1ST GRADE (1A)

Claudia graduated from Florida International University with her B.S. in Liberal Arts Education Track in 2018. She has previously worked in a school in South Florida before becoming a teacher as a paraprofessional and then later for four years as a Kindergarten Teacher. She moved to Rhode Island in 2021 and has been a First-Grade teacher for two years. Claudia is from California but a daughter of immigrant parents. She loves to visit family in Florida when she can, exploring new cities with her husband, loves Disney and has a cat named whiskers.

1ST GRADE (1B)

Nika received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University in 2017, where she also received B.A.’s in Psychology and Theater Arts. She was previously the Director of Education at Providence CityArts for Youth. Nika is a Mexican, Native American, and Russian-Jewish educator, writer, activist, and performing artist passionate about community building and lifting up marginalized voices through performance. She is committed to giving students from diverse backgrounds the tools they need to succeed in school and the world beyond through culturally responsive teaching, while also giving students space to feel empowered and that their voice matters through positive youth development. In her free time, she loves to read, write, cook, hike, dance, and hang out with her awesome daughter!

1ST GRADE (1C)

Alicia graduated from the University of RI in 2014 with her Bachelor's Degree in Human Development & Family Studies and Early Childhood Education. She has worked in many settings, including directing and running after-school programs and holding the title of Education Coordinator for early learning programs for many years. Alicia's favorite role by far has been 1st grade teacher.