Lizzet Gonzalez
Director, Pearland Campus

Lizzet was born and raised in Mexico.  She earned a bachelor's degree in early education before she and her family moved to the U.S. in 2007. Lizzet recognized the value of preserving her children's language and culture and she has seen the many opportunities they've gained from being bilingual.

Lizzet has been an educator for almost two decades.  Her philosophy is that young children learn best through active play in a sensory-rich environment.  She loves to guide them as they investigate the natural world, make discoveries, and become more independent!  Lizzet firmly believes that SSH Pearland is a special place for children because of the love, care, and empathy that unite the staff.  Together, they are proud to help students gain bilingual proficiency, develop academically, learn social skills, and gain a cultural understanding that will benefit them for life.

Veronica Rojo
Director, Sugar Land Campus

Veronica is originally from Venezuela and lived in Mexico before moving to the U.S. with her family in 2011. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and worked in healthcare administration before joining Spanish Schoolhouse in 2018 as an office administrator. She was promoted to Asst. Director, and now is proud to serve as the Director of the Sugar Land school.

Veronica knows that the journey to bilingualism is an adventure that can help make connections, bridge cultures, and help students become better learners. She loves to share her culture with the Spanish Schoolhouse families. Veronica is proud to lead her team of dedicated and creative teachers, as they work together to build a positive foundation of learning for each and every student.

Margaret Jimenez
Director, Friendswood Campus

Margaret was born and raised in Houston, TX, to a family with roots in both Mexico and Europe. She is a proud Houstonian, who believes strongly in the values of being bilingual and bicultural. Margaret holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Houston, Clear Lake, and is pursuing a master's degree in human services management. She brings more than eight years of leadership experience in healthcare, immigration, and education.

Margaret believes that all children are unique and deserve educators who recognize their individual needs. She loves helping them become confident learners through positive reinforcement and engaging, hands-on activities. Her goal is to create a safe, caring, and stimulating environment where students can flourish, explore, and reach their full potential while gaining all the advantages of a second language.

Cecilia Lozano
Director, North Dallas Campus

Cecilia was born and raised in Mexico City. She studied business administration with a specialization in marketing, and then worked in the field of marketing research for several years. Cecilia moved to Texas with her family in 2008 and began volunteering at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in their marketing and social media department. She has also worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation doing fundraising and translation projects.

When researching preschools for her daughters, Cecilia was thrilled to find Spanish Schoolhouse where her children could strengthen their Spanish and learn more about their culture. She began working as an office manager at SSH Frisco, where she learned the administrative side of the business. In 2021, Cecilia was promoted to Director for Spanish Schoolhouse North Dallas. She is excited to continue the tradition of sharing the Spanish language and Latin culture in a warm, caring, and safe environment. She strives to make SSH North Dallas a welcoming place for all students, family, and staff.

Brittany Alcaraz
Director, Round Rock Campus

Brittany was born and raised in Mission Viejo, California. She previously worked in interior design and finance, but her passion for educating young children began way back in high school. Working in childcare for four years, Brittany discovered how important early childhood education is in creating a love of learning! The seed for becoming a future educator had been planted.

Growing up in a Spanish-speaking home, her grandmother AND great-grandmother were a big influence on Brittany to keep the language and culture alive. They were instrumental in her understanding the importance of passing on these valuable gifts to future generations.

In 2020, Brittany started as a preschool teacher at Spanish Schoolhouse, bringing together her love of education and her passion for the Spanish language and cultural heritage. She was promoted to office manager in 2021 and was awarded Employee of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year! She appreciates that at Spanish Schoolhouse, we can "travel" to other countries and see their rich and unique cultures. Her love for Spanish Schoolhouse is evident as she greets her students so warmly every morning!

Brittany is excited to be part of educating the next generation of bilingual children and is committed to providing a safe, fun, and loving environment where her students and staff can thrive. She's happy to work in an environment where she knows she can make a difference in people's lives!

Cristina Pantin
Director, Katy Campus

Cristina is originally from Venezuela. She studied industrial design in college while also pursuing her passion for dance. Cristina started dancing Flamenco when she was 12 years old and eventually realized her dream of owning a dance studio in Venezuela. In 2001, she moved to the U.S. with her family.

