ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Angie Garcia:
Escuela Viva Director & Owner

Angie Garcia, the founder of Escuela Viva, first and foremost is a mom to two beautiful children. Escuela Viva began when Angie could not find the type of preschool experience that she wanted for her daughter. Angie, having had many years experience in both early childhood programs like Head Start as well as experience in child care settings, felt she had a good grasp of what makes a solid nurturing preschool. July 2004, Escuela Viva opened its’ doors for the first time in her remodeled basement. Before her first child was born (2002), Angie graduated from PSU with a Bachelor of Arts in 1995 and in 1997 graduated from PSU's Master's of Social Work program. Angie has many years experience working with families on a number of levels from child abuse prevention, domestic violence and child welfare. Now with Escuela Viva strong and vibrant, Angie can devote her time to the school and being a mom to her daughter, Mayah and her son, Eddie.

Amelia Jane Menteer:

Escuela Viva Classroom Coordinator

Preschool Program

A native Montanan, Amelia Regalado was drawn to Oregon in 1998 when applying to schools. After five years at Southern Oregon University she received a Bachelors of Science in the Environmental Sciences and a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish Language and Culture. Her third year at SOU, she spent studying abroad in Quito, Ecuador and was certified as fluent in the Spanish language. Throughout her experience at SOU and during the time she spent living abroad in Latin America, Amelia has enjoyed a variety of experiences working with the Spanish language. She enjoyed tutoring at the high school level, teaching English to small children in Guatemala, working as a bilingual museum aid and guide in Ecuador and teaching outdoor education in Ashland, OR.

Amelia was initially drawn to Escuela Viva in June of 2005 by the opportunity to use the Spanish Language in a professional environment. Over time, a passion for the schools philosophies grew and her tie to the school’s practices became much stronger. Over the course of the years she has dedicated herself to the constant process of learning and growing along side the children. She has had the opportunity to participate in a study tour to Reggio Emilia, Italy and an intensive training in the Education for Life philosophies. She believes that each and every child is a unique learner and strives to provide diverse opportunities for children in and out of the classroom.

Amelia's love of the Spanish language shines through in her work with the children and her drive to keep Latin culture an integrated part of her studies in and outside of the classroom. She strives to highlight the importance of diversity and tradition in her life. With the children, she works to provide endless opportunities for them to experience and learn from the world about them. Outside of the classroom Amelia enjoys biking, gardening, working on her home and dancing with the local afro-cuban/afro-brazilian music and dance company Axe Dide.

Angela Bonilla

Classroom Coordinator

Infant Toddler Program

Angela has known her whole life that she has wanted to change the world. When she was in high school in New York City, she realized the best way to facilitate long term change is through education. She studied Secondary Education and History at Beloit College, took a break to make some short term change during the 2008 presidential election, and moved to Portland, OR to continue her studies at Portland Community College. Angela's passion for working with children of all ages has grown from her various experiences mentoring, babysitting, camp counseling, and working at other childcare centers. Being of Dominican decent, Angela has spoken Spanish for 15 years, studying formally for almost a decade, and is very excited to work with the Cachorro's class and cook lunch several times a week.

TEACHERS

Evelyn Lopez:
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Evelyn Lopez was born in L.A. at the age of 14 she moved to Oregon with her family. While going to high school she volunteered to be a catequist at her church. It was in this role that she realized that she wanted to become a teacher. Evy felt that she could make a difference in the world of a child. She graduated from high school and enrolled in college. Encouraged by her studies Evy worked at the Mt. Hood Community College's Child Development Center, where she worked for 4 years. Evy only left that position when she found Escuela Viva! Evy completed her studies at Mt. Hood Community College and earned her associate's degree. Evy plans to return to her studies to complete her bachelor's degree and ultimately wants to become a 2 nd grade teacher. Evy has many talents in working with the children, she is kind, compassionate and very nurturing.

Kent Osborn :
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Kent has been surrounded by childhood education his whole life. Ever since he was a young child, he helped his mother, a children’s librarian, with many literacy programs. His father, an elementary school social worker, taught him much in the field of child psychology, but mainly how to listen well. This helped him relate to and learn from children, and become interested in working with preschoolers and lower elementary age kids.

