Our Team

Maestra Melissa

Founder & Creative Director

I come from a long line of educators and although I received bachelor degrees in Biology and Spanish, I returned to university after traveling extensively to complete my teaching credential. As a student of the world, I love to travel and discover all that it has to offer. Learning is my true passion, to be out in the world exploring nature, trying new food, learning new languages and meeting people. This passion is what I bring to the Jardín. I love to see the world through the eyes of the children and watch them discover. I truly enjoy their natural curiosity and problem solving. After teaching Kindergarten in bilingual public schools for 8 years and developing my vision in the field for the ultimate Spanish immersion preschool, I created Jardín de Mariposas in 2010 so that my daughter would have the opportunity to explore, discover and develop in a natural environment where Spanish was spoken and highly valued. I am proud to have a family with two bilingual daughters, one in college and the other in 8th grade!

Maestra Eda

Director

I’m originally from Toluca Mexico where I taught music to preschool-age children before moving to the U.S. with my family. I have worked as a Spanish teacher since 2011, including 15 years at Jardin de Mariposas in Palo Alto, and 1 year running my own home-based program in Los Altos. I attended Santa Cruz University, where I obtained a certificate in Early Childhood Development.

My passion is working with preschool children. At that age they are curious, they are imaginative, and most importantly, they are sponges for knowledge. As a teacher, I have always believed this age is the best time to teach, to guide, and most importantly, to learn from them! I believe in teaching through experiences, techniques, and “tricks” to support your child’s learning. We create an environment where your child plays, enjoys, feels safe experimenting, and all of this without even realizing he/she is learning Spanish!

Maestra Deysi

Teacher

Hi, my name is Deysi. I was born in Mexico but I grew up in between Mexico and the United States. I have two children, a 22 year old son who recently graduated from University, he loves sports and music, and a 7 year old girl who keeps me very busy. They are my inspirations and the reason I try to be a better person each day.

I am very excited for the upcoming year. I began working at Jardin de Mariposas in summer 2016 as an intern and found myself delighted with its program because it allows children to learn Spanish, interact with others and have fun at the same time. I graduated from Foothill College where I got an Associate Degree in development and now I have my Master Teacher Permit in Early childhood education.

I have been working with children of preschool ages for many years and am now an expert in inspiring young children to explore! I also volunteered in my son’s school for several years and all these years of working with children have been a rewarding experience. I am a native Spanish speaker and I put my skills to work to help your children learn Spanish and to make their learning experience a positive one. I am looking forward to meeting all of the families of Jardin de Mariposa.

Maestra Yaya

Teacher

My name is Yadira Diaz, and I come from the beautiful and vibrant country of Mexico. Over nine years ago, I embarked on a rewarding journey of working with young children.

Through my interactions with these young learners, I have been gifted with a new lens through which to view life. They have taught me to appreciate the small wonders and to approach life with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Working with children has been an immensely fulfilling and enriching experience for me.

I am proud to have been part of the JDM family for the last eight years, during which I have had the opportunity to watch many kids grow, including my oldest daughter. Now, I will have the gratifying experience of watching my son in the Aguilas classroom!

I have obtained my Early Childhood Education (ECE) credentials from Canada College, where
I am currently dedicated to pursuing my teacher degree as an Undergraduate, continuing my journey of learning and growth in this field.

Maestra Ximena

Teacher

My name is Ximena. I was born in Concepción, Chile, and I am the proud mother of a son who is currently attending university. Together with him and my husband, I enjoy planning outdoor adventures, riding bikes, and spending time as a family. I am also passionate about dancing and crafting.

In Chile, I earned a degree in Occupational Health and Safety, and later I moved to California, where I discovered my natural ability to connect with children while volunteering at The Health Trust. Since then, I have been working for more than six years in the field of Early Childhood Education. At Jardín de Mariposas, I will continue to share all my passion and love, accompanying children in this stage of their lives to positively impact them. I hold a Certificate in Child Development from Mission College, an Associate Teacher Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and a Training Certificate from the Florida Department of Children and Families, after spending a year in Miami.

Maestra Irma

Teacher

Hello! My Name is Irma Contreras. I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I have 3 wonderful children, 21, 18 and 11 years old and I enjoy every moment with my family.