Cristina has worked with children most of her adult life, teaching art, dance, and music. In 2015, she began working at Spanish Schoolhouse as a teacher, as well as the after school Latin and flamenco dance teacher. She loves to make learning fun for her students and to encourage their creativity and imaginations. As the director of SSH Katy, Cristina is excited to lead the team and to continue sharing the many advantages of bilingualism with all of her students.

Claudia Aristimuño
Director, Frisco Campus

Claudia is originally from Lecheria Venezuela. She got an early taste of language immersion when she came to the U.S. as an exchange student in high school. Before moving permanently to the U.S. in 2010, Claudia earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering. She continued her education at the University of Dallas, completing a master's degree in business administration while working in the Admissions Office. Combining her business knowledge with her creativity, Claudia then started a small business selling personalized accessories.

Claudia discovered Spanish Schoolhouse when she was looking for a preschool for her children and was immediately captivated by the language immersion opportunity. She loved the welcoming, family-like atmosphere and was excited to be a part of it. Claudia began teaching in 2016 and has taught at the 3-year-old and 4-year-old levels. In 2021, she became the director of SSH Frisco. She is thrilled to lead the team of amazing and creative teachers and to help them be their best every day. She looks forward to continuing to share the gift of bilingualism with more children throughout the coming years.

Mary Tirado
Director, Creekside/Tomball Campus

Mary is originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela. She earned a degree in Business Administration and worked in her family's business as a Human Resources manager for 10 years. She also pursued her passion for dance as a flamenco dance instructor, teaching young children to appreciate the music and movement of this vibrant dance form.

When Mary relocated to Texas in 2015, she quickly found her home at Spanish Schoolhouse. She gained valuable experience teaching in the two, three, and four-year-old classrooms, as well as serving as the summer camp administrator, before assuming the director role. Mary loves being a part of the daily growth and development of her students. She enjoys collaborating with parents to help each child succeed and reach their potential.

Mary is excited to lead Spanish Schoolhouse Creekside's team of dedicated and caring teachers. She loves sharing the advantages of bilingualism and biculturalism with each of her students!

Karla Aleman
Director, Southlake Campus

Karla is originally from Mexico and lived in Puerto Rico and Florida before moving to Texas. She holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, an M.B.A., and a Child Care Training Certificate. Always eager to learn more, she recently completed her Child Development Associate credential.

Karla started with Spanish Schoolhouse as a teacher in 2011, happy to be able to share her culture and language with her young students. She became Assistant Director and was appointed Director in 2014. She loves the environment at Spanish Schoolhouse and is proud of her team of educator who care deeply about children. Karla strives daily to create a warm and loving learning atmosphere for children where they can build confidence in their abilities while also acquiring the benefits of language and cultural awareness.

Rebeca Zambrano
Owner/Director, Rockwall Campus

Rebeca's Mexican heritage and colorful roots have molded her personality and love for children! She holds a degree in education and an associate's degree special education and learning disabilities. She also earned a certificate in child psychology and a certification in neurolinguistic programming. While living in Juarez, Mexico, Rebeca worked as a teacher for children with special needs. Upon moving to Dallas, she began her career in bilingual education and has never looked back.

With over 25 years' experience in child care, Rebeca is proud to be the Director and owner of Spanish Schoolhouse Rockwall, together with her daughter Alexandra Cabada Zambrano. She enjoys the SSH culture and the warm relationships with all of the families who have entrusted their children to her care. Her favorite part of the daily school routine is welcoming all her students with hugs and high-fives! It fills her with pride to see the smiles on their faces as they develop confidence and a love of learning.

Maria del Rocio Diaz
Director, McKinney Campus

Maria ("Rocio") was born in Bogota, Colombia, and holds a degree in graphic design from Centro de Diseño Taller Cinco. After moving to the U.S., she discovered Spanish Schoolhouse and began her SSH career as a teacher in 2005. Rocio has led the McKinney school as the director since 2012.

