Operations

OPERATIONS TEAM

James Woody, BS, 9-12 Math & Woodshop Teacher, Operations Director, Co-Owner

James Woody is a high school math teacher who believes in incorporating real-life applications of curricular materials into his classroom every day. He has extensive experience in electrical systems design, building design, construction, and engineering. He enjoys the art of creation, especially when working in the woodshop. Mr. Woody is highly respected by the students he teaches thanks to his consistent, structured expectations and his ability to make math and science come alive through hands-on activities and real-life applications. James is dedicated to his students, serving as an honorable and influential mentor both inside and outside of the classroom.

Most recently, James took on a more influential role at The Bridge Program for young adults where he serves as both an administrator and mentor to the young men participating in a gap year experience. He helps organize, teach, and mentor… all with a smile on his face!

Roy Vindas, Chef

Roy has been with NSA since we started in 2005. He has a personality bigger than life, and his food is no exception. With trips to the farmer’s market and a constant interest in trying out new recipes, he keeps us well fed and happy. He enjoys NSA students, helping them learn to cook or slipping them secret ice cream sandwiches in between classes. His classic “What’s up, my friend?!” is heard multiple times throughout the day as he welcomes students to the dining hall. Roy loves his family, his daughter, his beloved horse, and he has been known to ride a “sick wave” or two on his surfboard.

Laura Leon, Chef Assistant

Originally from Atenas, Laura is a proud mother of two daughters. She loves to go for walks, dancing is one of her passions, and she has one kitten and two little dogs.

Laura has been working for NSA since August 2017; she is an expert cook who has developed the art since 2014, studying at the Maria Pacheco School in Alajuela, but it was always one of her passions.

Laura is a quiet person, but very sweet, attentive and collaborative, always willing to work and do the best in her position, and prepare the most delicious meals for our students, whom she sees as her children.

Ana María González, Nutritionist

Ana María González is a certified nutritionist, graduated from Universidad Hispanoamericana de Costa Rica in 2011. She has experience working with children, young adults and elders.

She has also worked in food services, offering guidance in the food making process.

Her goal is to help people lead a healthy life and learn that nutrition is not restriction on meals but instead understanding the types and amounts of food that your body needs.

Maria Elena Fonseca, Limpieza

Maria Elena always has a smile on her face and a “saludo” for anyone walking by. Besides helping keep NSA clean and safe, Maria Elena enjoys helping staff the Tuesday service afternoons at Hogar de Vida. She is the coordinator of our cleaning team and is an amazing help at decorating and preparing for events such as graduations and homestay picnics.

Abigail, Limpieza

Abi is from Altos de Naranjo, a lovely town located in Atenas, known for its coffee plantations, and beautiful landscapes. She has one brother, a pet named Chela, and one beautiful daughter. Abi loves sports, she does weightlifting and biking, she also loves to cook Italian food, really enjoys nature, and loves animals. She really enjoys working at NSA and having conversations with students in Spanish!

Deiner, Maintenance

Deiner comes from a small family in Altos de Naranjo, his interest for construction comes from building things with his family. He enjoys working with metal and wood, and shape them into different pieces. He lives with his lovely girlfriend, they soon want to make their family bigger! He enjoys nature, and hiking. One of Deiner’s hobbies is “motocross”, he also likes to modify cars and motorcycles.

He is now in charge of one of our Odd Jobs Blocks, helping our students learn about maintenance and construction/welding.

Federico Víquez, Garden & Groundskeeper

Federico is originally from Atenas, his mother is Salvadorian and his father is Costa Rican, he has a beautiful girl named Lía who is the love of his life.

Federico has a technical studies from the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje as "Livestock Farms", which has to do with Zootechnics, an area of agronomy that includes the care and management of farm animals. Federico's hobby is the production of vegetables in hydroponics, which is the cultivation of vegetables in water or aquatic environments, where all the nutrients that are required are provided.

We hope that his experience and studies will help maintain our beautiful gardens and also to help out our students develop many projects loving nature and working with the earth.