¡conócenos!
Staff at La Escuelita Arcoiris have lived and worked all around the globe and bring to our team a wide range of education, experience, and expertise. We are united by our love of language, respect for nature and our dedication to remaining curious!
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Keep reading to learn some fun facts about our dedicated team.
Leila Ballout - Educator
Leila was born in Barinas, Venezuela. She received her BA in Education from UNELLEZ, spent years studying child psychology and philosophy at the Universidad Santa María, and has been working with children for over 17 years. Leila enjoys helping students use their surroundings and communication skills to investigate and navigate the world around them. She particularly values how La Escuelita prioritizes their students taking time to work through their present emotions. When asked why she chose a career in child development, she said, “My years of study as an educator have served as a foundation for my continued interest in behavioral psychology. I value the opportunity we have as teachers to observe and interpret our students' varied communication styles -through movement, speech, and feeling. I believe every moment in our lives provides the opportunity to experience something new and different, leaving us with endless opportunities to learn with children.” In her free time Leila loves to exercise outdoors and lift weights. She loves spending time with her son, sharing memories together.
Lorenza Medina - Educator
Lorenza is originally from Acarigua, Venezuela. She moved to the United States in 2003. Lorenza has a Bachelor’s degree in Preschool Education from Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador in Venezuela and has been a Preschool teacher for over 20 years. When asked what makes preschool education special for her, she said, "Working with children has been the most beautiful journey of my life. Having the opportunity to be involved in the most crucial years of my student's lives, supporting their physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development, is a gift and also a great responsibility. We as teachers provide our students with the necessary tools and guidance for them to reach their full potential in a healthy environment." Lorenza is the mother of a 33-year-old boy whom she feels super proud to see as an accomplished Telecommunications Engineer. She says that no matter his age, to her he'll always be Mama's little boy. In her free time here in Pittsburgh, Lorenza enjoys dancing, walking in the park and going to the opera & ballet.
Harlen Rodriguez - Educator
Harlen was born in Usulután, El Salvador. She has been working all her life with children and was excited to learn about La Escuelita Arcoiris' focus on continuing education and personal growth in the field. We are proud to share that she completed her Child Development Associates (CDA) Degree in 2022. Harlen's favorite part of the day is reading a story in Circulo. A very animated and enthusiastic reader, she loves bringing the Spanish words to life, introducing students to new vocabulary, and encouraging their love for reading. Harlen values creating connection and fostering a sense of security in the classroom, saying "Each day we get to learn what our students are interested in together. I am often with our youngest students and every day we are introducing the world to them, little by little. It means so much to help them navigate this age of discovery." Harlen spends her free time with her own teenage daughter who loves shopping and Chipotle. They watch movies, work on art projects together, and go for runs.
Fabian Bautista - Educator
Fabian was born in Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico. He made Pittsburgh home in 2001. Fabian has studied photography in Mexico and Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh Filmmakers. In addition to a lifelong passion for the arts, Fabian has been a dedicated Educator at La Escuelita since 2009. Fabian's favorite time of the day at school is when he has the opportunity to listen to the kids during free play, as they pretend and discover the world around them in Spanish. He says, "Seeing firsthand the product of an immersive curriculum, seeing them sharing ideas with each other in Spanish, watching them grow, immersed in the language and witnessing these "Ah ha!" moments where they are really learning together." Fabian's second favorite time is experiencing the change of seasons with students during daily walks. Fabian surrounds himself with music in his free time. He also loves building of all kinds (La Escuelita is so lucky to benefit from this for over a decade!) At the end of the day, what he enjoys most is sitting down to dinner with his wife and 2 teenage kids (dogs at feet: Oso and Sunny) to enjoy a meal and talk about the day using the "Rose, Thorn, Bud" retrospective.
Jannina Agip - Educator
Jannina is Peruvian and Spanish is her native language. She studied Business Administration while in Peru and worked with children there for 7 years there prior to moving to the United States. Since then, she has worked with us here at La Escuelita Arcoiris for 13 years! Early in life Jannina realized that working with children was her passion. She sees strength in her ability to have patience and remain calm. She herself has a family with three children and says being a mother has enhanced her love for children. Her children are now adults so working here at La Escuelita is a fulfilling way to continue spending time with children. In her free time Jannina enjoys cooking, going to Zumba class, spending time with her family, visiting friends around the globe, and reading. But more than anything, she loves to traveling.
