Sra. Nilsa T. Santiago is originally from Puerto Rico and has been a dedicated member of the Academia Santo Rosario community since 2018. She began her journey as a Kindergarten assistant and later transitioned to the preschool classroom, where she discovered her passion for working with young children and sharing love and care with them each day. During the 2022–2023 school year, she completed her basic certification in early childhood education and continued her training with the Child Care Action Council to earn her state certification in early learning. She is currently continuing her studies to further grow in her field. Sra. Nilsa is a woman of strong faith and devotion. She comes from a large family, including a priest and a deacon among her siblings. Raised in the Catholic faith, she believes deeply that we are all children of God and that the most important thing in life is to love one another as we love ourselves.

Lizbeth Duran serves as the Pre-Kindergarten Assistant at Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy and has been a dedicated member of the school community for 13 years. She began her journey working in the federal nutrition program and, over time, has followed God’s guidance into new roles within the school. Lizbeth is certified to teach religion and has supported a variety of school events throughout the years. She is currently continuing her education in early childhood development, focusing on children ages 3 and 4, and is passionate about supporting young learners during these important early years. A devoted mother of four, Lizbeth has a special connection to HRBA. Her two oldest children attended the school from Pre-K through 8th grade, and she now enjoys watching her two youngest begin their journey in Pre-K. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially movie nights together. Lizbeth is grateful to be part of the Holy Rosary community and to serve students and families with love and faith each day.

Sra. Rico has been a valued member of the Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy community for ten years. She began her journey at HRBA in 2016 as a teacher's aide

and has since grown alongside the school and the

community that makes it so special.

Sra. Rico holds a bachelor's degree in Education with endorsements in General Education and Special Education. Her dedication to supporting students and helping them grow has been a guiding part of her

work in education. She believes the lessons, care, and encouragement we give our children today help

plant the seeds for a brighter future. Seeing the

smiles and excitement of her students as they learn

and grow brings her great joy each day.

Outside of the classroom, Sra. Rico enjoys traveling and exploring new places whenever she can. Experiencing different cultures and perspectives inspires her and brings fresh ideas and energy that she enjoys sharing with her students.

Mrs. Sonia Ceballos is a native Spanish speaker with over a decade of experience in Washington State, where she has dedicated the past ten years to enriching the field of education. Passionate about promoting bilingualism, she has played an important role in both public and private elementary schools, contributing meaningfully to Spanish dual language immersion programs. Originally from Río Grande, Puerto Rico, Mrs. Ceballos earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She later completed a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and holds a Washington State certification in elementary education. She is currently pursuing a certificate in Bilingual Education through Boston College. Mrs. Ceballos is deeply committed to supporting children and their families and strives to make a positive impact in her community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, and together they love getting creative in the kitchen by trying new recipes.

Mrs. Alis Morales is entering her fourth year at Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy. Originally from Colombia, she earned a bachelor's degree in Education with an emphasis in Humanities and English from the Universidad de Córdoba and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Elementary Teaching.

After moving to the United States, Mrs. Morales felt called back to the classroom, where her passion for teaching truly belongs. She is proud to be part of the Holy Rosary family, where she not only teaches but also has two daughters who attend the school.

Mrs. Morales is dedicated to creating a joyful, nurturing classroom where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to learn. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, gardening, visiting libraries, and spending time with her family.

Sr. Valderrábano brings a lifelong passion for teaching, faith, and bilingual education to Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy as our Third Grade Teacher. Originally from Mexico, he studied Theology and Human Development and has dedicated his career to serving students and families in both educational and faith formation settings. His journey as an educator began in high school, when he taught adults in Mexico City how to read and write—a calling that inspired a lifelong commitment to helping others learn and grow. Sr. Valderrábano believes every child is uniquely gifted by God, and he is committed to helping students discover their strengths while growing academically, spiritually, and personally. Outside the classroom, he enjoys hiking, exploring Seattle's Pike Place Market and waterfront, cheering on the Mariners and Padres, and sharing the fun fact that he can keep a traditional trompo (spinning top) spinning without it ever touching the ground.

With more than a decade of experience working with children, Sra. Herrera is passionate about helping students grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Washington State University–Vancouver and has worked in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), special education, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and most recently as a dual language first- and fifth-grade teacher with Tacoma Public Schools.

Sra. Herrera is excited to join Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy and its close-knit, faith-filled, bilingual community. She is committed to creating a safe, nurturing classroom where every child can thrive.

Outside of school, she enjoys attending music concerts, working on puzzles and crafts, and visiting family in California. She is also completing her Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education at Western Governors University.

Sra. Ruiz is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and a proud native Washingtonian with a passion for working with middle school students. Before joining Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy, she worked with students in the Clover Park School District, where she developed strengths in helping students with organization, time management, and differentiated instruction to support every learner's success.

A lifelong Catholic, Sra. Ruiz family originates from Mexico, and she has been a parishioner at

St. Leo for the past 10 years.

Outside of the classroom, Sra. Ruiz Esquivel enjoys spending time with her dog, Pelus, connecting with others, and spending quality time with her family.

Sr. Achata has served the Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy community as a teacher since 2015. Originally from Peru, he brings many years of international teaching experience and a deep passion for education to his work with students. Sr. Achata holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Ricardo Palma University. He has more than 19 years of teaching experience in both English and Spanish, working with students at the primary, middle school, high school, and university levels. His professional background also includes extensive training in personalized teaching methods. He is passionate about combining education with moral values and the arts, and he strives to help students grow academically while developing strong character and purpose. Sr. Achata believes that education is not only about knowledge, but also about helping students become the best version of themselves. Outside of the classroom, Sr. Achata enjoys spending time with his family and traveling with his wife of 19 years, exploring new cultures and languages. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, singing, and spending time with his dog.

With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Sra. Levato brings a wealth of global perspective and a deep commitment to her faith to Holy Rosary Bilingual Academy. Originally from Argentina, she has spent the past five years serving the students and families of Holy Rosary with dedication and care. Her diverse professional background includes teaching adults English and Computer Science in Argentina and providing specialized academic support as a tutor at Sylvan Learning Center. In addition to her work in education, Sra. Levato pursued advanced legal studies, earning an LL.M. from Fordham University and being admitted to both the New York State and Argentinian Bars. As a Catholic educator and certified Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Facilitator, Sra. Levato is passionate about creating a supportive and faith-filled environment where students and families feel encouraged and empowered to grow, learn, and thrive.