The Estrellitas’ team brings together talent focused on interacting with children and harnessing their innate learning ability (all team members are native Spanish speakers). 

Norma R. Manrique, MEd, MA - Director of Programs  Mrs. Manrique oversees programs and teaches at Estrellitas.  She is on faculty at Andrew Jackson Language Academy—a CPS ‘magnet’ school.  Mrs. Manrique has over 24 years of experience teaching Spanish to children in addition to having been an  Assistant Principal and having directed and implemented various programs at the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Park District.  She holds two masters degrees, one from National Louis University in Curriculum and Instruction and a second one in Educational Administration from Governors State University.  Mrs. Manrique received her BS degree from Chicago State University.   This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Gizella Meneses, PhD - Director of Curriculum  Dr. Meneses leads the curricular development for Estrellitas.  She is a professor of Spanish at Lake Forest College in Illinois.  Dr. Meneses has taught in Montessori programs and has conducted research in language development and acquisition.  Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of modern languages and literature at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC.  She obtained her PhD at Arizona State University.  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Anitra W. Romfh, MD - Associate Director  Dr. Romfh, a pediatrician, advises the team on child development matters.  She is a Chief Resident of Internal Medicine and Cardiology Fellow at the University of Chicago. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Chicago Medical School of Finch University of Health Sciences and her BS in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado.  Other languages: Tamil.  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Gema Rodriguez - Programs Coordinator and Teacher  Ms. Rodriguez teaches and coordinates activities at Estrellitas.  She has been teaching  for three years at Estrellitas and has eight years of experience coordinating and developing programs for children at Pipiol SC—an Spanish immersion based camp for children and teenagers in Mexico.  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Sandra Tapia, MA - Teacher  Ms. Tapia is a Spanish Teacher from Jr. Kindergarten through 8^th grade at Chicago City Day School and faculty at UIC’s Upward Bound Program.  During college, she studied abroad in programs in Nogales, Mexico; Havana, Cuba; and Madrid, Spain.  She holds an MA degree in Interdisciplinary Education and a BS degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University.  Ms. Tapia holds an Elementary Teaching Certification and a Library of Congress Adventure to the American Mind Certification.  She is a recipient of the Vincentian Urban Educators award and is both a Golden Apple and McNair Scholar.  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Paulina Reina Cuadra - Teacher  Mrs. Reina Cuadra has experience in program development.  She is a graduate from Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico.  During college she completed two internships at New York University, NY and at Marquette University, WI.  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Paola Robledo Martinez, Coordinator and Assistant Teacher  Mrs. has various years of experience with children as a Counselor at Cape Cod Sea Camp  (CCSC), Boston, MA, and teaching ballet at Royal Academy of Dancing of London. She has participated in the Chicago Marathon and the New York Marathon.  Currently, she is conducting graduate studies at the University of Chicago.  She graduated from Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in Monterrey, Mexico, and during college she completed an internhip at University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia.  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Gabriela Medina Mora, Assistant Teacher  Mrs. Medina Mora has taught dance at Escuela Claudina Thevenet in Mexico City and has been a volunteer at Hospital Infantil Federico Gomez (children's hospital), Hospital de Tacubaya and at the orphanage La Orden de los Oblatos de La Paz in Mexico City.  She holds a Licenciatura (equivalent of a Bachellor's degree) from Universidad Iberoamericana.  During college she was an exchange student at Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Ana Paulina Larrondo - Assistant Teacher  Mrs. Larrondo has organized and taught art and manual crafts in summer classes for children. She has volunteered in an orphanage teaching the use computer software.  Her business experience includes positions at GAccion, Accenture and TV Azteca. She holds an MBA from Instituto de Empresa from Madrid, Spain and an engeneering degree from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey  (ITESM-CCM) in Mexico. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Beatriz Ramos - Assistant Teacher  Mrs. Ramos has seventeen years of experience in early education both coordinating Pre-K programs and assisting in teaching.  She holds an AA degree from Joliet Jr. College and an NCLB-Certification.  beatriz. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Maria Jesus Martinez Cuadrado - Visiting Teacher  Mrs. Martinez is a Spanish teacher at Instituto Cervantes.  In Chicago, she has taught 9th through 12th grade ESL (English as a Second Language) at Steinmetz Centre, 1st grade at Columbia Explorers Academy and in Waukegan, kindergarten at Clearview School.  In London, she was in charge of the Children's Literature department of the W.&.G.Foyle Library.  She holds a Licenciatura (equivalent of an MSc degree in the U.S.) from Universidad Complutence of Madrid, Spain, and is certified by the State of Illinois to teach social studies and visual arts from 9th through 12th grade.   This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it