Kenya Solórzano - Educator
Kenya was born in San Fernando, Apure, Venezuela. She comes from a family of primary and secondary school teachers. Kenya studied at the Francisco de Miranda National Experimental University in Falcon, Venezuela and holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine. In Venezuela, Kenya also worked with preschool and elementary students and moved to the United States to work with migrant children in El Paso, Texas. Kenya came to know of La Escuelita with the help of the JFCS (Jewish Family and Community Services) foundation. She says, "I look forward to coming in everyday to spend time with the children. They teach you about how important it is to remain curious and open-minded." Her love for nature and animals makes Kenya a great fit for our nature-based preschool program. Kenya moved to Pittsburgh to spend time with her younger brother and four nephews. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, meeting new people, listening to live music, and traveling with friends.
Diokarina Cabeza - Educator
Diokarina was born in Maturin, Venezuela. She has received her bachelor's degree in Public Accounting and master's degree in Fiscal Management from the Universidad de Carabobo. After graduation she worked for many years as a university professor at her alma mater, an experience that allowed her love for teaching to flourish. Once she and her husband started a family, Diokarina came to appreciate the importance of early childhood education all the more and grew to become 100% involved in the educational development of children. For several years she worked as a preschool assistant, supporting the classroom teacher in different learning activities, helping students achieve their learning goals. Diokarina loves pets, she enjoyed them in her childhood and passed that love for pets on to her children. In her free time she likes to walk, play tennis, explore nature, camp, read, dance and sing. She loves performing as a contralto in her church choir. Both Diokarina and her family love sports, she has participated in several marathons.
Mónica Zafra - Educator
Monica was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia and built her family in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela. Monica and her husband Enrique have a son named Victor whom she is very proud of. She and her family lived an hour from the beach and to get there she had to pass through a National Park called Henry Pittier, a mountainous place with diverse flora, fauna and rivers. This connection with nature was an important part of her daily routine, raising her family. Monica and her son have lived in Pittsburgh since 2019, they are happy to have chosen this city to start a new chapter in their lives. She loves the weather in Pittsburgh- she has discovered the wonder of spring and of autumn with its trees in shades of orange. Throughout her life, Monica has worked with children and, as a nature lover, Mónica felt an immediate connection to La Escuelita. She was inspired by the nature-based curriculum here. In her free time, Monica is a pastry lover. She studied confectionery and cake decoration in Venezuela and loves to prepare various desserts and share them with her family and friends. One of her favorite sports is swimming and when she sees a pool she feels like a fish in water.
Claudia Herrera - Educator
Claudia was born in Valle de la Pascua, Venezuela. Her degree is in Special Education from Colegio Universitario Monseñor de Talavera. She began working in her field directly after graduation and has extensive experience in both Early and Special Education. When we asked Claudia what drew her to La Escuelita she shared, " It is a unique experience to be able to work in a place where they incorporate a meaningful learning method, placing the child as the protagonist who leads their own ideas and strengthens their abilities according to their own interests. What I like most about this teaching method is the independence and strength it generates in children." Claudia and her 9-year-old child both enjoy hiking and exploring Pittsburgh's local parks in their free time. Claudia shares that her resilience and her interest in learning drive her passions outside of school. She loves reading, researching, spending time outdoors, visiting new places, and traveling with her family.
Gloris Malavé - Educator
Gloris was born in Valencia, Venezuela. She arrived in the United States in July of 2021 and, along with her husband and two daughters, has made Pittsburgh home. She has her degree in Education, specializing in Special Education from the University of Carabobo, Venezuela and is currently studying English in Pittsburgh. While in Venezuela, Gloris worked for over 20 years with children in early childhood and elementary education. She has attended various seminars, conferences, workshops and conventions and taken various continuing education courses related to child development and early childhood stimulation (ECS). One of her favorite parts of the job is finding engaging ways to motivate children to discover the world around them, helping them to grow, develop and adapt. She likes working at La Escuelita Arcoiris because the program allows their students to grow and learn through direct contact with nature. Since she was little, Gloris has been a lover of animals and the environment. She loves exploring the outdoors with her family, watching movies, and going for walks around the city of Pittsburgh.
Karina Rosales - Educator
Karina is originally from Mexico City, Mexico. She moved to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2022 and is excited to learn more about the city. Karina is currently studying English as a Second Language and her main objective is to continue her studies at university, focusing on education and child psychology. She is looking forward to studying for her CDA with us here at La Escuelita. Karina's favorite part of the day at school is walking with students through the parks and chatting together about the different plants and animals that they see along the way. Ever since she was a child, Karina has always been curious about animals, plants and taking care of the environment. When she has time to relax with her friends and family, Karina loves keeping busy exercising, listening to music, reading,and spending time with her 3 younger brothers. She also enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures and cuisines.
