Our Founder’s Journey
Welcome Spanish! is led by founder Sandra Delgado, an educator whose passion for teaching has been shaped by a lifetime of working with children, supporting families, and sharing the richness of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures.
Sandra’s journey in education began in Lima, Peru, where she earned a Psychology degree from Ricardo Palma University. She went on to work as a psychologist in a hospital serving low-income families and later taught psychology at the high school level. These early experiences helped her develop a compassionate, student-centered approach and a deep understanding of how children and families learn, grow, and thrive.
In 1997, Sandra immigrated to the United States, bringing with her a strong commitment to education and service. While raising her two daughters, she continued investing in her education by completing Child Development coursework at El Camino College, strengthening her understanding of child development within the American educational system. She also worked as a social worker for a South Bay foster family agency, supporting children and families through challenging circumstances. These experiences reinforced her belief that every child learns best in a nurturing, encouraging environment where they feel safe, valued, and confident.
Sandra’s involvement in local schools began when her daughters entered elementary school. Wanting to support them and their classmates, she joined LAUSD in 2007 as an instructional assistant and soon discovered a passion for working directly with young children. After moving to Manhattan Beach in 2012, she expanded her teaching experience as a Spanish teacher at Riviera Hall Lutheran School and the Montessori School of Manhattan Beach. In 2015, she created and taught a Pre-K Spanish curriculum for the Montessori School’s Bell and Peck campuses. She also continued serving as an instructional aide in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach schools and has now been part of the Redondo Beach Unified School District community for more than 15 years.
As both an educator and a mother, Sandra understands what parents hope for when they choose a language program for their children: a place where students feel supported, have fun, and develop confidence while learning. She believes language learning should be active, engaging, and meaningful, using games, music, movement, storytelling, conversation, and cultural experiences to make Spanish enjoyable and memorable.
After years of working with students in local schools, Sandra recognized that many children wanted to learn Spanish in an environment that was fun, interactive, and deeply connected to culture. She founded Welcome Spanish! to create that experience and to help students discover that learning a language is not just about words, but about building confidence, curiosity, and meaningful connections with others.
Today, Sandra leads Welcome Spanish! with the same warmth, patience, and enthusiasm that have guided her throughout her career. Together with a team of qualified instructors, she has built a welcoming learning community where children and adults develop confidence in Spanish through engaging, interactive instruction. Whether students are taking their first steps in learning the language or building on existing skills, Welcome Spanish! inspires a lifelong appreciation for the Spanish language and the diverse cultures it represents.
Other Welcome Spanish! instructors are similarly qualified and share Sandra’s commitment to providing a positive, enriching educational experience for every student.
