Our Team

Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico with a degree in General Psychology, I’ve been part of Little Einstein Academy since 2018. I am a bilingual early education teacher with six years of experience contributing to early-childhood education working with 1 to 3 year-olds. I believe that the first five years of a child's life are essential to lifelong learning, creating brain connections and self-regulating emotions for optimal development, and that children are a reflection of the environment in which they develop. By conquering an emotionally healthy social environment, these children will become successful and stable adults. The extraordinary stage of motherhood has encouraged me to stay up-to-date with new research and implement learning strategies through play with my children both at home and at LEA.

Araceli Mendoza, Assistant Director and Coach

I was born and raised in a small town close to the Sierra Madre in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. I love outdoor adventures and I’m a blessed mother of two. I have worked in early childhood education since 2002 and I opened Little Einstein Academy in July of 2017 with the idea of building a school environment that supports children's growth and promotes an atmosphere for children to learn in an exceptional way. We bring high quality experiences into classrooms by promoting self-awareness, emotional consciousness and acceptance to a unique worldview. LEA helps develop children's language by immersing them in Spanish to develop their ability to be bilingual and better prepare their intellectual abilities as they evolve in daily life. We have developed a way of exposing the children to our community with activities and volunteers to help them navigate this changing world and give them the necessary tools to excel in their future experiences.

Marisol Mendoza, Visionary and Director

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, I love outdoor activities and exploring new adventures, especially here in fun-filled Colorado. I have been working in the field of early education for seven years and it is something I love to do. I attended both the Community College of Denver and the University of Colorado and took part in very significant training for my work including the Conscious Discipline Institute, Creative Curriculum Consulting, Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conferences. In 2023 I obtained both my director and coach certificate. My purpose here at LEA is not only to support the children but also the teachers. Being a teacher gives me the power to see these little caterpillars become beautiful butterflies and that is one of the most satisfying experiences I have had in my life.

Valeria Chairez, Assistant Director and Coach

Buzzy Bees Toddler Classroom

I am an adventurous person from Durango, Mexico and a mom of four amazing children. Some of my hobbies are hiking, biking, and running. I have been with LEA for over a year now and everyone knows how much I love to be with children. Being a toddler teacher gives me the opportunity to see how the children grow from when they just begin at LEA to when they graduate. They are truly a joy to be around.

Gregoria Martinez, Lead Teacher

I was born in Delicias, Chihuahua. I love children and learning from them. I have five grandchildren and I really enjoy spending time with them. I have been part of the Little Einstein Academy family for seven years now. I like listening to music and cooking. I consider myself a happy person so there's always a smile on my face. I really like my job because I learn something new every day and there’s always opportunities to better myself.

Veronica Nava, AssistantTeacher

Lightning Bugs Toddler Classroom

Kimberly Salazar, Lead Teacher

I’ve always gone by my nickname, Bea. I am the youngest of 6 siblings, I was born in Venezuela andI lived in Lima, Peru for 4 years before I came to live in the United States. My friends describe me as someone versatile. I love to dance, I like to do theater, and on the weekends I like to go out for a bike ride. I consider myself a positive and fun person. I have currently been working with the youngest babies at LEA for two months and they are the most tender and loving little human beings. They give you unconditional love and through a smile they make you see the purest and most sincere love, I love being with them.

Beatriz Ruiz, Assistant Teacher

I am the mother of two beautiful children, I am happily married, and originally from Zacatecas. My dream has always been to work with children and now I am a teacher in the Lightning Bugs classroom at Little Einstein and I am committed to working very hard to grow in this field of work. I love the color black, spending time with my family and one of my favorite hobbies is doing outdoor activities. I am very happy to be part of the LEA team.

Margarita Muñez, Assistant Teacher

Brilliant Centipedes Early Preschool Classroom

I am a mother of three children. I have 11 years of experience working in early childhood education. LEA gave me the opportunity to be part of its great team in November 2017 and since that date I have worked with toddlers in the Brilliant Centipedes Classroom. I am very grateful and happy to be able to work for LEA families and their children. Children are my inspiration, so I dedicate myself to their education and care and I am always open to learning more about early childhood growth. I am happy to have them as part of the Brilliant Centipedes family.

Elsa Galindo, Lead Teacher

I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. I am the eldest of 4 sisters. I have been married for 10 years and I have 3 daughters. My studies were carried out in Mexico, where I obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychopedagogy, since then I have always worked with children. I did my internships in different schools and my first formal job in the field was in a preschool. It is very rewarding for me to work with children, it keeps one alert and challenges one to constantly learn and grow. I enjoy cooking for my family, sharing time with them, and getting to know new places.I like doing crafts, listening to music and driving. One of my next goals is to advance my level of English.

Pamela Miramontes, Assistant Teacher

Noisy Crickets Early Preschool Classroom

Nallely Orozco, Lead Teacher

Brenda Leyva, Assistant Teacher

Hungry Caterpillars Preschool Classroom

I am originally from Durango, Mexico but have lived in Lakewood since 2002. I am married and have four children. Little Einstein Academy has given me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of working with children. I am very excited to be involved with the development and education of children. I love creativity in my classroom and I am always looking for ideas for children and to spark curiosity in them to learn something new. I have been with LEA for three years and previously had my own home daycare for 12 years. I like to cook and I enjoy walking with my children.

Arminda Fraire, Lead Teacher

Celeste Hernandez, Assistant Teacher

Kitchen Staff

I like to be called Magda, that's how the children know me. I have loved being the chef at Little Einstein Academy as their chef since 2017. I really enjoy my work., I have learned so much but specifically how powerful it is to expose children to a variety of healthy foods in appropriate portions. I love to cook and knowing that children like my food is very important to me, and it is one of the reasons why I am always innovating and improving on my recipes. The best part of my job is seeing the children’s happy faces when I enter a classroom with a tray full of delicious food and hear all those cute “Gracias Miss Magda”. They always brighten my day.

Maria Fraire, Chef

Support Staff

I’m passionate about working with kids, school and my truck. I'm currently a highschool student at Alameda International Jr/Sr high school. One of my number one goals is to attend an out of state school and study the medical field. Whenever I arrive at the center, my face lights up with happiness and I’m always thrilled to be with the kids and to show them how much I care about their pure hearts.

Diana Rodriguez, Assistant Teacher