José Rubio- Educator
José is from the province of Granada (the city of the Alhambra) in Andalusia, southern Spain. Last year he came to the United States for the first time to make Pittsburgh his home. His native language is Spanish, but he started studying English in primary school and has continued his studies here thanks to Literacy Pittsburgh. He graduated from the University of Granada with a degree in Elementary Education. In addition he has extensive experience coaching students individually and in team sports. What strikes him most about La Escuelita is the work that children do through discovery, contact with the physical environment, and the welcoming environment created in the classroom. He considers these interactions to be the most important ways children acquire basic knowledge of life and adopt it as their own. When asked what he like most about working with children, he shared, "While we educate, we learn from them. Seeing their faces when they learn or when they discover something is the greatest satisfaction there is as an educator." He loves animals and nature and in his free time he enjoys hiking and sports. He is a big soccer fan, so he likes to watch and play games. His other hobbies are reading fantasy, science fiction or educational books, and playing board games.
Luisana Infante - Educator
Luisana was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She began studying for her nursing degree in Venezuela, (she loves medicine) but due to circumstances ,she had to withdraw and start a new trip to the United States. In December 2021, Luisana moved to Pittsburgh and began learning English. When asked what inspired here to want to work in education, Luisana shared, "Since I was little I have always had a great affection for children, taking care of them, teaching them and playing. I like working with children because I know that they are sincere, affectionate and noble people. They teach us and make us remember our childhood." What Luisana likes most about La Escuelita is the routines and our philosophy, "...as it teaches children about the outside world and to grow and experience things for themselves. La Escuelita celebrates children's curiosity and independence." In her free time Luisana like to go for walks and listen to music. Her hobbies include learning to cook, organize, clean and design.
Zamira Solórzano- Educator
Zamira was born in Apure-Venezuela and came to the US together with her son, in December, 2022. She graduated from University with a degree in Civil Construction Engineering. Alongside pursuing her career for five years in Venezuela, Zamira spent time in the afternoons working as a teacher's assistant. She has experience working with children of all ages, and credits teaching for reinforcing values ​​and skills such as respect, patience, love, and creativity. Growing up watching her mother as a teacher her whole life, she developed from a very young age a love and admiration for this beautiful work. She shares, “Children are beings of love, and it is simply wonderful to be part of the formation of a human being in their most fundamental stage, childhood.” Zamira was most excited to see how children here at La Escuelita are able to “express their imagination freely and create wonderful things. They are transforming ‘a little’ into ‘a lot’ in each learning area, and are connecting with nature in a respectful way”. In her free time Zamira likes to go with her son for ice cream, visit parks or go for a drive, listening to music. She appreciates art, dance and food!
Zhandra Mendoza- Educator
Zhandra was born the oldest of four children in a happy home in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated with a degree in Industrial Relations from the University College of Administration & Marketing Caracas. Zhandra arrived in the US in February of 2022, and is dedicated to learning English. She is proud to be part of the wonderful staff here and finds it extraordinary to be honored to spend the day teaching children, as “there is no better approach to learning than through play”. We asked what drew Zhandra into the field of education and she shared, “ I am totally convinced that the love and respect you give to a child will be fundamental in their life development, which is why I am grateful to work with children every day.” Zhandra lives here with two of her children and their cat, Maigua, who is an important part of their family. She has another son in Venezuela and 2 grandchildren whom she has a close relationship with. She is grateful to her late father for the best education and the most beautiful values. In her free time she loves being at home, watching movies, or meeting with family and friends. Her hobbies include meditation, music and dance.
Gloris Angeles González- Educator
Gloris De Los Angeles was born in Valencia, Venezuela. She studied music at the University of Carabobo, Venezuela. When she was just a child, Gloris fell in love with classical music. From a very young age she was singing in orchestras, standing out in the lyrical genre, and traveling through different parts of her country performing. In 2021 Gloris arrived in the United States and began studying English as a second language. She hopes to one day soon begin learning French as well. We asked Gloris what drew her into the field of education and she shared with us, "What I love most about working with children is that every day is a different adventure! I grew up with an educator mother and I learned how beautiful it is to teach. One of the things I love most about pedagogy is the belief in the potential capacity of each child." We are so grateful to have talented teachers and musicians like Gloris as part of our team! In Gloris' free time she enjoy singing and playing the piano, drawing, and spending time with her sweet puppy and faithful companion, Doki whom she loves with all her heart.
