Ms. Diana Rivas is excited about the opportunity to continue working with children as a Spanish teacher in the two-year program and as Center Director at L’Academy Davis. She has been in Early Childhood Education since 2010, starting her career as a mentor at an after-school program. Ms. Diana earned her Early Childhood Education certification from Ventura College in Southern California, where she grew up, and her Bachelor's Degree from UC Berkeley. She resides in Davis with her husband Daniel, their three children, and three pets. She always strives to do her best in the classroom and is thrilled to join the L'Academy Davis team.

Ms. Diana is passionate about working with young children, as she enjoys fostering positive and nurturing relationships that leave a lasting impact on their lives. She understands the importance of the first five years and believes that through best practices, a play-based environment, and bilingual education, children are better supported for lifelong learning.

Mrs. Carolina, also known as Mrs. Caro, is the new Infant and Toddler Lead Teacher at L'Academy this year. She has been teaching for 5 years and is passionate about creating a safe environment for children. Mrs. Caro has two beautiful children who motivate her to continue her teaching career, and she is excited to be teaching the children in her care.

A little about Mrs. Caro: She has a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. She is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment for her students.

In her free time, Mrs. Caro enjoys taking her kids to the park and spending time with her Standard Poodle fur baby. Her favorite activities include coffee, shopping, teaching, reading books, outdoor activities, and, most importantly, family time.

Ms. Laura enjoys working with children of all ages. Before joining L’Academy, she spent three years teaching at a preschool in Silicon Valley and previously taught Chinese in China for over a decade. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Language and Literature from China and a Senior Chinese Language Teacher certificate from the International Profession Certification Association (IPA). She is excited to continue her teaching journey at L’Academy and looks forward to growing as an educator.

Fun Facts About Ms. Laura: She's taught Chinese in China for many years and has experience working with children of all ages in both China and the United States

‍

Ms. Maria A. Jimenez has worked with children of all ages for about 10 years. She has four beautiful children who motivate her to continue her teaching journey. Maria is fluent in both Spanish and English and is known for being a responsible and respectful person. She is originally from Nayarit, Mexico, and has been in the USA for about 30 years.

A little about Maria: She enjoys dancing, singing, cooking, and spending quality family time. Her favorite things include making delicious food for her family, caring for her nieces and nephews, and enjoying coffee in the mornings. Maria loves going on walks, shopping, and prioritizing the safety of her family.

Ms. Mabel del Aguila is Mexican and Uruguayan but usually identifies as Chicana from SoCal. Music is a big part of her life, especially piano. She has enjoyed learning new instruments with music ensembles like Mariachi, Drumline, and Samba throughout high school and college. In her free time, Ms. Mabel likes journaling, watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, and dancing to Latin music.

Ms. Mabel graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and a music minor. She loves learning languages because it builds a connection between people and believes that learning should be fun and engaging. She is grateful for the opportunity to study in Chile last year, as it allowed her to learn more about the culture and make amazing friends. Ms. Mabel’s current goal is to learn Portuguese so she can fulfill her dream of traveling to Brazil. She is excited to work at L’Academy and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Ms. Jasmine is a teacher’s aide at L’Academy Davis. She is currently attending Saddleback College and is eager to gain more experience working with children. Ms. Jasmine spent many of her summers babysitting her nieces and nephews and also had an internship at an elementary school in her hometown, where she assisted preschool teachers with tasks such as creating posters, leading circle time, and conducting one-on-one activities with students.

A little about Ms. Jasmine: She enjoys listening to music and doing karaoke with her family. She also likes going for walks in her free time. Ms. Jasmine has three pets named Mimi, Mia, and Millie, who she loves dearly. She is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Mr. Hao is our Mandarin instructor and enjoys working with children. Mr. Hao also has a home in Santa Barbara, California and he loves to travel. He enjoys music and loves to create fun activities for our students.

He loves Davis very much. He especially enjoys how peaceful and quiet it is.

Mrs. Mery Emmons is a lead teacher for the Spanish Preschool Classroom. She hails from Lambayeque, Peru where she studied Language and Literature, earning her BA from Pedro Ruiz Gallo National University in 2013. In 2019, she began studying Early Childhood Development at Chabot College, California. Mrs. Mery has a total 10 years of experience in education and is passionate for promoting Spanish language learning in a fun way for kids to enjoy. Mrs. Mery previously worked in Escuela Bilingüe Internacional in Emeryville, CA which enriches her experience for bilingual education.

Mrs. Mery is married and has two children and loves spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys sightseeing whilst eating delicious food along the way. She likes solving Rubik cubes and doing art projects with her kids. Mrs. Mery is proud to join the staff of L'Academy as the Lead Teacher for Preschool Spanish.

Ms. Maria is originally from Nayarit, Mexico, and came to the USA in 1992. Her parents migrated to Dixon, CA, and she comes from an agricultural family. Ms. Maria has lived in Yolo and surrounding areas and is the 5th child of her parents. She was the first child in her family to have the opportunity to attend college in the U.S.

She holds a Medical Assistant degree and has also attended Woodland Community College for Human Services. She enjoys working in the community and with diverse populations that have different needs. Ms. Maria is empathetic, compassionate, and caring for others. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Ms. Maria is a single mother with four lovely children and is very proud of them all. Her oldest son is currently serving in the U.S. Army. She enjoys cooking for her family and loves seeing them enjoy their favorite dishes. Ms. Maria’s favorite hobby is walking, and she also loves to connect with nature. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga.