About AFA
Our Story
AFA was built by a Woodbury mother who could not find what she wanted for her own children. So she created it.
Lucilla Dávila
Founder
Dear Parents,
I believe that investing in our children's future is the most important contribution we can make toward their success and potential happiness. As a passionate advocate for children, helping children grow and learn through creative and innovative programming has been my mission. As a parent and a Woodbury resident, I desperately wanted this enriched, language Immersion program for my two children. However, twenty years ago when I was in your place as a parent, there wasn't a program like Alma Flor Ada Spanish Immersion Early Learning Academy (AFA) in Woodbury or for that matter anywhere.
I was excited when I learned of a small strand of Spanish immersion in the local public schools but like many parents, I was placed on a list and waited for a call that never came.
This frustration as a parent sowed the seeds for my desire to one day open a program in Woodbury that would meet the needs of children like my Sophia and Johnny. After thirty years of work in bilingual education in Minnesota, I have begun to realize my dream for culturally and linguistically authentic Spanish programming for Woodbury, Lake Elmo, and surrounding area families.
If you choose the AFA family, your child will have unique and authentic opportunities to explore, build, and grow through immersion in Spanish language and culture. Wherever your child's journey takes them in the future, the gift of bilingualism will lay a solid foundation on which to build a brighter future.
I invite you to join the Alma Flor Ada Spanish Immersion Early Learning Academy community. It would be our honor to contribute to your child's future at this very special time in their development.
— Lucilla Dávila
Founder, AFA
What We Stand For
¡Tu familia es nuestra familia!
Your family is our family.
We're not a typical early learning center. We are Alma Flor Ada, a Spanish Immersion Early Learning Academy in Minnesota for children ages 16 months through Kindergarten.
Our teachers are native Spanish speakers who inspire children through language, culture, and a superb STEM education curriculum. Students learn in Spanish and they collaborate on sharing in Spanish. Through a culturally enriched learning environment, your child will gain the foundation to flourish in a global society.
The gift of knowledge doesn't stop in the classroom. Your little one will be excited to share it all with you! When they grow, we all grow together.
Serving children from 16 months through Kindergarten
Woodbury, Lake Elmo, and surrounding communities
Families seeking authentic bilingual education
What Makes Us Different
True 90/10 Immersion
Not just Spanish classes. A complete immersive environment where children live and learn in Spanish.
Native Faculty
Taught exclusively by native Spanish-speaking educators from across Latin America and Spain.
5-Level Progression
A structured curriculum (Levels 101-105) that grows with each child through Kindergarten readiness.
Cultural Fluency
Rich traditions, music, and stories from the Spanish-speaking world woven into every single day.
Come meet us.
The best way to know if AFA is right for your family is to visit our school.