Save the Date:
May 10th, 2025
Escuela Viva Invites You to Come Celebrate the Last 20 Years and the Next!
Come enjoy music, delicious food, 3 drink tickets and fun activities. Let’s make memories together as we commemorate this milestone. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening! May 10th, 2025 from 5-11 pm at the Troutdale House located at 411 E Historic Columbia River HWY in Troutdale.
“It is easier to build strong children than fix broken men.”
-Frederick Douglass
Dreaming of what a comprehensive early childhood system could be
Explore the future of early childhood education with Escuela Viva. Discover how our unique model prioritizes educators, fosters bilingual learning, and nurtures leadership. Transform your passion into a lifelong career.
We lift up educators holistically
personally, professionally, and financially
Angie
Escuela Viva
I’ve always believed in a simple yet powerful mantra— taking care of our teachers is the first step to providing the best early childhood education. We prioritize a sustainable work week, fair pay, benefits, and mental health resources for our educators.
It’s all about creating a supportive environment where ongoing training and clear career paths are not perks, but essentials.
Think of it like the airplane rule: you’ve got to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. It’s a simple concept, but it’s at the core of everything we do at Escuela Viva.
By investing in our teachers, we’re directly investing in our children’s future. After all, happy, supported teachers create a thriving learning environment for our kids.
That’s the Escuela Viva way.
Angie Garcia
Escuela Viva
Reggio Emilia Approach
“To make a lovable school, industrious, inventive, liveable, documentable and communicable, a place of research, learning, re-cognition and reflection, where children, teachers and families feel well – is our point of arrival.” Loris Malaguzzi
Inquiry and Exploration at the Core
The Reggio Emilia approach emphasizes curiosity-led learning, where children’s inquiries guide a flexible exploration of their experiences, thoughts, and feelings, encouraging a deep engagement with the world around them.
Social Collaboration and Environment
This model values social collaboration and considers the environment as a crucial teacher, promoting learning through group work and interaction with surroundings.
Child-Centered Success
Connection to Play-Based Learning
Reggio Emilia aligns with Play-Based Learning, focusing on children’s control over their education through expressive ‘languages’ like art and music, supported by educators to foster critical thinking and problem-solving.
Reggio Emilia Approach
“To make a lovable school, industrious, inventive, liveable, documentable and communicable, a place of research, learning, re-cognition and reflection, where children, teachers and families feel well – is our point of arrival.”
– Loris Malaguzzi
Inquiry and Exploration at the Core
The Reggio Emilia approach emphasizes curiosity-led learning, where children’s inquiries guide a flexible exploration of their experiences, thoughts, and feelings, encouraging a deep engagement with the world around them.
Social Collaboration and Environment
This model values social collaboration and considers the environment as a crucial teacher, promoting learning through group work and interaction with surroundings.
Child-Centered Success
Its success lies in an emergent curriculum that is responsive to children’s needs, fostering exploration and discovery with educators documenting the process to enhance learning.
Connection to Play-Based Learning
Reggio Emilia aligns with Play-Based Learning, focusing on children’s control over their education through expressive ‘languages’ like art and music, supported by educators to foster critical thinking and problem-solving.
A school within a school for our teachers
The foundation of a bright future lies in the hands of great teachers. At Escuela Viva, we prioritize systems that support our teachers’ well-being and professional growth.
From nurturing newcomers to the field to guiding seasoned educators toward leadership roles—including lead teachers, in-home providers, center directors, and even consultants—we’re here to elevate the early childhood education landscape
A school within a school for our teachers
How we support and empower our teachers
mentorship
Tailored guidance to navigate the complexities of early education careers.
Consultation
Expert advice to tackle challenges and seize opportunities.
Training and Support
Comprehensive programs to equip educators with the skills and knowledge for success.
our locations
“To make a lovable school, industrious, inventive, liveable, documentable and communicable, a place of research, learning, re-cognition and reflection, where children, teachers and families feel well – is our point of arrival.” –Loris Malaguzzi
hear from the community
“To make a lovable school, industrious, inventive, liveable, documentable and communicable, a place of research, learning, re-cognition and reflection, where children, teachers and families feel well – is our point of arrival.”
Loris Malaguzzi
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
Kelly Anderson
“After researching probably every school in Portland (ad nauseam I might add), I found Escuela Viva. They had everything I was looking for in a school: an excellent curriculum, a staff I felt comfortable with and a program that is like minded in their approach to caring for and educating children.”
The Ehnes family
“”Our son is thriving at Escuela Viva! His imagination and verbal dexterity has blossomed immensely. He’s more expressive and creative. As a naturally exuberant and physical child, and intelligent on top of that, he has been a bit of a challenge for us. Escuela Viva has made so much difference in his life and our home life as well. He is intellectually stimulated, and our son has learned much more bodily control and compassion for himself and others. Every morning we are greeted by the other students scurrying to give my son a hug to welcome him in the mornings, and the teachers are smiling with a cheery “Buenos Dias!”.”
hear from the community
“To make a lovable school, industrious, inventive, liveable, documentable and communicable, a place of research, learning, re-cognition and reflection, where children, teachers and families feel well – is our point of arrival.” Loris Malaguzzi
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
Nathalie Benon
Parent
Both my sons attended preschool from ages 2.5-5.5 at Escuela Viva. It was such a high-quality experience for both of them and for us. They are kind, organized, and always willing to be as flexible as they can to support children and their families. I recommend them so highly. I love the founder Angie and the director Amelia, and I’m so grateful for this school in our lives. My sons are now ages 7 and 9, and I hear from other parents about preschool experiences that are sub par at other places, and it reminds me and reinforces my gratitude for Escuela Viva. My kids learned kindness, community, and all of the fundamentals that helped them succeed in kindergarten.
How to get involved?
How to get involved?
