Rivera’s Bilingual Preschool and Childcare Sets Kids Up For Success; Hopes to Expand to 2nd Location
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., February 19, 2024 – Ana Rivera owns and operates two childcare sites in The Dalles, one site is for infants and toddlers age 2-3 while the other is for preschoolers age 3-5 and she’s working to expand her services in the coming months.
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
Rivera’s Bilingual Preschool offers home based childcare, highly qualified and trained teachers, research-based cognitive and social-emotional curriculum, bilingual Spanish and English immersion instruction, and a variety of gross motor opportunities both indoors and outdoors.
As a mother of four children who cares deeply about family and helping to set bilingual children up for success.
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
“My name is Ana Rivera. I am a mother of 4 beautiful children. One will be graduating this year and will be leaving to attend the Air Force. My other 3 are still in school, the second oldest is in high school at the moment as a sophomore. The 3rd one is in 5th grade leaving for middle school, and my youngest is about to start kindergarten,” says Rivera.
“I have been working in Early Childhood Education for over 14 years. I started as a small, registered family child care home provider,” says Rivera. “ I love working with children. I enjoy seeing them grow as people and develop a sense of identity and belonging in our classroom community.”
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
As the director of both sites she serves to support staff, several classrooms, and even works as the lead teacher in several classrooms at Rivera’s Bilingual Preschool.
“My passion lies in helping children develop a strong foundation for lifelong success by building confidence and character within our vibrant learning environment.”
“I enjoy creating lesson plans and watching the children gain confidence and learn how to learn as they are introduced to new concepts and materials in the classroom. I can observe the learning happening in the classroom - they are motivated to learn and do for themselves,” says Rivera
In her free time she crafts, does outdoor activities such kayaking, fishing, swimming, and gardening.
“I also enjoy spending time with my family, go on Dutch Bro. runs, and watching movies,” she says.
As many parents are well aware, the need for quality childcare in the gorge is high.
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
Which is why Rivera hopes to expand their capacity and services this year.
“A goal of mine this year is to leave my home-based preschool and expand to a second center location where we will have three preschool classrooms and an afterschool program,” says Rivera.
Rivera’s Bilingual Preschool in downtown The Dalles, OR.
Rivera’s Preschool is also working to serve low-income families.
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
Rivera’s was awarded the Oregon Preschool Promise Grant in 2022 and again in 2023.
Preschool Promise (PSP) is a free, high-quality preschool program available to Oregon families living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in Oregon. The program serves children ages 3-5 in a mixed-delivery model meaning that the program is operated in a variety of settings, and with a variety of sponsor organizations.
The main goal of Preschool Promise is to provide equitable, accessible, quality preschool education to all children throughout Oregon.
Photo Credit: Robin Denning
Quality childcare programs serving preschool children in Oregon can apply for a grant allowing them to become a Preschool Promise Site.
“It is a great privilege,” says Rivera. “It is a highly competitive program and there are only a few slots awarded to family-based childcare sites.”
“I work with other local agencies who support either our program or the families we serve to ensure we provide the best education for children in our preschool,” says Rivera.
To learn more about Rivera’s Bilingual Preschool and Childcare visit fourriversfamily.org/riveras-preschool or email riverasbilingualchildcare@gmail.com.
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