Kent started going to school for graphic design in Michigan, but found it too computer heavy and impersonal for his liking. Working in an office was tiresome for him, and the idea of working with kids again grew very appealing. At the same time, he became more and more interested in writing and illustrating his own children’s books and he self-published two. He realized that he couldn’t write children’s books well without being around children, and so he became more and more interested in being an art educator. He went to school at Hope College, in Holland, Michigan, and graduated with a BA in visual arts education.
For two years, Kent was involved with Americorps and private caregiving agencies doing hospice work. He was interested in acclimating to the end-of-life processes so that he can aid people he knows when they get to this point. After two years of this emotionally challenging work, he entered back into childhood education. He has worked full time the last year in several schools as a substitute teacher, and more recently as a Montessori teacher in Minneapolis.

Kent is delighted to be teaching at Escuela Viva, in the Angelitos classroom. He is happy to hear any suggestions and answer any questions parents may have. He appreciates constructive criticism and advice. Anything he can do to help your child thrive, he would love to hear. Feel free to contact him at kent@escuela-viva.com..

Patricia Miesch:
Preschool Teacher
Patricia Miesch grew up in Kentucky and moved to Oregon when she was 16. She attended the University of Oregon, where she received a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish Language and Culture and a minor in Cultural Anthropology. She studied abroad in Morelia, Mexico, where through practical application her love of the Spanish language grew deeper. Upon her return to Oregon she volunteered with several organizations using her bilingual Spanish skills. One of these volunteer positions was as a teacher’s aide in Buena Vista Spanish Immersion School in a second grade classroom. Through this experience she realized she loved working with children. After graduating she worked as a Language and Culture Assistant in Girona, Spain teaching English in two public elementary schools over the course of two years. Through this experience she developed an interest in education and realized she wanted to become a teacher. Her ability to listen and her passion for language and culture are things she loves sharing with children. Her enthusiasm for learning new things about her environment through practical application is something she feels is extremely important not only in a child’s education, but is an ongoing life process. Outside of the classroom she enjoys yoga, making pottery, hiking, cooking and running.

Glenna Reyes
PreschoolTeacher

Glenna moved to Portland in fall of 2009 to attend Portland State University as a full time student pursuing a Psychology and Asian Studies double major. She grew up in Chicago in a bicultural household with her Jewish mother, Puertorican father and older brother. She went to a bilingual elementary school and then continued her language studies in highschool with Mandarin Chinese. Glenna attended Loyola University of Chicago for two years, one year on their Chicago campus and the second at their Beijing Center for Chinese Studies campus. After deciding she wanted to finish her degree in a new city, she deferred for a year and worked as a Pre-school Teacher in Chicago. She really enjoys working with children, learning languages, cooking, dancing, singing and creating music. Her youthful spirit and energy drive her to work with children and hopes to one day work as a child counselor.

Glenna se mudo a Portland en el otono de 2009 para asistir a la Universidad de Portland State. Ella esta estudiando Psycologia y Estudios Asiaticos. Ella creci en Chicago con su familia de dos culturas: Judia y Puertoriquena. Ella fue a una primaria bilingue y continuo sus estudios de lenguajes en secundaria con Chino Mandarino. Ella fue a la Universidad de Loyola en Chicago por dos anos, un ano en el campo universitario en Chicago y el segundo ano en su programa de Estudios Chino en el campo universitario en Beijing. Despues de decidir de estudiar en otra universidad, ella trabajo como una maestra de pre-escolar en Chicago por un ano. A Glenna le gusta trabajar con ninos, estudiar lenguajes, bailar, cocinar, cantar y componer musica. Su espiritu juventil y su energia la guia a trabajar con ninos y ella espera que pueda ser una consejera de ninos cuando termina sus estudios.

 Photo to come soon!   Megan Hill

                  Infant Teacher

Profile on its way.

Phote to come soon!    Heather Whited

                                        Infant Teacher

Heather White is thrilled to be joining the Escuela Viva team and couldn’t be happier about the opportunity to work with the great staff and wonderful children and families of Escuela Viva.

