Jacqueline Gaud is a native from Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. She graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ponce, Puerto Rico, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. After moving to the United States, she graduated from West Chester University with a master's degree in Languages and Cultures in Spanish. Teaching is her passion, and she has over 10 years of experience as an educator.  In her home country, she worked as a tutor for first, second, and third grades, served as an art teacher for elementary students, and taught math to fourth and fifth graders. 

Growing up, one of her dreams was for her and her three children to speak English. That was one of the reasons why she moved to the United States. For her, learning English was essential for professional growth. During her children's English learning journey, she noticed that it was fast and easy for the younger two, but more challenging and time-consuming for her oldest child. All her kids speak Spanish and English, and Jacqueline has been learning English since the first day she arrived in the United States. One of the big challenges in her life was working as an infant and toddler teacher in a school where no one spoke Spanish. It was her first job working with young children in the United States and one of the best experiences. She not only developed professionally, but she also grew significantly as an English learner. The English environment helped her expand her vocabulary, boost her language confidence, which sparked an interest in expanding her knowledge about learning multiple languages, especially in young children.

During her studies at West Chester University, she gained valuable insights into the benefits of acquiring multiple languages and the reasons why children should start learning more than one language at a young age. Inspired by her findings, she decided to put all her knowledge into practice. She worked as a Spanish toddler teacher at a Spanish Immersion School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and it was an amazing experience for her. She remarked, “When you're teaching them, you see the children quit, distracted, watching, and playing. You think they're not understanding anything, but then, out of nowhere, you hear them speaking Spanish and comprehending what the teacher is saying in Spanish. It overwhelms you with emotion, and all you want to do is celebrate."  

Through her experience raising bilingual children and working with young learners in the classroom, Jacqueline has witnessed how effortlessly children can acquire multiple languages when immersed in a natural and engaging environment. Her passion for language learning has led her to bring Spanish into homes, daycares, preschools and early childhood classrooms, partnering with parents and educators to create joyful, play-based bilingual experiences that support children’s growth and development.