Paula Nichols
Owner, Director and Lead Teacher
As a Spanish teacher, my mission is to nurture a learning environment where children can acquire the language naturally and effortlessly while having fun and expanding their knowledge. This journey begins by immersing them in a world of Spanish through engaging interactions, meaningful experiences, and authentic culture.
¡Hola! I'm thrilled to be your child's Spanish teacher! I'm from Argentina and I moved to the United States in 2013, and I have been living in Walla Walla since 2016. I am studying Early Childhood Education at WWCC.
I have 10 years of experience bringing the joy of Spanish to preschoolers, I'm passionate about creating a fun and playful environment where little ones can explore the magic of language. I love to focus on the individual needs of every child.
Our program offers a unique opportunity for your child to develop fluency in Spanish from a very young age, giving them a head start on a valuable lifelong skill!
We're thrilled to offer Walla Walla's first Spanish immersion preschool.
Paula Nichols
Hello, my name is Rocio Fajardo.
I am very happy to be a part of Sonrisas Preschool!
I am originally from Mexico and I have lived here in Walla Walla Wa for approximately 10 years. I love children and in Mexico I had the opportunity to work as a teacher's assistant in a kindergarten for a school year, here in Walla Walla I worked as an Infant Toddler Teacher, I am currently studying at Walla Walla Community College Early Childhood Education.
Rocio Fajardo
Assistant Teacher
Sonrisas Spanish Preschool provides the perfect springboard for your child's journey into the Walla Walla Public Schools' Dual Language Program. Our immersive curriculum, rich in songs, games, and cultural exploration, lays a strong foundation in Spanish language skills. Children entering Kindergarten in the dual language program will find themselves comfortable and familiar, confident in their beginning Spanish abilities, and ready to flourish in this exciting bilingual learning environment.
Prepare for Dual Language in Walla Walla Public Schools
Regional entrepreneurs awarded support...
Sonrisas Spanish Immersion Preschool, owned and operated by Paula and Ben Nichols, went next. The couple said the service provides an opportunity to teach children how to speak both Spanish and English. The couple said the preschool will be Walla Walla's very first Spanish language immersion preschool. The grand prize would be used to renovate their 1,400 square foot four-car garage into a preschool that would host 20 children.
"You can reach your dreams," Paula Nichols said after she was handed a $100,000 check to help get her and her husband's vision of a Spanish Immersion Preschool one step closer to fruition.
Not only will students at Sonrisas Preschool pick up a new language, but they’ll also learn about the cultures of different countries where Spanish is spoken. Each Friday, Paula will teach students about a different country. She said she wanted to help improve kids’ cultural awareness in Walla Walla.
“A lot of people come here that have kids and they don’t speak English as a first language and they’re thrown into the public schools with kids that may not have that cultural understanding,” Paula said. “So hopefully the kids that come to our school, as they get into the public schools and as these new people continue to come to the community, they will be able to bridge that cultural gap.”
Sonrisas Spanish Immersion Preschool officially open...