About Escuelita

From our youngest infants to our elementary after-school students, we create a nurturing environment where children thrive in two languages.

Escuelita’s Values

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Child-Centered Learning
We honor each child's unique developmental journey through thoughtful education that engages their natural curiosity rather than rushing toward academic benchmarks.
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Continuous Growth
Our year-round program respects natural learning rhythms, allowing children to build upon discoveries without the disruptions of traditional school calendars.
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Community Connection
Children thrive within our "Little School of the Soul" where shared experiences and intergenerational relationships foster belonging, empathy, and social confidence.
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Early Foundations
We recognize infancy through pre-kindergarten as critical years for establishing cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional foundations that serve children throughout life.
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Cultural Heritage
Bilingual education provides children with multiple perspectives and honors cultural identities while building bridges between communities and traditions.
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Joyful Engagement
We believe learning flourishes in an atmosphere of warmth, creativity and play. Our days are filled with music, movement, art, and laughter—creating an environment where children are eager to participate and discover.

❊ Our Story

From Downtown to a Legacy of Learning

Humble Beginnings on Congress Avenue

Escuelita del Alma began in 2000 as Dina Flores' vision to serve families working at Las Manitas, the beloved Congress Avenue café operated by her partner Cynthia Perez and Cynthia's sister Lidia. As one of Austin's first Spanish immersion programs and the only full-time downtown childcare center, Escuelita quickly became an essential part of the city's cultural fabric.

In those early days, our 100 children enjoyed lunches prepared at Las Manitas, art lessons at neighboring La Peña Gallery, and Halloween trick-or-treating adventures to downtown businesses and City Hall. This vibrant, community-centered approach to education set the foundation for everything we've become.

A Director With Deep Roots

Dina Flores brings over four decades of educational experience to Escuelita. With a bachelor's degree in bilingual elementary education and a master's in early childhood education, she taught in Austin and San Antonio public schools for fifteen years before founding our school.

"My years in public education gave me a vision for creating something different—a place where children could experience educational continuity without the disruptions of traditional school calendars, where developmental milestones could be celebrated rather than rushed, and where cultural heritage would be woven into daily learning," Dina explains.

Standing Strong Through Change

In 2006, when development threatened our original location, Austin rallied around Escuelita. City Council members advocated for preservation, calling us one of the "revered local institutions which have significant cultural and historic value to our community."

Musicians including Alejandro Escovedo, James McMurtry, Patty Griffin, and Grupo Fantasma—many whose own children attended Escuelita—performed benefit concerts to support our school's future.

Growing Our Community

Though we ultimately relocated to our current 32nd Street campus in 2008, we brought along more than 150 families and our three-year waiting list. By 2014, we expanded across the street, and before the pandemic, nearly 200 children filled our classrooms daily.

Our diverse community includes children of musicians, restaurant workers, business owners, and public servants—creating a microcosm of Austin itself. Many of our teachers have been with Escuelita for decades, some even related to each other, making our "Little School of the Soul" truly feel like family.

Looking Forward

As we prepare for our next chapter at our permanent Bluestein Drive location, we remain committed to the values that have guided us for over two decades: bilingual education, cultural connection, and nurturing the whole child through an approach that respects developmental stages and celebrates community.

The soul of Escuelita isn't in our buildings—it's in the relationships we build, the languages we share, and the children who carry our legacy of learning into the world.

About Our Curriculum ▸