My favorite thing to do is camp and spend time exploring the great outdoors.

I love working with children and learning from them. I have spent many years working as a nanny and recently decided to go back to school to make early childhood education a career. I am studying at Chabot College. I am very excited to be a part of the Jardín de Mariposas Team, where children learn Spanish through games, music and many diverse experiences throughout the day!

Maestra Lu

Búhos Teacher

About your Maestra Lu:

My name is Luisa, but many know me as Ms. Lu. I was born in Medellín, Colombia, and I’m happily married. I originally came to this country to study English, but life had other plans—and being here has truly been a blessing.

I am a Certified Early Childhood Educator and hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and English Education. I have over 12 years of experience working with children between the ages of 3 and 7. I’m passionate about early childhood education and love watching little ones explore, grow, and learn every day.

I believe in teaching through love, respect, and play, creating a warm and joyful environment where every child feels valued and safe.

In my free time, I enjoy dancing, going to the gym, hiking, cooking, and trying new restaurants.

Fun fact: I love reading stories with silly voices!

I’m so excited to start this school year with the Owls. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your child’s journey!

Maestra Jahaira

Teacher

A little bit about me:

Hello Colibri families. My name is Jahaira, and I am originally from Nicaragua. I have a deep passion for early childhood education and have been working in the field for over 20 years. I hold a BA in Child and Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University and I have work as a preschool teacher

Outside of the classroom, I am a proud mom to two boys, ages 10 and 9. We share a love for baseball! Both of my boys play Little League, and we enjoy spending time together watching and attending baseball games.

I am very excited to begin my journey here at Jardín de Mariposa and to become part of this wonderful community. I look forward to nurturing each child’s love for the Spanish language while supporting their growth and learning in a rich, meaningful environment where they feel safe, connected, loved, and inspired to explore.

I am excited to get to know each of your children and families and look forward to a wonderful year together.

Maestra DIANA

Teacher

Hello! My name is Diana. I am a psychologist with a degree from Universidad Politécnico Grancolombiano, with a course-by-course credential evaluation report completed by Scholaro, Inc. I have a deep passion for early childhood education, with a particular interest in the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children.

In addition to my degree in Psychology, I hold a certification in Early Childhood Education from Theoria Technical College. My experience and training in Montessori education and respectful parenting have also deeply influenced the way I understand and support children during their early years.

Since March, I have been part of the team at Jardín de Mariposas. This experience has enriched my perspective on childhood and strengthened my belief in the importance of observation, relationships, curiosity, and the environment in children’s learning and development.

I see children as capable, competent, and naturally curious individuals, and I believe our role as educators is to listen, observe, and support them with intention and respect. As a teacher, my goal is to create safe and meaningful environments where children can develop confidence, independence, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy reading, hiking, spending time with my family, and playing tennis with my daughter. I deeply value curiosity, meaningful relationships, and lifelong learning, and I hope to nurture these same qualities in the children I have the opportunity to support and accompany.

Maestra Helena

Teacher

Hello! I’m Maestra Helena. I’m Colombian, I’m married, I’m a mom of three, and I have been a teacher for 27 years.

I studied Psychology and Early Childhood Education in Colombia. I chose to become a teacher because I have always felt a very special connection with children. During my years as a teacher in Colombia, I had the opportunity to work with children of all ages.I also worked in bilingual schools, schools with a Reggio Emilia approach, and IB schools. Each experience was different, and each one gave me important lessons that have helped shape the teacher I am today.

Since moving to the United States, I have been fortunate to continue working in education, especially with preschool children. This new chapter has given me the opportunity to continue growing, learn different ways of teaching, and keep doing something I truly enjoy. I love being able to share my language, my roots, and a little bit of my Colombian culture with the children.

I love working at Jardín de Mariposas and being part of this community. I enjoy being there for my students as they play, explore, create, ask questions, and discover the world in their own way. Outside the classroom, I enjoy reading, watching movies, and doing puzzles. I also love baking and making healthy cakes and desserts.For me, being a teacher is much more than a job. It is a profession I chose with purpose, one that I do with love, and one that is truly part of who I am.