Ms. Whited has an undergraduate degree in creative writing and psychology from Western Kentucky University and a Master’s degree in Education and English Language Learning from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. Her first job after finishing her writing degree was to teach English to incoming international students at Western Kentucky University and teaching has been what she’s been passionate about ever since. She has had the opportunity to travel to Japan and teach English in middle schools as part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching program from 2007 to 2008. She lived in the city of Himeji, home to the oldest feudal castle in Japan (She is a very proud ex-JET!)

From there, she did volunteer work with Camphills of Ireland. Camphill Communities can be found all around the world. Their mission is sustainable community living first and foremost. They provide loving and progressive care for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. She then lived at Camphill Duffcarrig in County Wexford, where she spent her days working and living along side people with and without disabilities to run a self sustaining community. She farmed along side the residents, she farmed, gardened, made crafts, and operated under the belief that we all had something to offer and teach one another. Ms. Whited moved back to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee in August 2009 and began her graduate degree and work in Metro Nashville Public Schools, where she worked in the vision services department, which provided services for the system’s visually impaired and blind students.

Now Ms. Whited is here in lovely Portland and she is excited about the opportunity to get to know this great city and the people who live here. She looks forward to her work with Escuela Viva, the children, the families and the staff.

 Photo to come soon!

Rosie Robinson

Toddler Head Teacher

Rosie was born and raised on the central coast of California. Since her early childhood, she has always been drawn to working with children. While helping care for her younger brother, Rosie discovered the rewards of using empathy to understand and advocate for young people who cannot yet express themselves well verbally. During her summers in high school, Rosie worked as an aide for children with disabilities. She found that she loved being able to give her students the support and comfort they needed while coaching and prodding them to reach out in social interactions or attempt new intimidating activities. From 2004-2008 while Rosie attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, she worked as a Teacher’s Aide in the infant/toddler and preschool classrooms of The Kids’ Place. She always looked forward to the time she got to spend in the nurturing, joyful, creative atmosphere of the preschool and relished the break from college life that her job there allowed her. During her junior year, Rosie spent six months studying abroad in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where she lived with a host family, studied psychology in Spanish at the local university, and volunteered at an orphanage.

In Mexico, she dedicated herself to speaking, reading, writing, and even thinking only in Spanish until it finally started to feel natural. At the end of her semester, her transition back to the United States was made smoother by a summer of full-time work at a Mexican restaurant in California, where she was constantly surrounded by a fascinating blend of Spanish and English and Mexican immigrant culture and foods. It was there that she discovered “Spanglish” to be her very favorite language as she delighted in the creativity, freedom, and wealth of expression that occurs in a bilingual community.

When Rosie graduated in May of 2008 with a BA in Psychology, she thought she might be headed towards a career in social work, or at least in some realm of social services. She moved back to California to be near her family and was fortunate to find a position as an Advocate Supervisor for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Luis Obispo) through AmeriCorps. There, she supervised long-term volunteers who mentored and advocated for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the juvenile dependency system. Her experience with CASA and AmeriCorps in 2009 allowed Rosie a view into nearly all of the social services in her community, as she worked closely with social workers, attorneys, therapists, teachers, counselors, special education advocates, mediators, translators etc. Although she was offered a staff position at CASA at the end of her AmeriCorps service, Rosie decided to decline the position because throughout her time in this position she had found herself more drawn toward the role preschool teachers had the opportunity to play in the greater picture of societal health. She discovered that her own calling was not in crisis management, rehabilitation, or healing, but in early prevention. She wanted to help teach very young children how to take care of themselves, how to form healthy, caring, trusting relationships with other people, how to be joyful, how to understand and express their own needs and how to work toward meeting those needs without hurting others. Rosie aspires to return to school some day soon to earn a Masters in Early Childhood Education.

Rosie is grateful to be a part of the vibrant, bilingual Escuela Viva community, and grateful to be included in the lives of so many loving, smiling, curious children. She would like to thank all of the Sapitos parents for sharing the care of their children with her and would like to encourage all parents to talk to her about any questions, concerns, suggestions, or delights anytime – and if you don’t manage to squeeze it in at the beginning or end of the day, you can always email her at rosie.m.robinson@gmail.com.

