br

James Taylor

James Taylor

Active English Project Manager

James Taylor, based in Brasília, Brazil, is an ELTON award-winning EFL teacher, teacher trainer, materials writer and project manager for Active English. He’s the 2nd Vice President of BRAZ-TESOL, leader of BRAZ-TESOL MAWSIG, a committee member of BRAZ-TESOL Brasília & IATEFL TDSIG and has written coursebooks for FTD Educaçao and TransFor.Me. He produces the TEFL Commute podcast & co-founded the Raise Up! project, encouraging diversity in ELT materials. He has twice been nominated for an ELTON award, winning for Excellence in Course Innovation in 2021.

members@activeenglish.com.br

our team

Lilian Montalvão

Lilian Montalvão

Lilian Montalvão has been working in the ELT field for over 15 years. During these years, she has worked as a teacher, coordinator, consultant, teacher educator and materials writer. She holds a Master’s in Education. She has specialised in Early Childhood Education and she is currently specialising in Bilingual Education as well.  She is also a certified Positive Discipline Educator.

Dani Hersey

Dani Hersey

Dani Hersey is a teacher, teacher trainer, and materials writer with a background in art and illustration, as well as a TEFL certificate and more than a decade of experience in ELT. She is passionate about bringing creativity and maker-inspired empowerment to English language learning.

Kenia Santos

Kenia Santos

Kenia Santos is a pedagogist, with specializations in Art History, and Positive Education, Innovation and 21st century skills. She’s the vice president of Associação de Educação Positiva do Brasil (AEPBrasil), and has acted in the ELT field for over 20 years now. She holds a CPE, a CELTA, a Positive Discipline Educator certificate, a Train the Trainer certificate and is currently pursuing a specialization in Creative Education.

Sthefanie Duarte

Sthefanie Duarte

Sthefanie Duarte is a licensed English teacher with a BA in Translation and a  specialization in English Language Teaching. She has been in the ELT field for over 15 years as a teacher, pedagogical coordinator and consultant. Member of the Advisory Council of Braz-Tesol Brasília Chapter, teacher development is one of her major interests.

Rose Bard

Rose Bard

Rose Bard is an educational and curriculum designer passionate about designing engaging and meaningful spaces for Young Learners.  She has specialized in immersive ludic environments, such as Minecraft, and also in the use of technology to enhance learning, game-based learning, gamification and blended and online learning.  She holds a B.A in Education, a specialization in Instructional design and a Master degree in ICT.