Williams and Ramirez, along with Josie Gerber, founded Spanish Schoolhouse in 1999. Prior to that, they taught Spanish in after-school camps in Plano and Frisco ISDs. From the beginning, the founders hired native Spanish-speaking teachers who wanted to share their culture with children. This is a requirement they continue today. Spanish Schoolhouse teachers come from Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and other Spanish-speaking countries.
“It gives Latin people the opportunity to work here in their own language and a feeling like they are working in their own country,” Ramirez said.
Originally, the preschool was held in churches—three of which were in Frisco—but classes soon outgrew those accommodations. The first building they bought was in Coppell. In 2014, they were able to open their first custom-built Spanish Schoolhouse on Esther Way in Frisco. Claudia Aristimuño, originally from Venezuela, is the director of the corporate-owned Frisco location. In 2016, she enrolled her children in summer camp. Before becoming the director this year, she was a teacher at the school for four years. Based on a 2019 survey, about 76% of the Frisco campus students come from primarily English-speaking households, Gerber said. The preschool offers classes for 2-year-olds through kindergarteners.
When students arrive, they receive friendly Spanish greetings including, “Hola” (“Hello”), “Bienvenido” (“Welcome”) and “Dame cinco” (“Give me five”). Once in class, they are taught manners, math, science, reading, writing, motor skills and more in Spanish.
Older students will also spend 30 minutes a day learning English.
“After they leave here, they go to public schools,” Gerber said. “We want them to be ready with the sounds of the letters, the basic stuff. ... We reinforce phonetics and numbers.”
The five-year goal for the schoolhouse corporation is to open 10 more locations in Texas, then expand nationwide, the founders said.
Spanish Schoolhouse
6065 Esther Way, Frisco
214-619-0737
https://spanishschoolhouse.com/frisco
Preschool hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Extended hours are available.)
