Mi Escuelita en Español

Our Teachers

Ines Portugal Director

Inés Portugal is an educator, a mother, and the founder of Mi Escuelita en Español. She is deeply passionate about supporting children, their parents, and her community. A proud Latina immigrant, Inés draws inspiration from her beautiful and intelligent daughter, Vida, who motivated her to pursue her dream of designing her own educational program.

With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Inés has dedicated her life to teaching and nurturing children. Her career began in 1998 in Peru, where she majored in Education and earned her qualifications as a Preschool Teacher. After moving to the United States, she continued her studies, earning an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from City College of San Francisco. She also completed the LifeWays Early Childhood and Human Development Training and currently holds a Child Development Program Permit, the highest credential issued by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for preschool educators to teach, lead, and supervise early childhood programs.

Inés is a proud member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America and LifeWays North America. She is also pursuing her International Waldorf Teacher’s Credential.

In addition to her expertise in early childhood education, Inés is a Licensed Massage Therapist in San Francisco, CA. She has worked in various professional settings, including Katherine Michaels School, Centro Las Olas, Child Care Careers, Let’s Play in Spanish, and as Director of the Spanish Program for Tree Frog Treks.

In 2010, Inés founded Mi Escuelita en Español, a magical space where children learn, create, and explore in Spanish. Her program reflects her love for teaching and her belief in the power of language and creativity to nurture young minds.

Beyond her work at Mi Escuelita, Inés mentors aspiring childcare providers, supporting women entrepreneurs in launching their own programs. She volunteers in the Latino community, contributing her time to organizations such as the Mission Cultural Center and programs that assist families affected by domestic violence. She also actively supports her Peruvian community in various capacities.

Inés continues to share her love of teaching as a Spanish instructor at schools like Golden Bridges School, Alta Vista, and The San Francisco School, working with kindergarten students.

Her dedication to education, her community, and her family is at the heart of everything she does, making her a beloved leader and teacher in her field.

Testimonials

A Truly Magical Daycare Experience!

We moved to San Francisco mid-year and needed a daycare for our children, aged 1.5 and 4.5 years. Mi Escuelita was the perfect place for both my kids. Ines seamlessly helped my youngest learn how to be away from home (this was her first experience with childcare out of the home) and continuously engaged my spirited, energetic 4.5-year-old. The daycare offers a wonderful mix of structured activities where the children learn to follow directions in a group, and creative play-based time. Ines never worries about children being too messy and lets them have the fun they deserve to have! My children would come home having gone through three batches of clothes, and I loved that! She sees the beauty and uniqueness of early childhood, nurturing and protecting it with all her heart. Ines also organizes lots of activities and celebrations that families can be a part of, creating a sense of community and joy. In the few months we’ve been there, she’s genuinely made us feel like we are part of the community and her family. She also teaches this love of community to the children. Within their first few weeks, they had a coffee station outside the school giving free coffee to the community. The kids made signs and sang songs inviting people to come have coffee. Ines and Mi Escuelita are truly unique, loving, and magical. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found such a wonderful place for our children!

• Melanie Staehelin

Philosophy

🌿 Mi Escuelita en Español

Proudly founded in 2010 — Celebrando 16 años al servicio de la comunidad!

🎉 Big News for Our Community!

Mi Escuelita en Español is now officially part of the Early Learning for All (ELFA) Program in San Francisco, expanding access to free and low-cost preschool for eligible families.

📍 Located in the Portola District, San Francisco

🌎 Our Approach

Mi Escuelita en Español is inspired by Waldorf and LifeWays Early Childhood Education.

We focus on five core elements: warmth, rhythm, activity, nutrition, and rest.

Our program is 100% Spanish immersion, offering children the gift of language, culture, and connection from their earliest years.

We are proud to be affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), reflecting our commitment to high-quality early childhood education.

✨ What Children Experience

We nurture the whole child through:

1. Practical Life Skills Cooking, baking, gardening, cleaning, building, and sorting—real-life activities that build confidence and independence.

2. Language & Literacy Development Songs, nursery rhymes, seasonal verses, and repetitive games that support early language and memory.

