About Us

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Hello my name is Karina Rojas Rodriguez - I was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico and immigrated here in the early 90's.Being here in the early 90's and growing up in a very diverse community helped my passion for working with a diverse community like Delridge! After receiving a scholarship through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-Achievers Scholars, I was able to follow my dreams of becoming a culturally relevant teacher and attend Washington State University; there I received my undergrad in Human Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Spanish. In 2011, I received my Master of Arts from Goddard College in Early Childhood Education, with an emphasis in Adult Child Interactions. I have been in the ECE field for 16 years and would not change it, this is where my passion lives and I hope to continue this until I find my next itch in life. I have experience working with a wide range of regulations, guidelines and City/State contracts like Head Start, ECEAP and the Seattle Preschool Program. During my career I have been a classroom teacher, a mentor teacher/program supervisor, coach, STARS Merit approved trainer and center director. During my "free time", I am an instructor for Highline College working with adults earning their AAS or BA in ECE.  As an Educator, I love to surround myself with like-minded individuals who like to chat about the pedagogy of the children; I believe children are truly their very own protagonist in their learning and we need to honor that! When I am not teaching or working with children, I am a full time mother to my very own bi cultural and bilingual young ones, Maximiliano Donatello, Esme Paloma and Javier Leonardo Roberto. I have been married to my other half for 10 years, also an educator. I do not know where I find time to do things, but I do; I make sure that I spend enough time with my children/husband/family, do plenty of self-care like yoga, baking, walking, traveling, and lots of pinteresting!  

 My summoned name is Javier Israel Casio-Gomez, however to everyone else at Southwest Early Learning 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 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. 

 Hello my name is Areli Enriquez Perez, I was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to the state of Washington when I was five years old with my parents and younger brother. I was raised in Western Washington, and currently reside in Federal Way, Washington where I attended middle and high school. I graduated from Washington State University in December 2015, with my BA in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Throughout my undergrad career I worked at the university's Children's Center as a teacher's assistant for two and a half years and have always loved working with children and learning how they learn and communicate among themselves and those older than them.  My whole life I have had very positive role models and was always taught to be patient with children and learn from them. Traits that have become useful in my past couple years working and learning among children. I hope to make positive connections with the parents and children where I may impact them either big or small as they continue to grow and learn and play! In my free time I love to spend my time with my family, go on walks around my neighborhood, go to the movies and go dancing. I love attending concerts, going to cultural events and exploring around West  Seattle. I enjoying planning all the events we have at our school!

 It is my pleasure to introduce myself and welcome you to our community. My name is Diana Aguilar Godoy, I am 30 years old, and I am originally from Buenavista Tomatlan, Michoacan, Mexico. My parents are Beronica and Jose, and I am the third of five siblings: Mayra, Yuriana, Jose, Yovany. Only one of my sisters lives in California, the rest are in Mexico, but with all of them I maintain a very close relationship and excellent communication. Another important person in my life is my husband Rene, with whom I share five years of marriage, the same years that I have lived here in the state of Washington. These years have been a challenge in the development of my person, due to the new city, people, jobs and language, since my mother language is Spanish and it is a great effort to study to acquire a second language. I had the opportunity to get my BA certificate in my native country, but in the same way I am in constant professional development here in the city of Seattle, it is never too late to continue learning. Personally, I really appreciate nature and getting to know different places, I also value my culture and traditions, which I would like to share with you and also get to know each of your cultures. I acquired my love for teaching from my father, who was one of my childhood teachers, and I thank him and my mother for the opportunity they gave me to follow in his footsteps to get to where I am now as a teacher. I am convinced that this will be a good year to share and participate in the activities of our SWEL community.  

My name is Maria D Espinosa Garcia, I am originally from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico, a state located in the south of Mexico and bordering the country of Guatemala. I have three wonderful children, ages 8, 14, and 22. I am also the grandmother of a 5-year-old grandson. I consider myself a friendly, fun, kind, responsible, and honest person. I studied a degree in Pedagogy in my country. I have always worked with children as a preschool and youth teacher For two years I have worked in a preschool setting where I have served as a teacher and at the same time continued studying classes in early childhood education. My vision in life is to be a better person every day, to continue learning and preparing to put it into practice, learn from others, be empathetic, have more resilience, help others and my community. Thank you to SWEL for giving me the opportunity to be part of its team; I bring with me a lot of initiative, enthusiasm, responsibility, respect and integrity, for which I will collaborate with all my potential. I am very excited to be a part of the Creekside community and form a connection with each and every one of you. 