 Photo to come soon!

Rex Dazzle

Toddler Teacher

Rex grew up in New England, and lived in North Carolina for high school and college, where she graduated from Warren Wilson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Sociology. After 5 years in Vermont, a year of teaching Preschool in Maine, and most recently, a summer of organic farming and wilderness education with Preschoolers in Vermont, Rex is happy to be settling in and making home in Oregon, a place she has admired and longed to live for many years.

Her love of the Spanish language began in grade 5, and has only grown with 10 years of continued studies, and studying abroad in Mexico. Her experiences as a nanny, camp counselor, preschool teacher, and an art instructor for kids on the Autism spectrum have made clear that teaching is the path for her. She loves finding innovative ways to encourage exploration and growth, and nurturing others' confidence and expression of their authentic selves. Rex plans to pursue Graduate studies in Early Childhood and Elementary education. Rex is thrilled to be part of Escuela Viva in the Sapitos classroom. When not at school, Rex enjoys bicycling, farming, baking, and making pottery.

Leticia Garcia
Infant Toddler Teacher-Aide

Mi nombre Leticia García Martínez,nací en Santiago de Cuba,Cuba Agosto 3/1966. Creci en un ambiente muy familiar,humilde y amoroso junto a mis padres y dos hermanos varones. Mi papá Mario García,mi mamá Juana Martínez ambos cubanos y ciudadanos norteamericanos. Actualmente viven en Portland OR.

Soy casada con dos hijos. Mi hijo tiene 21 años y mi hija tiene 3 años. Pienso que a pesar de lo dificil de la crianza,es una experiencia maravillosa,porque los hijos son una bendición y te ayudan a vivir. En mi hogar se respira un ambiente sano,donde le trasmito a mis hijos los valores que me fueron inculcados como el respeto y el amor a los demas.

Llegue a los Estados Unidos,a la ciudad de Portland en Enero/2009. Mis estudios en los diferentes niveles eduacionales los realicé en un período de 17 años. En estos ultimos meses he hecho algunos cursos referentes a la protección y cuidados de niños,su comportamiento,en el MT.Hood Community College.

En cuanto a porque me gusta el trabajo con niños? En mi país cuando seleccionas tu carrera universitaria. Se te informa ampliamente las diferentes especialidades de la misma,sabia que una de las areas era la pedagogía. En los 5 años de estudios universitarios trabajé como voluntaria en Bibliotecas aqui se hacia un trabajo en conjunto con las escuelas donde su objetivo fundamental era despertar en niños y adolescentes el interes por la lectura. La importancia de la misma para el desarrollo de su lenguaje asi como una mejor dicción y ortografía. Ya como trabajadora pues siempre hice mi trabajo con niños,en le período de Servicio Social trabajé en Museos y Bibliotecas en conjunto con las escuelas. Después trabaje por un período de 8 años con adolescentes en una Secundaria Básica (Middle School) como profesora de Historia y Español. También desempeñe el cargo de profesora guía. Mi responsabilidad era el cuidado y protección de 15 alumnos,como pedagoga junto con la familia desarrollabamos un importante trabajo,no solo nos preocupabamos por su desarrollo intelectual,laboral sino también físico y emocional.

El último trabajo en mi país lo desempeñe como educadora en un período de casi 3 años en un Círculo Infantil (Child Learning Center) aqui trabaje con niños entre 1 y 5 años,la experincia en este trabajo fue bonita y muy gratificante. Las educadoras debemos tener tacto pedagógico,es decir saber acercarse al niño con atención,mucha paciencia,tratarlos con serenidad y sobre todo mucho cariño. Somos un ejemplo para ellos y aprendemos de ellos,en mi país hay una frase muy común que dice que"los niños son la esperanza del mundo". Tambien lei la frase de Loris Malaguzzi que decia"las cosas de los niños y para los niños se aprende solo de los niños".Ahora me preparo para trabajar en Escuela Viva quiero dar todo de mi. Pedirle a Dios que me de las fuerzas y la sabiduría para desarrollar un buen trabajo con los niños,enseñarles y aprender de ellos,tengo una niña de tres añitos quiero trasmitirle el mismo amor que le doy a ella,también desarrollar un trabajo responsable junto a la directora y maestras de la escuela.