Liliana Aguirre- Educator
Liliana comes from a Mexican American family and was born and raised here in Pittsburgh, PA. She’s currently enrolled in college at CCAC and studying Early Childhood Education. In hopes of one day becoming a preschool, elementary or ESL teacher. Liliana has been working with children all her life and has learned a great amount from taking care of her four younger siblings. Liliana is also bilingual and very family oriented and proud of her Mexican culture! She embraces her Mexican heritages and traditions! When asked what her favorite part of the day is, Liliana shares, "Circle time is my favorite part of the day because the day is beginning and the children come in ready to play and learn." Liliana also enjoys watching the excitement on their faces singing “hola hola como están“, our daily greetings song, and how fast they learn other songs. When Liliana isn’t working, she loves to travel and explore new countries. Her favorite place to visit is Costa Rica and to visit her family in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She also enjoys going to the movie theater and eating out with her family. Liliana is proud mother of four cats named, Luna, Chloe, Ace and Tico.
Saymara Rosado - Educator
Saymara was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is a mother of two preteens. Saymara has worked in Early Childhood Education for over 10 years. When she was little, she always loved to play school. As she grew older, her desire to contribute to early childhood development became the driving factor in her studies. Her first language is Spanish and her second language is English. She began learning English at an early age at home because her father worked for many years with a company in the United States. She has lived in Puerto Rico all her entire life until August 2024, when she made the exciting move to Pittsburgh. When we asked Saymara what finalized her decision to choose La Escuelita, she said, "What caught my attention most about La Escuelita Arcoíris is the way in which it allows children to function in different scenarios and activities, letting them use their imagination and allowing them to lead themselves in play. I like that they play everyday outdoors and have contact with nature in all its seasons." In her free time, Saymara likes to spend time with her family, read, go on road trips and explore nature.
Lesirg Rosales- Educator
Lesirg was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She has a degree in Marketing from Dr. Jesus Muñoz Tebar, Los Teques. Lesirg was working towards a degree in Tax Administration from IUTA Los Teques, prior to leaving Venezuela. She has also been a gymnastics instructor to preschool and elementary aged students for over 15 years. On her first visit to the United States in 2013, she visited Orlando to coach her students in an international gymnastics competition. She returned in 2022 to New York City with her family to begin her career in Early Childhood Education. Lesirg shares, "I find myself fulfilled through working in schools with children because, while we are teaching them, each one of them teaches us something new in life, full of unfiltered joy and love. Lesirg loves Pittsburgh for its changing seasons and diverse landscape, with mountains and streams always close by. She likes to go to museums, listen to music, exercise and learn about different cultures through reading and travel. Her priority is enjoying every moment she can with her sons, taking them to baseball and savoring each stage of their lives.
Estefani Rodriguez Tineo- Educator
Estefani Rodríguez is from Anzoategui, Venezuela. Estefani studied Early Childhood Education through IUTIRLA and is a dedicated English student here in Pittsburgh. When asked what inspired her to choose teaching as her profession, she shared, "I like working with children because, since I was a child, I had the example of my mother as an educator. She fueled my own desire to look for everyday learning and teaching opportunities. She used many different methods to reach her students, and that inspired me to follow her example." Estefani came to Pittsburgh to join our team at La Escuelita because of the fusion of language, culture and nature: "I like La Escuelita's educational philosophy . Working with nature, exploring and learning in it, lets the imagination and creativity flow. Children grow by learning through play and activities where they can express their individuality and develop their own knowledge through exploration of the environment around them." Estefani found that through parenting, she grew an even deeper understanding of education. She says she is always learning with her daughters. In her free time Estefani likes to draw and go to the park with her family or simply watch movies together.
We are always looking for new educators to join our growing community! Do you have a background in childcare? Does spending time outside, exploring nature leave you feeling energized? Are you a fluent Spanish speaker or are you going to school for or have a degree in Spanish? Reach out to our Directors here to begin the interview processes!
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¡Siempre estamos buscando nuevos educadores para unirse a nuestra creciente comunidad! ¿Tiene experiencia en el cuidado de niños? ¿Pasar tiempo al aire libre, explorando la naturaleza, te deja lleno de energía? ¿Hablas español con fluidez o vas a ir a la escuela o tienes un título en español? ¡Comuníquese con nuestros directores aquí para comenzar el proceso de entrevista!
