Our Team of Instructors

Leinani Garces was born in Mexico City. She graduated in 2004 from Washington State University with a BA in Elementary Education and an endorsement in ESL. Leinani began her teaching career in Veracruz, Mexico teaching 6th grade, and also taught at Woodin Elementary in their Dual-Language program for grades 3 and Kindergarten. She also has played the piano since she was 8 years old and enjoys singing. Leinani and her family just recently welcomed their new baby girl Kale’a to the family and has been enjoying being a new mommy! Teaching children has always been one of her passions and she finds it very rewarding to watch children grow and thrive in their every day experiences.

Delmar Ahlstrom was born and raised in Honduras. She moved to United States at the age of 22. Delmar is a certified early childhood educator and since 1999 has been working as a Toddler, Preschool and School Age Teacher. Delmar enjoys working with children and sharing her language, culture and her smiles with each student in her class!! Her classes are fun, interactive and filled with hands on activities. She particularly enjoys listening to children speak her language after a class. She is happily married and has 3 young children.

Beatriz Koteles or “Betty” was born and raised in the town of Salamanca, located in the beautiful State of Guanajuato, Mexico. She has been a certified Paraprofessional educator since 2005. Betty loves teaching young children and enjoys volunteering at her son's school. She lives in Bothell with her Hungarian-Guatemalan husband and their 2 sons. Betty's mom, sister, brother and other family members still reside in Mexico, a place that she loves a misses very much.

Francia has been teaching Spanish to adults and children since she moved to the Seattle area from her native Colombia in 2005. Francia received her Bachelor Degree in Physical Therapy in 1989 from the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia and practiced as a Physical Therapist until 1998 when she began teaching Physical Therapy at the Escuela Nacional del Deporte in Cali, Colombia. Francia brings her university experience and her native command of the Spanish language together with her love of teaching to provide an effective, yet entertaining educational experience.

Maria Victoria (Vicki) has been involved in the education field since 1984 when she graduated from the Gran Colombia University with a degree in Spanish Studies. From 1984 to 2004 she was the Academic Coordinator and Director of a private elementary and high school in Funza, Colombia. In 2005 she began teaching Spanish at local Seattle Community Centers and Non-Profit Organizations. Today, she is part of the team at the Spanish Language School, Beyond Frontiers as an instructor and Curriculum Development Specialist.

Marcella's appreciation of foreign languages began during her early years living in her native Bogotá, Colombia. Teaching English as a foreign language in Colombia and relocating to Oklahoma City in 1992 broadened her abilities and interest. She received a Bachelor Degree in Business Management in 2002. From 1996 to 2006, Marcella helped local non-profits develop educational programs for low-income families and young children. She loves learning about other cultures and from other’s experiences. She currently resides in Bothell, Washington with her husband and young child.