Patricia Reguerin

Patricia Reguerin

Executive Director

patricia@escuelapopular.org

Born in Bolivia, Patricia Reguerin is currently  the Executive Director of Escuela Popular, but originally migrated with her family to the United States when she was 5 years old. Her experience as an immigrant student gave birth to her passion for equity in education. Patricia began her career as a childcare provider at Escuela Popular in 1986. It was then that she realized she wanted to become a teacher. In 1991, Patricia graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and decided to continue for an additional year to obtain her Multiple Subject Bilingual Credential. Her first teaching assignment was as a bilingual kindergarten teacher, and she has taught bilingual and dual immersion grades K-2, served as a migrant education resource teacher, and a Title VII coordinator. Patricia has a Master’s in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Title

Exective Director

Years at EP

17+

What attracted you to EP?

The fact that it was a grass-roots community based school. Prior to becoming a charter school, Escuela Popular responded to the needs of the community they served. Whenever I visited to the school, there was a certain warmth and positive energy I had never felt at any other educational institution. When EP had the opportunity to start a bilingual elementary school academy from scratch I was instantly on-board.

What’s the best part of your job?

The opportunity to facilitate the development of others. Particularly, human beings who regardless of circumstances have big dreams and will do whatever is possible to achieve them. Escuela Popular provides the space and opportunity to facilitate learning and growth of human potential which is not a one way street. As a leader, I am actively involved in my growth as well as the growth of those I serve. My job fuels me to go beyond what we know to what is possible, this is particularly innovative in the field of education where our main purpose is to nurture and develop our relationship with ourselves, those around us and the world.

How does your passion align with EP’s vision?

My passion is to be intimately involved in the development of leaders who lead from the heart with innovative approaches to learning that impact the field of education towards holistic humane educational practices. Escuela Popular’s mission to educate to transform lives has nurtured and allowed for me to work in alignment with my passion. EP has opened up the space to learn about leading with love and how to innovate those practices so that we can develop future leaders.