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Please check back to learn more about our new educators!
Your Name Here - Educator
Walkiria Preston - Director of Education
Walki's family is from Uruguay and Spanish was her home language growing up. She attended university at Point Park and received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She went on to get a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from California University of PA. She worked with La Escuelita as a teacher for over a decade, familiarizing herself with each of our four age groups. After gaining expertise as Director for two local childcare facilities, she returned to La Escuelita as Director of Education in 2021. When asked why she chose to work with preschoolers, Walki shared, “It's amazing to be able to witness the transformation in a person within the first 6 years of their lives. Scaffolding students' learning by providing the right tools, support, and guidance is my favorite part of my role as an educator. I feel honored to be able to witness 'Ah-ha moments', when something just clicks, and they become motivated to learn more!"
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In her free time, Walki most enjoys sitting outside on a breezy day, reading a book. Outside of work you'll find Walki's family exploring nature and hiking. She also enjoys spending time with friends and finding new places for food and cocktails in the ever-growing culinary scene here in Pittsburgh.
Ellen Tafel - Director of Operations
Ellen, our Director of Operations, learned Spanish while living in Mexico City, when she moved there right after college with her husband. Living and working as a resident for four years as the Special Projects Coordinator for a bilingual k-12 school gave her the opportunity to truly immerse herself in the language and culture. When they returned to Pittsburgh to raise their family, their children continued to benefit from that experience, growing up in a bilingual household.
Ellen received her degree from Edinboro University with a BA in Philosophy and Anthropology. Over the years her career choices have remained focused on working with children and youth. She made the permanent switch from classroom to administration 15 years ago and we are grateful for the order she provides to the controlled chaos that is early childhood education. Ellen is the second longest serving employee here at La Escuelita, having been part of our story for over 20 years!
In her free time, Ellen enjoys keeping up with her own three kids, weekend getaways, camping, and traveling to anywhere beachy. She loves outdoor concerts, music and dancing.
Alana DeGregory - Administrative Coordinator
Alana grew up in Pittsburgh where she earned her BA in Special Education, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), and Spanish & Latin American History and Literature. She also studied for one year abroad at both the Universidad de Salamanca and the Universitat de València. Afterwards, she stayed on in Valencia, Spain to teach English as a Foreign Language for several years. Alana feels a strong connection to working in education, citing: “I find children to be particularly inspiring because they have not yet become destination-focused, giving them a chance to see beauty and truth in the world in ways that can sometimes escape us as adults. Their perspective is refreshing and necessary. Making time to be present with our youngest members of society grounds us and provides clarity and joy.” In her free time Alana loves growing food, flowers, and plants. She is passionate about flavors and spends as much time as she can researching with fork in hand. When she isn’t in the garden or eating, she enjoys downtime with her partner and two fur babies. Anything that has to do with animals, has her heart. Traveling is how she unwinds.
Teresa Lurati - AARP Volunteer
Teresa goes by Tere here at La Escuelita. She was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and learned Spanish as her first language. She loves children and has worked all her life as a nanny. She has also joyfully raised 2 of her own children and now happily enjoys chasing after both of her grandchildren. She requested to volunteer at La Escuelita because she loves being able to spend her day surrounded by children, contributing to their development, and connecting with the latino community. When she isn’t volunteering at La Escuelita, Tere enjoys cooking (especially homemade raviolis!), knitting, feltwork (look around the Oficina and our classrooms for her beautiful creations!) and decorating for every holiday and occasion!
Megan Rooney - Founder & Creative Guide
Megan is from Portland, Oregon. After graduating with a BFA in Theater from University of Montana, where she was inspired by her Spanish professors, she began traveling Mexico, Central and South America to gain fluency. In 1999 Megan founded La Escuelita Arcoiris. Ten years later, while leading our preschool, Megan earned her degree in Early Childhood Education.​ When asked what inspired her to begin La Escuelita, Megan responded, "I love this fantastical phase of life from 0-5 years old. Before the logic seeps in, humans are innocent, spontaneous, curious investigators. They are natural dancers and musicians. I love to think that this spirit remains strong if celebrated and fomented throughout the early years.”
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In her free time, Megan loves being on the water, from our 3 rivers to camping along lakes and oceans. She plays an old-time fiddle and enjoys watching dancing feet move to her beat. She is passionate about the power of storytelling to make human connections and inspire empathy and perspective to help us confront problems.