Teacher Bios

Ms. Sarah is the founder and director of Spanish With Sarah and brings a lifelong passion for language, teaching, and building meaningful learning communities to the school. She began her teaching career in 1998 and has spent many years working with students and teachers in both classroom and leadership roles.

Over the course of her career, Sarah has served as a classroom teacher and curriculum coordinator, experiences that have shaped the vision and structure of Spanish With Sarah. Her work centers on creating an environment where academic rigor, language immersion, and strong relationships go hand in hand.

At SWS, Sarah is especially passionate about character education and helping students grow not only as learners, but as thoughtful, confident, and empathetic individuals. Hearing students share their ideas, creativity, and perspectives in two languages is at the heart of the program she envisioned.

Sarah feels incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a dedicated team of educators and to partner with families in supporting each child’s growth.

Ms. Jill has been part of the Spanish With Sarah community since 2007, first as a parent and later as a teacher, and has been teaching at SWS since 2011. This long-standing connection gives her a deep understanding of the school’s mission, values, and the close relationships that define our community.

In her role as Assistant Director, Ms. Jill works closely alongside Sarah to support the daily operations of the school and to ensure a positive, well-supported experience for students, families, and staff. Over the years, she has had the unique opportunity to teach at every grade level, allowing her to build meaningful relationships across the entire school and develop a broad perspective on student growth and learning.

Ms. Jill values the collaborative, family-centered culture at Spanish With Sarah and takes pride in helping create an environment where students feel known, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

Outside of school, Ms. Jill enjoys spending time with her children, Elsie, Rylan, and Hazel, and her husband, Mike. She loves reading, hiking, and traveling, and stays busy supporting her children in their many activities.

Ms. Marilu is a valued member of the Spanish With Sarah team and plays a central role in supporting the daily operations of the school. With many years of administrative experience, she helps ensure that communication, organization, and school routines run smoothly for both families and staff.

Bilingual in Spanish and English, Ms. Marilu has worked with international companies and within the education system in Mexico, experiences that have enriched her professional skills and strengthened her ability to support a diverse school community. She is often one of the first points of contact for families, particularly regarding attendance and day-to-day questions, and is known for her calm, helpful, and welcoming approach.

Ms. Marilu feels grateful to be part of the Spanish With Sarah community and is dedicated to contributing to a warm, well-organized environment where students and families feel supported and cared for.

Maestra Macky joined the Spanish With Sarah team in the fall of 2015 and is thrilled to work with our preschool students in the immersion program. She enjoys supporting young learners as they begin developing their Spanish language skills while building confidence, curiosity, and a love of school during these early years.

Maestra Macky loves working with children and finds great professional satisfaction in observing their growth, progress, and achievements. She brings a rich educational background to her teaching, holding a degree in Criminal Justice as well as a Master’s Degree in Education. She has several years of experience working in private schools in California with both preschool and kindergarten students.

Outside of the classroom, Maestra Macky enjoys spending time with her family, including her son, José Luis Jr., and her daughter, María José. In her free time, she loves dancing and listening to music.

Maestra Veronica joined the Spanish With Sarah community in 2019, beginning as a preschool assistant and continuing her work with young learners in our immersion program. She brings many years of experience working with children and a deep appreciation for early childhood education.

Before joining SWS, Maestra Veronica worked as a professional daycare provider for 25 years. During that time, she also taught preschool, including Spanish, supporting young children as they developed language, confidence, and social skills. Her long-standing experience allows her to create a nurturing and supportive classroom environment where students feel safe and encouraged.

Maestra Veronica finds great joy in working with children and especially loves seeing their bright smiles and the excitement that comes when they learn something new.

Ms. Marci began teaching at Spanish With Sarah in the fall of 2014 and has been an integral part of our early elementary program ever since. During the English portion of the day, she teaches Science, Social Studies, and Spelling, helping students build curiosity, foundational skills, and a strong love of learning.

With more than 20 years of experience teaching in both public and private schools, Ms. Marci brings a wealth of knowledge and confidence to her classroom. She absolutely loves teaching and truly believes it is what she is meant to do.

Ms. Marci is known for bringing fun, hands-on activities and music into her classroom. The songs and learning experiences she introduces continue with students throughout elementary school, creating meaningful, concrete learning that stays with them for years.

Her greatest joy as a teacher comes from sharing the excitement of discovering new ideas and watching her students grow in confidence and understanding.

Maestra Jackie teaches Spanish immersion Kindergarten and First Grade, where she shares her love of learning and her passion for the Spanish language with young students. She finds great joy in guiding children as they learn to read and develop strong foundational literacy skills through this beautiful language.

Art and movement play an important role in Maestra Jackie’s teaching. She designs engaging activities that support early literacy and math through hands-on, kinesthetic learning experiences, helping students learn by doing. Through creative projects, movement-based lessons, and outdoor exploration, she encourages students to connect learning with action and curiosity.

You might often find Maestra Jackie outside with her class, running, counting, and exploring during a number sense lesson, making learning both joyful and memorable. Through her thoughtful approach, she works to inspire confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning during these foundational years.

Maestra Betel brings infectious enthusiasm and energy to her classroom, creating a lively learning environment where curiosity, movement, and excitement for the Spanish language are part of everyday learning. Students actively participate in lessons that are engaging, joyful, and meaningful.

She enjoys finding creative ways to make learning fun for everyone, and her enthusiasm is contagious. Through her teaching, Maestra Betel helps students discover how learning a new language opens doors to new perspectives while strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving skills across all areas of learning.

