The Visionaries
Dr. Juan Carlos García
Pioneering philanthropist 1945-2009
Dr. García was an accomplished doctor born in Asunción, Paraguay. After building a successful career in the United States, he established the Garcia Family Charitable Foundation and contributed time and resources to several deserving charities both in the U.S. and internationally. He played a key role in founding the Instituto Reinaldo Macchi and believed deeply in investment in education, poverty and medical care.
Dr. María Macchi García
Team Tobatí Doctor and Philanthropist
Dr. Macchi is a successful pathologist who practiced for many years in South Bend, Indiana. In addition to establishing the Garcia Family Charitable Foundation with Dr. García, she has consistently supported the work of Team Tobatí, traveling to Paraguay every March to serve as the trip doctor. She played a key role in founding the Instituto Reinaldo Macchi and believes deeply in investment in education, poverty and medical care.
Ronald García
Founder and Director
Luis Andrés Ayala Kunzle
Coordinator of Service Trips & Projects
Born to Paraguayan immigrants who arrived in the United States in 1971, Ron created Team Tobatí with the hope of giving back to the place of his heritage. A Spanish teacher and coach at Kingswood Oxford School in the U.S., Ron has led Team Tobatí and the March Trips since 1998. Read more about our founder here.
Team Tobatí Leadership
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Luis (Andrini) has been coordinating the service activities and projects of Team Tobatí since 1998. In this role, he helps allocate funds to infrastructure and education projects throughout Tobatí.
Ben Goldstein
Los Angeles Trip Director
Ben first came to Tobatí after graduating from the University of Michigan. He spent a year teaching English and serving as Vice Principal at the Macchi School and today he helps coordinate curriculum and fundraising efforts and leads an annual service and cultural immersion trip for Los Angeles high school students. Outside of Team Tobatí, he works in private equity at 25madison in New York City.
Taylor Ross
Los Angeles Trip Coordinator
Taylor spent three years teaching English at the Macchi School (2011–2014), where he specialized in helping students apply to universities in the United States. Since his time at Macchi, Ross has dedicated himself to raising funds and awareness for Team Tobatí. In 2017, Ross founded Bati Goods, a leather goods company created to support more students in improving their English and applying to universities.
Macchi School, Tobatí
Gloria Beatriz Villalba Brozon
Principal
Vice Principal
Ariel González Velázquez
Ariel is vice principal and advisor to the senior class at the Macchi School. As a member of the first graduating class of the Macchi School, he later attended Mt. Saint Mary's University in the U.S., receiving a degree in International Studies. He joined the Macchi team in 2016. Read more about Ariel here.
Yenny Rosidel Cuenca Roda
Secretary
Yenny is an educator in the Basic Sciences who graduated from the Instituto Nacional de Educación Superior (INAES). She serves as both Secretary and a teacher of Physics and Chemistry, and has been a dedicated member of the institution since 2017, bringing nine years of experience to her work in education.
Gloria is an educator and school director with extensive experience in educational leadership and community development. She earned her teaching qualification from the Instituto de Formación Docente “El Maestro” in Eusebio Ayala, studied Guaraní Language Education at the Ateneo de Lengua y Cultura Guaraní, and holds a degree in Educational Sciences from the Universidad Tecnológica Intercontinental (UTIC). She currently serves as Director of Colegio Privado Reinaldo Macchi, a role she has held since 2016. Read more about Gloria here.
Juan Dario is a teacher of Guaraní language to all grades at the Macchi School. After graduating from the first Macchi class in 2010, he earned a degree in Guaraní Language from the Ateneo de Lengua y Cultura Guaraní and has been working at the Colegio since 2016.
Librarian and Professor of Guaraní
Juan Darío Zaracho Acosta
Volunteers and Fellows
Jasel Steinmetz
Princeton in Latin America Operations and Development Fellow
Princeton in Latin America Academic & Student Pathways Fellow
Abigail Johnson
Madita Seibold
AFS Volunteer
Jasel graduated from the University of California Berkley in 2025 with a degree in Legal Studies, Spanish, and Political Science. For the 2026-2027 year, she will be partnering with the Macchi School as a Princeton in Latin America Fellow, focusing on operations and development.
Abigail graduated from Tufts University in 2026 with a degree in International Relations and Spanish. For the 2026-2027 year, she will be partnering with the Macchi School as a Princeton in Latin America Fellow, focusing on ESL support and expanding student opportunities.
Madita is a recent high school graduate from Hamburg, Germany. For the next 6 months, she will provide classroom support as an AFS volunteer. She is excited to support youth through language instruction and to learn about Paraguayan culture!
