About Us

I was born in Durango, Mexico, and I am now a citizen of Seattle, WA where I live with my family. I have three sons and have been married for 38 years.  I have over 20 years of experience as a preschool teacher, program supervisor, mentor teacher and executive director. Fifteen years as a community based trainer and field coach and twelve years college adjacent faculty. I have a BA Human Development, MA organizational change and Dual Language Pedagogy - specializations in Early Childhood Education and Leadership in Education

Early Childhood Education is my passion and profession.  As well as, a PhD in Christian Counseling. All of my hopes for children and families lie in this field. I believe that I am a natural teacher. I would like to share the knowledge I gather from professionals, school, and peers with those working in the field.  I am always willing to respond to the needs of my teachers in terms of helping orient them with resources and by modeling best practices. I have a heavy emphasis on early literacy and numeracy that is supported in linguistically and culturally relevant ways; I have been mentored by the best.
 

I value diversity and I believe that all people are admirable regardless of their difference in beliefs, values, and ways of being. Supporting the development of adults and children as they discover their passion and potential –  is how I knew that my call is to teach and direct.
 

“If I can teach a classroom with ten children I can impact the lives of ten children. If I can teach a classroom with ten teachers I can impact the lives of 100 children”  - Luz Casio

My summoned name is Javier, however to everyone else at Refugee and Immigrant Family Center Bilingual Preschool, I am simply known as Teacher Javie. I was born in the city of Durango, which is also the name of the state of Mexico I was so humbly given birth to, some odd years ago. I’ve been part of the SWEL/RIFC team for many, many years and enjoyed every moment of it before transitioning to Assistant Director. Although, I haven’t always been part of such an amazing organization, I did however, serve and form part of an equally life changing AmeriCorps organization called City Year.  As a City Year member, I spent two years serving middle school students hands-on, supporting them both inside and outside of the classroom. I played a fundamental role in helping them reach their educational goals and potential. Once I completed my 22-month commitment with City Year, and served more than 3,400 hours, I figured it was time to get a “real job”, as I worked some odd jobs for about a year, then I was granted the opportunity to work in a childcare center. I was there for about a year when I was given the opportunity to come SWEL. My life goal has always been around trying to help people or work in human services (social work) however; through my time in early childhood education I changed that slightly. I got my AA at Seattle Central Community College, preceded to pursue my Bachelor of Arts in Community Organizing and Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education at Goddard College. I have committed my life to changing the course of history, by fostering and developing young idealist everyday during my tenure here at SWEL & RIFC.  My commitment to the children has been to provide and foster an experience like no other before they have to go into the real world. I strive to document the children’s milestones and the essence of their play every day.  On a personal note, I have two loving parents, whom also gave birth to two more children of the Casio-Gomez clan. I am married and have three wonderful children.  

I’m Karla, the Supervisor at Refugee and Immigrant Family Center Bilingual Preschool. I have been a part of RIFC for 12 years! I first started at our sister site and transitioned to RIFC in 2016. My journey with RIFC/SWEL began in 2011 when I started volunteering, and in 2013, I officially became part of the team. During my senior year of high school, I completed my Job Shadowing project at SWEL in the Creekside classroom with Karina Rojas. It was then that I realized my passion for working with young children and inspiring their curiosity.

In 2015, I began taking Early Childhood Education (ECE) classes at Highline College, and five years later, in June 2020, I earned my Bachelor's degree in Teaching in Early Learning.

I was raised in Washington, but my roots are in Durango, Mexico. I am fully bilingual in Spanish and English. I have a beautiful daughter, and we love traveling together, exploring new cities. In 2016, I had the incredible opportunity to visit New Zealand to learn more about the Reggio Emilia philosophy, interactions, and teaching strategies. I am committed to continuing my education in early childhood and embracing new opportunities for growth.

One of my favorite personal hobbies is capturing special moments through photography, especially action shots that preserve life’s most meaningful experiences.

My name is Reyna. I was born in the beautiful Costa Chica of

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. I moved to the U.S. when I was three years old and I have

been lucky to live in California, Florida and Washington. With the Pacific Northwest

being my favorite place with the chilly, rainy weather. In my free time I enjoy spending

time with my family, going on road trips, getting to do fun crafting projects and enjoy

being creative. I have been doing nonprofit work for the past five years and it has been

very rewarding. I enjoy helping my community and watching my community thrive. In

my Family Support Specialist position I look forward to building strong relationships

with families to help them succeed in their goals and wishes.

Hello everyone, my name is Lorena, I have been married for 27 years and I have two children, I am from the state of Jalisco in Mexico and I have been living in the state of Washington for 20 years. I enjoy being in nature in my free time and I like walking with my pets and admiring the outdoors that surround me in this beautiful state. My family is my priority in my life, which is why I try to always have quality time with them. When my children were

young, I volunteered at Para Los Niños, a non-profit association. There I learned how important it is, for our children to speak their native language in addition to English and how parents are responsible for transmitting our customs, language and traditions, to our children. I joined the RIFC team and I am excited to be part of a great community. I am expanding my knowledge and am attending Highline College. I want to further my knowledge in Early Childhood Education by also attending trainings, workshops and opening myself to all the opportunities that come my way, and thus give better service to the community and a better education for our children.