Maestra Betel values the warm, supportive, and cooperative nature of the Spanish With Sarah community and is grateful to be part of a school where students, families, and teachers work together to create a joyful and enriching educational experience.

Ms. Kim brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to her work at Spanish With Sarah, drawing on her background in Special Education to support learners with care and intention. She offers deep expertise in learning assessments, careful student observation, and responsive instructional support, helping students feel understood and supported both academically and socially.

Ms. Kim works closely with students and teachers to better understand individual learning strengths and needs, collaborating to ensure that all children are supported in meaningful and effective ways. Her calm, reflective presence and collaborative mindset have been a valuable asset to classrooms across the school.

In addition to her instructional work, Ms. Kim co-teaches Character Education alongside Sarah, helping guide students as they develop empathy, self-awareness, and positive community values. Her perspective enriches these conversations and supports the school’s commitment to nurturing the whole child.

Ms. Lauren teaches English Language Arts, Math, and History to 3rd and 4th grade students at Spanish With Sarah. She holds a degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University and is passionate about creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, curious, and confident in their learning.

She especially enjoys witnessing those meaningful “aha” moments when new ideas click for students and strives to make learning engaging, thoughtful, and joyful each day.

In addition to her classroom teaching, Ms. Lauren serves as the school’s Music Specialist. She recently launched Spanish With Sarah’s school-wide musical program, guiding students through performances that encourage creativity, confidence, and teamwork. Through this growing program, she helps students discover talents they may not have known they had and experience the joy of performing together as a community.

Originally from Las Vegas, Ms. Lauren now calls the Pacific Northwest home. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband, playing pickleball, hiking, traveling, and working on home improvement projects. She values being part of the warm and supportive Spanish With Sarah community.

Maestra Denice brings a deep love of learning, language, and culture to her classroom. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she moved to Camas in 2005 and has been an active member of the Spanish With Sarah community ever since.

She is especially passionate about teaching literature and science, and each year she looks forward to sharing that enthusiasm with her students. Maestra Denice believes that the moment a child realizes they have learned something new is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching, and she finds great joy in fostering those moments of discovery.

As a parent of two daughters, Marisol and Isabella, who attended Spanish With Sarah, Maestra Denice understands firsthand the value of bilingual education and cultural immersion. She and her husband, Andy, deeply appreciate the opportunity for children to grow academically while being exposed to multiple languages and cultures.

Maestra Denice feels grateful to be part of the Spanish With Sarah family and is dedicated to creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, curious, and confident as learners.

Ms. Haley brings a wide range of experience to her work at Spanish With Sarah, having taught in both public and private schools in Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. She has worked with upper elementary students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, supporting learners as they grow academically and develop independence.

She holds a degree in Elementary Education from Corban University and is passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that challenge students and encourage them to push themselves. Ms. Haley values building a classroom culture where students feel supported as they explore new ideas, take academic risks, and grow in confidence.

One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching for Ms. Haley is helping students navigate new ways of thinking and develop confidence in their abilities as learners.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Haley enjoys spending time with her daughters, Brynlee and Collins, and her husband, Tanner. As a family, they love staying active and connecting with friends and loved ones.

Ms. Jennie brings extensive teaching experience and a deep love of art to her role as Art Teacher at Spanish With Sarah. She holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching from Seattle University and has taught a wide range of grades and subjects over the past 15 years.

Ms. Jennie has a long-standing connection to the SWS community. Over the years, she has served in multiple roles, including Art Teacher, Character Education Teacher, and Kindergarten/First Grade teacher. Her familiarity with the school and its students allows her to create a welcoming, engaging environment where creativity can thrive.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Jennie is a practicing artist. She has studied art at Gage Academy in Seattle and Clark College, and enjoys sharing her own artistic journey with students as they explore new materials, techniques, and ideas. She loves being with children, celebrating their creativity, and bringing joy and laughter into the art room each week.

You can view Ms. Jennie’s artwork at www.jenniewestfall.com

Ms. Nicole brings a strong background in both education and athletics to her role as Physical Fitness Teacher at Spanish With Sarah. She holds a degree in Math and Statistics for Secondary Education from Utah State University and competed on the university’s softball team, earning All-Conference honors during her collegiate career.

Following graduation, Ms. Nicole taught math and coached for several years, experiences that shaped her thoughtful, encouraging approach to working with students. In her physical fitness classes, she focuses on helping students try new activities, work collaboratively, and develop confidence through movement.

Ms. Nicole emphasizes teamwork, perseverance, and good sportsmanship, guiding students to learn how to win and lose graciously while celebrating personal growth. She believes physical activity is an important outlet for stress relief and overall well-being, and strives to create an environment where all students feel supported and successful.

A successful day for Ms. Nicole is one where students overcome challenges, achieve personal goals, and share laughter with their classmates.

Lily is the beloved School Pup at Spanish With Sarah and an important part of daily life on campus. Her gentle presence, wagging tail, and friendly demeanor help create a warm, welcoming environment where students feel comfortable, supported, and happy.

Lily enjoys spending time with students throughout the day, whether greeting them in the morning, offering quiet companionship during learning time, or joining in moments of joy and laughter. She plays a special role in helping students feel at ease and connected, contributing to the strong sense of community that defines Spanish With Sarah.

Always nearby and ready with unconditional affection, Lily reminds us that learning happens best in an environment filled with kindness, comfort, and care.