3. Imaginative & Creative Play Open-ended play that strengthens problem-solving, creativity, and motor skills.

4. Connection with Nature Daily outdoor experiences with sand, water, plants, and seasonal changes.

5. Social-Emotional Growth Learning to share, take turns, and respect others’ feelings and uniqueness.

6. Healthy Habits A balanced daily rhythm of play, clean-up, nourishment, and rest.

7. Love for Learning Fostering curiosity, joy, discovery, and a lifelong passion for learning.

🏡 Program Overview

Monday – Friday

⏰ 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍 147 Silliman Street, San Francisco

Optional:

Aftercare: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Weekend care: Available upon request

Our school is a beautiful home with:

Two separate classrooms

Spacious backyard

Muddy puddle play area

Large tree with a hammock for children to enjoy

🌲 Nearby Community

We are surrounded by wonderful local resources:

Portola Branch Library (1 block away)

Palega Recreation Center

McLaren Park for creative nature play

Glen Canyon Park for outdoor adventures

🎨 Enrichment & Monthly Activities

Local artists and musicians

Parents sharing their professions

Mindfulness practices

Donkey therapy with Caring Cowgirl

Tea parties & imaginative play

Multicultural celebrations

🚍 Seasonal Field Trips

Lemos Farm

San Francisco Fire Department

Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts

Ocean Beach

Stow Lake

☀️ Forest School & Outdoor Program

Our program includes a nature-based Forest School experience, where children learn through exploration, curiosity, and play in outdoor environments.

We also offer:

Forest Camp (ages 2.5–7)

Care during holidays, spring break, summer, and seasonal breaks

📍 Pick-up location: Glen Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street & Chenery)

Please bring: ✔️ Packed lunch ✔️ Water bottle ✔️ Weather-appropriate clothing

🌧️☀️ Rain or shine—we are outside!

🕊️ Rhythm of the Day (Sample)

9:00 AM – Arrival & free play

9:20 AM – Morning circle

10:00 AM – Snack & hydration

10:30 AM – Outdoor exploration / art

12:00 PM – Lunch

12:30 PM – Storytime & songs

2:00 PM – Pick-up (aftercare available until 4pm)

Location

We are located in a beautiful home with two separate classrooms and a spacious backyard. Our program runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with optional aftercare available from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Our program is thoughtfully designed to engage children’s senses and nurture a deep respect for the simplicity of the Earth. We create an environment where children can explore through sensory experiences, develop awareness, and build meaningful connections with the world around them.

About our program

🌿 Mi Escuelita en Español

A gentle transition from home to school, Mi Escuelita en Español is a Spanish immersion, Waldorf-inspired preschool for children ages 15 months to 5 years in San Francisco.

We offer a nurturing, home-like environment where children learn through play, nature, and meaningful relationships. Guided by an experienced and loving teacher, children explore the world at their own pace using natural materials, creativity, and their senses.

✨ Why Families Love Us

Spanish immersion in a warm, intimate setting

Daily outdoor exploration & Forest School

Play-based, Waldorf-inspired approach

Strong focus on social-emotional development

Deep connection with nature and community

Led by Teacher Inés with 20+ years of experience

🌳 A Nature-Based Childhood

From muddy puddles to neighborhood adventures, children spend their days exploring parks, creating nature art, and building friendships in a joyful, screen-free environment.

☀️ Programs

School Year (Sept–May): 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Optional Aftercare until 4:00 PM

Summer Camp (June–August): Outdoor program at Glen Canyon Park (ages 2.5–7)

❤️ Our Heart

We are more than a preschool, we are a community! At Mi Escuelita, children and families are seen, supported, and connected for years to come.

Admissions

Children who are Spanish-dominant have the option of attending two or three days a week. We recommend that children who are still mastering Spanish attend five mornings a week. We try to balance our program by age, gender, and level of Spanish proficiency to the best of our ability.

Join the Mi Escuelita en Español community in four easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family. Please also visit the Lifeways website at www.lifewaysnorthamerica.org to learn more about how a Lifeways program develops.

2. Tour our school

Here at Mi Escuelita en Español we know that choosing a preschool is a family decision–so we welcome your entire family to join on the tour. Please bring your child with you to meet Ines, interact with the space, and see what makes Mi Escuelita en Español unique.

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you would like to enroll, please submit an application. Please note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not toured.

4. Enroll

After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation, you’ll pay your enrollment fee.

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