Gregory Lewis
Toddler Teacher-Aide

Gregory Lewis graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 1995 with degrees in political science and creative writing and attained a long-term substitute teacher's license in California. He worked for Riverside Unified School District for a year taking long-term assignments in kindergarten, middle school, high school and special education until he was accepted and attended graduate school at The New School University in New York and majored in philosophy. At The New School he also worked as the evening technical supervisor for the adult Computer Instruction Center at the university where he tutored students in computers and frequently conducted computer education seminars for fellow employees. After Gregory decided to leave New York in 2001 he moved to Los Angeles and started his own computer consulting and tutoring business that he ran for nearly 7 years until he decided to go back to school and get a full teacher's license. With the birth of his son in 2008 he wasn't able to complete his schooling and decided to take a job as an in-home tutor for autistic children for Applied Behavioral Consultants for nearly two years before moving to Portland, Oregon with his wife and son. Gregory has spent two years being the principal caregiver for his son before he decided to go back to teaching again and was offered employment at Escuela Viva. He is very excited about the opportunity to teach at Escuela Viva and loves working with the wonderful and friendly staff and children at the school.

Gregory is an avid reader and writer. He has had some of his poetry published and has co-written several movie scripts for independent films. His life has been greatly inspired and enlivened by eastern thought and he has spent brief amounts of time living in two Buddhist monasteries; The Tao Monastery in Riverside, California and the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, New York. This is how Gregory has described his general philosophy with regard to teaching children: "You can't entirely prepare the world for your child, but you very much can prepare your child for the world. Be their faithful, patient and compassionate guide in arming them with the powerful tool of being internally focused as opposed to being externally focused, always exercising and challenging their internal wheels of thought towards the crystallizing of their own healthy and skillful needle of meditative discernment to understand and deal with the world around them." Gregory's principal ambition as a teacher is to guide his students toward forming their own, individual qualities of compassion, self-respect, self-discipline, self-love and self-confidence in each of their lives.

AQUILLARY STAFF

LaraLei Vanderputten
Nutrition Specialist

Laralei Vander Putten has been with the Escuela Viva family almost
since its inception. First as a parent, then a volunteer, and finally as a teacher. She creates wonderful meals as our Nutrition specialist. Her experience in all areas has given her a great oppurtunity to experience all the in and outs of being a creative part of a loving school. Both her children, son Oliver and daughter Logan, began their preschool experience back in 2004 and have both graduated into outside grade school programs. Laralei continues to educate herself, her family and the community with the great team at Escuela viva. She has been in the north Portland area for almost 16 years where she shares a home with partner Kevin and her children and loves every minute..rain or shine.

Photo to come soon!                  Lis Campos

                                                   Afternoon Teacher

Lis Campos was born in La Habana, Cuba in 1989. At age of 19 she graduated from EIA Escuela de Instructores de Arte de La Habana with a bachelors in Humanities and Instructor of the Theater arts. During the four years she studied at EIA she experienced vocational work practices in different schools and with different ages. Working with children two years old to adolescents, she conducted workshops engaging and promoting all the arts. The final culmination of her studies included a theatrical. This performance had implicit community involvement, experimenting with different art, designing, singing, dancing and a lot of fun.

Lis came to the United States in September 2010 where she currently lives with her father, a resident of 15 years. Her story began with Escuela Viva February 2011 when she asked her teacher at PCC how she could get some work experience in United States. Their recommendation was to do some volunteer work. At that point she started her work as a volunteer in Escuela Viva ten hours a week after school helping with lunch in the Tortuguitas class. After several months as a volunteer she became part of the substitute teachers group and today is the afternoon teacher. Her experience as a volunteer provide her with the flexibility of working in all the classes, giving her an opportunity to know every student of Escuela Viva. Every day Escuela Viva inspires her to get up in the morning and engage herself in this new country far from her own county and familiar culture. Ms. Campos enjoys working with the children and has cherished the opportunity to learn new things, work with the staff of Escuela Viva, and getting to know the families.