Spanish

Mercedes Macedo serves as the Spanish educator and the Pedagogista for all of the Compass School of Texas. Mercedes has taught children for nearly twenty-five years. Most recently, she taught preschoolers at Temple Emanu-El ECEC in Dallas for five years and guided many teachers as the Pedagogista for the last two years. Prior to teaching in Dallas, Mercedes taught in early childhood education preschools in Austin, Berkeley (CA), and Alexandria (VA). In addition, Mercedes has presented the Reggio Emilia approach to the Education department in her home country, Peru. Mercedes holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from St. Agustin University in Arequipa, Peru.

Mercedes is committed and passionate about inquiry-based, emergent curriculum, and the Reggio Emilia approach. In her words, "These approaches promote and support an education where every child is the main character on 'stage' and having an essential role in their learning." As the Compass School of Texas Pedagogista, Mercedes assists with professional development and provides ongoing support around documenting projects and the learning process. Mercedes is excited to share her love for her native language and to bring the culture of other Spanish-speaking countries alive for her students.

Mercedes enjoys collecting materials outside school to spark children's wonder and inquiry. When Mercedes is home, you will find her snuggling her little dog Mocha Marie, enjoying good music, and cooking. Mercedes is married and, with her husband Eric, loves traveling and attending concerts.

Reference Remarks:

"I have witnessed her hone her interpersonal skills, creativity, and eye for engaging programming. While teaching, Mercedes can see the whole child and build on their strengths and interests."

Elizabeth Quezada serves as the PreK and kindergarten Spanish Educator for the Compass School of Texas. She has been dedicated to education since she was 17 years old. She worked as an early intervention teacher in Chile and Israel, and her most recent work experience was at Temple Emanuel as a 3-year-old teacher, where she incorporated more than one language into her pedagogical routines. Before joining Temple Emanuel, Elizabeth worked for five years with autistic children in Israel. She also trained as a Learning Recovery Teacher, acquiring skills and strategies to develop playful and thoughtful group activities.
Elizabeth holds a bachelor's degree in Education from her native country, Chile, a university degree in Early Childhood Education, and a postgraduate degree in Learning Difficulties. She is proficient in Spanish and Hebrew and is working on improving her English. In her role at Compass, Elizabeth aims to provide recreational opportunities for the children that promote wonder and curiosity, allowing them to learn the Spanish language in an intrinsic way that becomes embedded in their memories.
Elizabeth is married and she has three boys. Her family strives to maintain and care for the three languages ​​that her children know, even though it is challenging in daily life. Elizabeth is also an animal and plant lover, with a cat, a dog, and an adopted and rescued Axolotl in her home.