Rocio has always had a special connection with children and says that working in the Spanish Schoolhouse environment has been the perfect experience. She believes the most effective method of teaching is to encourage children's natural interest in exploration and discovery of new things, creating a lifelong love of learning. Because of the changing world we live in, Rocio feels that knowing the Spanish language and understanding the Hispanic culture is a gift that can help to develop even more skills throughout a person's life. Her goal is to create a comfortable and warm environment where students can play, learn and be happy.

Kristina Franco
Owner/Director, Kingwood Campus

Kristina Franco is originally from Santurce, Puerto Rico. She grew up in a bilingual household where her mother spoke English and her father spoke Spanish. Kristina holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Miami University and a master's degree in teaching from Trinity College. She taught high school Spanish for 10 years before discovering Spanish Schoolhouse. As an Assistant Director and then as Director, she fell in love with the school and the opportunity to help children become bilingual from an early age. In 2017, Kristina opened Spanish Schoolhouse Kingwood.

Kristina knows that learning a language at a young age can lead to greater fluency. She finds it especially rewarding to hear stories of children using Spanish at home when neither Mom nor Dad speaks Spanish or to hear a child brag that they are truly "Spanish" because they attended SSH. She is proud to be providing students with not only core concepts but the gift of a second language and cultural awareness.

Marie Gómez
Director, Keller Campus

Marie is originally from Venezuela. She has a bachelor's degree in computer science and an associate degree in child development. She worked in telecommunications before migrating to the United States in 1999. Marie began her career at Spanish Schoolhouse as a teacher at the Southlake campus. She joined the Keller school in 2011 as director, eager to combine her expertise in education and management.

Marie is constantly striving to increase her knowledge and enhance the educational experience for children. Marie is committed to promoting bilingualism among children due to the cognitive benefits it provides and the numerous future opportunities it affords. She enjoys her role in Spanish Schoolhouse and the opportunity to teach students about her language and culture.

Yolanda Armas
Owner, Fort Worth Campus

Yolanda is from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, but has lived and studied in cities around the world. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Communication in England and an Advanced Certification in Public Relations at UCLA.

In addition to being a Spanish Schoolhouse school owner, Yolanda has over 20 years' experience in business, specializing in marketing and advertising in multicultural markets for Fortune 500 companies.

Yolanda appreciates the many doors that bilingualism has opened for her. She's proud of the work she's accomplished in Spain and in the U.S. and enjoys many opportunities to explore and enjoy different cultures.

Dusty Gotcher
Owner, Fort Worth Campus

Dusty grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and knows firsthand the value of being bilingual in Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications and a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership. With 13 years of teaching experience at the elementary levels and an additional ten years as a Spanish Schoolhouse owner, Dusty is clearly committed and passionate about education. He firmly believes that a high-quality early childhood education develops the foundation for a student's success in school and later in life.

By combining a comprehensive curriculum and program, loving and energetic staff, and the phenomenal benefits of second language learning, Dusty helps ensure that SSH students are thriving in their early childhood education and development.

Patty Nuñez
Owner/Director, Flower Mound Campus

Patty is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico City. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana. After more than 15 years of international business experience, she relocated to the DFW area, and joined Spanish Schoolhouse as a teacher. Patty fell in love with the school and decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur in the educational field. She has been the School Director of Spanish Schoolhouse Flower Mound, and co-owner with Adriana Tetelman, since 2010.

Patty loves working with young children and cultivating an appreciation for bilingualism from an early age. She's proud that she can combine her passion for teaching with the privilege of sharing her language and culture. It's a fulfilling career as she knows her students are gaining cognitive and academic advantages that will last a lifetime.

Jennifer Granadillo
Director, Coppell Campus

Jennifer is originally and proudly from Caracas, Venezuela. She holds degrees in both Education and Human Resources, making her an ideal preschool leader! In addition to her HR experience, Jennifer has 10 years of experience in curriculum development and taught five years at the elementary level.