My name is Azeneth. I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I am currently a student at Highline College working towards getting my bachelor’s degree in pediatric nursing. My family is both from Honduras and Mexico. I am the oldest child, my first language was Spanish, so I am fluent in both English and Spanish. My favorite colors are white and pink. I enjoy traveling and taking pictures of all my adventures, I love visiting parks with amazing views and spending quality time with family and friends is very important to me. I am very grateful to be working at RIFC. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and I want to use my time here to grow and learn from everyone around me.

I'm Keren. I am from Siguatepeque, Honduras I am 30 years old. I am married and have a daughter of 2 years 9 months. 

I love to visit nature forests, beach, lakes, rivers, and camping. Trinkets are my weakness. My favorite colors are yellow and aqua.

 I am a teacher and have a degree in Early Childhood Education. Working with children makes me happy and excited.  I look forward to seeing their growth throughout the school year. 

  My name is Rosario. I arrived in the United States when I was 20 years old. I grew up in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, called the “Magic Village.” On my free time I like to exercise, go out and take nature walks. I also enjoy working with the Hispanic community, especially with women. In 2019 I started my AAS degree at Highline College in Teaching in Early Learning. I value the Reggio Emilia Approach and the holistic focus. I am excited to join the RIFC team and expand children’s learning.

I am happy to introduce myself by my birth name, Aileen Hernandez Espinosa. I was born in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México, which is in the southern part of Mexico, bordering the country of Guatemala. At the age of 5, my parents migrated to the United States, where I was raised in the community of White Center. I graduated with honors from Evergreen High School and received the Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing my proficiency in the Spanish language.

In 2021, I had the opportunity to work in a childcare facility, where my passion and curiosity for the early childhood education field grew. I am currently studying at Lake Washington Technical College to further my education in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and earn my AA degree.

I have one child, a boy named Ethan Rafael, who is 4 years old. He has been a major inspiration for my passion to work in early education. He has taught me patience, dedication, empathy, and compassion, helping me better understand the importance and value of each individual in a child’s life.

I am excited to join the RIFC team and contribute to bringing more emphasis on the importance of community, respect, and inclusion for the future generation of leaders and society as a whole.

 Hello, my name is Patricia Diaz, I am originally from Guatemala, I am very happy and excited to be able to be on the RIFC team this year, as a lead teacher of the Explorers classroom, I am grateful for the opportunity that the administrative team has given me and above all the trust. I am currently a student at Highline College pursuing an AAS degree, I also have knowledge in Computer Science and Business Administration, and a career in Christian Counseling, the year 2024 has been a fascinating experience for my life here at RIFC being able to share with the children, and seeing them in their different stages has been good training, in addition to the gratification of seeing them grow, it is really satisfying to be able to be part of their lives and become that support for families, knowing that here at RIFC we guide them in that transition of leaving the family bosom and going to school makes me more committed and also happy to be able to be part of that process.

Hello! My name is Flabio, and I am excited to begin my teaching journey. I started my career in September 2024, and I am thrilled to be part of this amazing team. I was born and raised in Loretito, Aguascalientes, and my passion for early childhood education has led me to pursue my Bachelor's degree at Highline College.

I look forward to learning from both the children and my mentors as I grow in this field. My goal is to create a warm and supportive environment where every child feels valued and inspired to learn. I can't wait to build meaningful connections and be part of this wonderful community!

 My name is Maricruz, I was born in Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán México, a very hot place and it is well known for Carnitas.

At the age of 17 I moved to live in the United States since one of my older brothers motivated me to come here and over time I began to like the work and life here and decided to start my family. Since I arrived in the United States I have worked a lot in hotels and thanks to my performance I have always had opportunities to grow. I started cleaning rooms, supervising and finally became a house-keeping manager.

Over time I met my husband with whom I have two beautiful daughters, Mallory and Aaliyah with whom I love spending a lot of time, they are what I love most in life. In my free time, what I like to do most is spend time with my family. We go camping, we play soccer, and we also like to go on vacation, one of our favorite places is Kauai. My family is very large, I have five sisters and five brothers, and almost all of my brothers have children so I have many nephews as well. Over the years I have helped my family take care of their children from babies to twelve years old. Many years ago, I realized that I really liked children, but unfortunately, I had not had the opportunity to prepare myself and do what I like. Now, thanks to RIfC having given me this great opportunity, I am taking advantage of it and enjoying it to the fullest.I have been here for almost two years & Every day I feel smarter and I give my best, I continue taking classes, I want to be well prepared, to have a great future, for my daughters and for yours too.

My name is Elizabeth Daysi Patricia Pérez López, and I am originally from El Salvador, a country known for its rich culture and delicious cuisine, especially our pupusas. I am deeply committed to the education and development of children, and my goal is to foster a positive and stimulating learning environment where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

I am currently a student at North Seattle College, pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. This academic path allows me to gain the necessary skills to positively impact the lives of young children and contribute to the development of future generations.

Beyond my passion for education, I enjoy various activities in my free time. I love spending time with my family, creating unforgettable memories. I also enjoy traveling to nature-filled destinations, exploring the beauty of the world around us. Shopping and hiking are some of my favorite activities, as they help me relax and unwind.

My vision is to be an inspiring educator who not only teaches but also motivates and guides children throughout their learning journey. I aspire to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to explore their natural curiosity. Together, we can build a bright future full of opportunities for our young learners.