About
At Seattle Amistad, our administration and faculty are highly trained in bilingual education and deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Every teacher, assistant, and staff member is a mentor, role model, and pillar of the Amistad community.
Dr. Annette Galindo
Head of School
Message from the Head of School
It is with great pride that I welcome you to Seattle Amistad School, where we are dedicated to nurturing global citizens who are truly bilingual, biliterate, and authentically multicultural.
What distinguishes Amistad is our intentional fusion of academic rigor with joyful discovery. Our students thrive where intellectual curiosity meets genuine warmth — because real education engages both the mind and the heart.
Head of School
Head of School and a lifelong educator in bilingual and multicultural learning. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she holds a master's in Spanish Education from CU-Boulder and a doctorate in Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt.
K–8 Academic Director
Paula leads curriculum, instruction, and teacher coaching across our K–8 program, making sure every classroom holds a high bar for biliteracy and belonging.
Business & Human Resources Director
Oscar oversees finance, benefits, and hiring, keeping the school on steady footing so teachers can focus on students.
Operations Director
Maria Paula manages daily campus operations — facilities, schedules, safety, and the hundred details that make a school day run smoothly.
Events & Program Coordinator
Gisella plans the celebrations, family nights, and community traditions that connect Amistad families to one another.
Admissions & Enrollment Director
Aleja guides families from first tour through enrollment, answering questions about programs, tuition, and financial aid in Spanish or English.
Early Learning Coordinator
Many families met Jhensy at our PreK graduation ceremony. As our Early Learning Coordinator, she supports our youngest learners and their teachers, and is a key point of contact for Early Learning families.
Development Manager
María brings nearly a decade of independent school advancement experience — annual fund, donor stewardship, and signature events. A WSU graduate, bilingual in English and Spanish.
12 months – Pre-K
Orugas Lead Teacher
Andy leads the Orugas classroom, pairing gentle caregiving with rich, everyday Spanish language for our youngest learners.
Crisálidas Lead Teacher
Maritza leads Crisálidas, creating a warm, predictable classroom where children take their first confident steps into Spanish.
Mariposas 1 Lead Teacher
Pierina guides Mariposas 1 through emergent literacy, movement, and the social skills that prepare children for kindergarten.
Mariposas 2 Lead Teacher
Silvana leads Mariposas 2, building on early Spanish immersion through play, stories, and classroom routines.
PreK-1 Lead Teacher
Rocio leads PreK-1, building a warm, predictable classroom where children take their first confident steps into Spanish.
PreK-2 Lead Teacher
Esther leads PreK-2, a classroom rooted in play, song, and full Spanish immersion.
Orugas Assistant Teacher
Yuridia assists in Orugas, guiding children through daily routines, meals, and the rhythms of a bilingual classroom.
Orugas Assistant Teacher
Marcela supports the Orugas classroom, helping our youngest learners feel seen and safe throughout the day.
Crisálidas Assistant Teacher
Joseline supports Crisálidas learners in small groups, reinforcing vocabulary and independence throughout the day.
Mariposas Assistant Teacher
Martha Rosa supports both Mariposas classrooms, reinforcing language and independence in small groups.
PreK-1 Assistant Teacher
Yesenia Elias assists in PreK-1, guiding children through centers, meals, and the rhythms of a bilingual classroom.
PreK-2 Assistant Teacher
Many families know Sarah from teaching English to our elementary students and from TICA. She now joins Early Learning as a PreK-2 assistant teacher.
Assistant Teacher
Lorena supports Early Learning classrooms, helping children practice new Spanish in real conversation.
Assistant Teacher
Waleska supports Early Learning classrooms with an extra set of hands and a familiar, caring presence for every child.
Early Learning Assistant Teacher
Maria Jose floats across Early Learning classrooms, offering an extra set of hands and a familiar face for every child.
PreK Paraeducator (Part-Time)
Sofía is a part-time PreK paraeducator supporting our youngest learners. She graduated magna cum laude from Gonzaga in English Writing and Spanish and is fully bilingual.
Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Kindergarten Teacher
Lucia teaches kindergarten, where early reading in Spanish and English takes hold through stories and hands-on projects.
1st Grade Teacher
Thania builds strong readers and writers in 1st grade, balancing structure with plenty of room for curiosity.
2nd Grade Teacher
Erika completed her degree internship at Amistad and worked with our TICA students. A UW graduate and Seal of Biliteracy holder, she is now pursuing a master's in education policy.
3rd Grade Teacher
Francisca leads 3rd grade, where students move from learning to read toward reading to learn — in two languages.
4th/5th Grade Teacher
Mabel teaches 4th and 5th grade, guiding older students through research, discussion, and academic Spanish.
Middle School Teacher & Advisory Coordinator
Lorena has more than twenty years of teaching experience across three countries, with a Master of Arts in Writing. As Advisory Coordinator, she builds connection and belonging in the upper grades.
Enrichment, arts, and support teachers
Math Teacher
Rafael teaches math across grade levels, emphasizing reasoning and problem-solving over memorization.
K–8th PE Teacher
Alfredo leads physical education from kindergarten through 8th grade, building teamwork, coordination, and joy in movement for every age.
K–3rd English Teacher & TICA Lead
Elizabeth returns to Amistad with more than a decade teaching young learners in New York, Florida, and Seattle, and an M.A. in TESOL from Columbia. She also leads our TICA after-school program.
Art Teacher
Shelly runs the art studio, where students explore materials, culture, and self-expression across the year.
Capoeira Teacher
Silvio teaches capoeira, blending music, movement, and Afro-Brazilian tradition into our specials rotation.
Visit Amistad