On Thursday, nearly 300 Ruben Trejo Dual Language Academy students and their principal Mauricio Segovia were joined by families, staff, community members and elected officials to celebrate their new school name and very own school building.
Established in 2017 with 50 kindergarten students as a Spokane Public Language Immersion, the school now boasts grades K-7 and will extend to 8th grade next year. The growth of the program required a bigger space, and the relocation to the former Pratt Elementary School coincided with a new model to develop bilingual and biliterate students. The renaming process was also an opportunity to honor local Chicano artist and educator Ruben Trejo, whose family has generously donated pieces of his art to adorn the building’s walls.
Thank you to Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, Spokane City Council Member Lili Navarrete, SPS School Board President Nikki Otero Lockwood, SPS School Board Director Hilary Kozel, and members of the Trejo family for joining the celebration. The audience also appreciated a performance by the Eastern Washington University Mariachi Band.
TDLA is an SPS Option School, which provide unique learning opportunities to meet students’ and families’ needs.