Hello everyone! It is a pleasure to introduce myself and welcome you to our community. My name is Bryan Aguila Perez and I am originally from El Salvador. There are two of us in my family: my mother and my uncle, while the rest of my loved ones reside in my beautiful country.

I am overjoyed to return to another school year at Swel. This is my fourth year at this wonderful institution, and I am excited for the opportunity to share enriching experiences and adventures with our little future minds. Before we begin, let me give you a brief introduction about my professional background and my motivations. I am committed to fostering a positive and stimulating learning environment, where every child can develop to their full potential. I look forward to collaborating with all of you on this exciting educational journey.

I am currently a student at North Seattle College, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. I have had the privilege of participating in a program called My Brothers Teachers, which is dedicated to diversifying the early learning workforce in Seattle.

Personally, I have a great passion for nature. I believe that the best way to relax is to go to the woods and camp; I consider it to be one of the most fulfilling experiences in life, as well as exploring other places in this beautiful country.

My vision as an early childhood teacher is to create an inclusive and nurturing environment where every child feels valued and motivated to explore their innate curiosity. I wish to foster a lifelong love of learning and prepare children to become responsible and creative citizens.

My mission is to provide high-quality education that respects and celebrates cultural diversity. Through innovative and child-centered methodologies, I am committed to supporting the holistic development of each student, promoting social, emotional and academic skills that allow them to thrive in their environment and contribute positively to society.

Hello, my name is Rosalinda Santos, and I am originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico. I have been a proud part of the SWEL community for six years, and I truly love working with children and supporting their growth and development.

I am married and the proud mother of one wonderful son, whom I love dearly. Recently, I graduated from Highline College with my AAS in Early Childhood Education, an accomplishment that has deepened my passion for teaching and learning alongside children.

In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, going dancing, and exploring the beautiful places that Washington has to offer.

This will be my third year in the Salmon Creek community, and I am so excited to continue building

relationships, sharing experiences, and spending this school year with your children. I look forward to a year full of learning, joy, and community.

 My name is Martha Paola Pérez, but I like to be called Pao. I was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Querétaro, Mexico, where I earned a Law degree. However, my true calling led me down a different path: early childhood education. After moving to Seattle, I became deeply committed to supporting young children’s development. This is my third year at Swel, and I am currently studying Early Childhood Education at Highline, always working to grow and improve as an educator.

I feel passionate about working with young children because I believe early childhood is a magical stage—full of possibilities, discoveries, and learning. For me, being a teacher means having the privilege to help shape the humans of tomorrow with love, respect, and creativity.

I’m someone with an open heart and an open mind, naturally curious, and always eager to explore new places, cultures, and flavors. I consider myself loving, creative, and always ready to learn something new. In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga, going for runs, and appreciating the little moments in life.

A few fun facts about me:

My birthday is on November 26.

My favorite colors are green and pink.

I love animals, matcha, art, and spending time with my husband.

Hello, my name is Nalleli Garcia. I was born in Mexico City and moved to Seattle in 2008. I am the proud mother of two boys and a girl, and Spanish is my first language. I began working with children in 2022, and I feel grateful to start my third school year at SWEL.

This year, I am very excited to be working full time in the Bridgeway classroom. I love spending time with the children, learning from their curiosity and joy, and encouraging them to grow with values of belonging, community, and resilience.

At the same time, I continue my studies in Early Childhood Education at Highline College. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, and discovering new places.  

  My name is Nancy Garcia, I am from Mexico DF, have been living here in Seattle for some time now. I live with my three children and husband, two of my children have graduated from college and my daughter just started running start. I have been working here at SWEL since 2015 and have a passion for learning and engaging with the children. You will find me supporting out in all the classrooms and helping in the kitchen at times. I enjoy traveling, being at home and cooking.   

 My name is Amina Abdi and I have been part of the SWEL community for over 10 years now. I am a mother to one son and his wife and him have blessed me with 6 grandkids. Five of those who have now attended SWEL themselves. I love working with kids of different cultures and sharing my own Somali culture with everyone as well. When you see me make sure to say hello!