Derek Ferreira

Elementary School Counselor

I am very excited to embark on my fifth year as Elementary Counselor at ICS. I’ve really enjoyed working with the ICS administrators, teachers, teaching assistants, students and their family members. It is wonderful living in Ethiopia the birthplace of my wife Yalem and also working at the same school as my third grade son Stephen.

My previous experience as an educator includes being an elementary teacher for 9 years teaching 3rd, 4th and 8th grade classes before becoming a Guidance Counselor. I earned my Masters of Education and Specialist Qualifications in Special Education and Guidance Counseling in Toronto, Canada. During my summers, I’ve attended workshops in the United States on Second Step and Project Adventure training and in London, England at the Counseling Training Center.

Long distance running is of keen interest to me. I’ve completed marathons in Ottawa and New York City and numerous half marathons abroad. I had the real pleasure of completing a 16 km Lakeland trails race in Coniston, England this past summer and hope to run my third marathon there July 1, 2012. It is with great pleasure that I am able to coach our ICS runners during the Cross Country and Track and Field seasons. I always look forward to my Sunday morning group runs at Entoto and also the challenge of running the Great Ethiopian Run and half marathons in Ethiopia.