Jennifer first experienced Spanish Schoolhouse as a mom before becoming a teacher, Assistant Director, and Director. As an educator, Jennifer values the opportunity to help open new doors of discovery for her young students and help them reach their full potential. She creates a fun environment and a sense of belonging for each student at the school with her warm and open style. Jennifer is proud to work with an amazing team of teachers and to be able to share her language and culture.

Gaby Martinez del Rio
Owner/Director, Castle Hills/Carrollton Campus

Gaby was born in Mexico City, where she learned Spanish, English, and French in a trilingual school. She was inspired by her mother's lifelong career in education and she, too, developed a passion for teaching. After moving to the U.S., Gaby earned a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in bilingual education.

While in college, Gaby began teaching at Spanish Schoolhouse Coppell. In partnership with her mother, she opened the first SSH franchise in 2008. After 10 years of teaching, she took on the leadership of the school as Director. Gaby enjoys teaching so much that she still teaches the After-School classes and serves as the After School trainer for all SSH schools.

Gaby believes that the most important gift she can give each student is a sense of love and acceptance. When students feel this love, their potential becomes limitless! She is very proud of her teachers who help fulfill this mission and create a feeling of family in her school. Gaby continues to study and learn about early childhood education and hopes to open additional schools in the future.

Tania Garcia
Director, Arlington Campus

Tania is originally from Mexico City. She has enjoyed working with children since she was young and is currently working on a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Tania started her Spanish Schoolhouse career as a teacher before becoming the office manager, and now Director.

Tania believes that the preschool years are a crucial developmental period which shapes a child's character, problem-solving skill, and personality. She loves having the opportunity to help children learn and practice the skills needed for a successful educational start, while sharing her culture and language. Tania feels that the most rewarding job anyone could have is to provide a loving and safe environment where children can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically! She's proud to be impacting students' lives with her team at SSH Arlington!

Paulina Parker
Owner/Director, Allen Campus

Paulina was born in Florida and at age 10 moved to El Salvador, which she considers home. A passion for teaching motivated her to earn a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Master's degree in Family Counseling. Paulina owned and directed her own preschool in El Salvador for 12 years.

In 2002, she moved to Texas where she taught kindergarten for six years. She became involved with Spanish Schoolhouse in 2003, where she led the After School Spanish program for the Frisco ISD. Paulina feels blessed to be the director and owner of Spanish Schoolhouse in Allen since 2008. It allows her to enrich the lives of children with academic excellence and the Spanish language, and to share her Latino culture.

Ann Mena
Owner, McKinney Campus

Ann was born and raised in New Mexico and holds a master's degree from Stanford University with a minor in Spanish. Ann originally started the McKinney Spanish Schoolhouse because of her lifelong love of learning, working with children and making a difference in the lives of others. Her children graduated from the Spanish Schoolhouse program, and it was through her experience as a parent that she learned about and grew to love Spanish Schoolhouse. With a passion for education, and experience raising bilingual children, she is thrilled to bring the program to local families as an owner of the McKinney campus.

Ann has seen firsthand that the SSH Spanish immersion preschool and kindergarten program provides for a traditional preschool education while also immersing students in both the Spanish language and the Hispanic culture. Her goal is to do everything possible to prepare the students to enter their next stage of learning. When they graduate from Spanish Schoolhouse, they will have increased confidence in themselves, knowledge of a second language, and an experience that they will always look back on with fond memories.

Gaby Ramirez
Owner/Director, Castle Hills/Carrollton Campus

Gaby was born and raised in Mexico City, where she attended a bilingual school. She holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and has been a teacher since the age of 21. Teaching has been Gaby's passion as long as she can remember. After moving to Texas, she began working at Spanish Schoolhouse as an After School teacher. She then became a Preschool teacher, and finally became Director at SSH Coppell.

With a firm belief in the mission of Spanish Schoolhouse, and wanting to build a legacy for her children, Gaby opened the first franchise location in 2007 in Carrollton/Castle Hills!

Gaby and her daughter, as Directors of this school, feel honored that they've been able to touch so many young lives. Gaby is very proud of what Spanish Schoolhouse has accomplished and continues to accomplish. She believes that this is only the beginning and she feels blessed to be part of this amazing family.