Alexandra Valencia - she/her

Ms. Valencia

Spanish Teacher

avalencia@sierraacademy.net

Alexandra Valencia recently moved to Nevada County (with her family of four) from rainy Seattle, Washington, with hopes of being closer to nature, and getting more sunshine! She is excited to join the SAEL staff after having taught high school Spanish for several years in a traditional educational setting.  She is inspired to share her passion for the Spanish language and culture with SAEL students through the EL Education model and to work with her AMAZING colleagues. 

Señora Valencia (as the students call her) was born and raised in Seattle, but spent a large amount of her childhood in a small village in Russia.  These early experiences of linguistic and cultural immersion ignited her love of travel and language learning.  She learned Russian by playing with the local children, often having to act things out to get her point across.

Señora Valencia started her journey learning Spanish in high school, and it completely changed the course of her life!  She wants to provide the same opportunity to her students.  After studying and living abroad in Spain (as a junior in high school), graduating from the University of Washington with a BA in Spanish (and a minor in Russian) Señora Valencia married her Peruvian husband and went on to have two children she is raising bilingually.  Where would Señora Valencia be without the Spanish language and all of the life experiences it’s brought to her?  She just can’t imagine!

In her free time, Señora Valencia likes to spend time with her wacky kids, go on hikes in the woods, hang out at the Yuba River on sunny days, read, do yoga and meditation, sleep, watch television, and sing and dance!  Spanish-language karaoke with friends is one of her favorite leisure activities.