EntreCulturas Education
®
About Us
The EntreCulturas approach to education revolutionizes teacher preparation and professional development by prioritizing experiential learning, practical application, and continuous growth. We recognize that theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient to equip educators for the complexities of today's classrooms.
Born from the
classroom.
Built for community.
EntreCulturas Education was born from a longing for connection — for spaces where educators and families could truly belong, grow, and be seen for who they are.
EntreCulturas Education nació de un anhelo de conexión — de espacios donde los educadores y las familias pudieran pertenecer, crecer y ser vistos tal como son.
How it all began
Our story begins in the classroom. As educators, we felt the weight of isolation — the lack of resources, meaningful conversations, and spaces where we could truly connect. We longed for more than just strategies; we craved experiences that reconnected us to our purpose.
EntreCulturas Education was born from that longing — and from the joy we felt when sharing our own stories, especially those shaped by our cultures and identities. We realized how deeply our diverse experiences influenced not only how we taught, but how we connected with our students and each other.
What started as conversations among colleagues has become a movement — a community built on cultural awareness, practical support, and a shared commitment to uplift educators and families.
We're so happy to share this journey with you.
"What started as conversations among colleagues has become a movement — a community built on cultural awareness, practical support, and a shared commitment to uplift educators and families."
— Esly Sarmiento, Founder & Executive Director
Nuestra Historia
Nuestra historia comienza en el aula. Como educadores, sentimos lo aislante que puede ser enseñar: la falta de recursos, de conversaciones significativas y de espacios para conectar de verdad. Anhelábamos algo más que estrategias; buscábamos experiencias que nos ayudarán a reconectarnos con nuestro propósito.
EntreCulturas Education nació de ese anhelo — y de la alegría que sentíamos al compartir nuestras propias historias, especialmente aquellas marcadas por nuestras culturas e identidades. Descubrimos cuánto nuestras experiencias diversas influyen no sólo en cómo enseñamos, sino también en cómo nos conectamos con nuestros estudiantes y entre nosotros.
Lo que comenzó como conversaciones entre colegas se ha transformado en un movimiento — una comunidad basada en la conciencia cultural, el apoyo práctico y el compromiso compartido de acompañar a educadores y familias.
Estamos felices de compartir este camino contigo.
Meet the Team
Founder and Executive Director
Esly Sarmiento
As a proud first generation Latina, education and language are my passion. I have been an educator for more than I can remember as I have been so lucky to educate in many spaces. I most recently have been a Dual Language teacher in Chicago but also have had the opportunity to teach as a middle school English teacher in Mexico, and adult ESL. Teaching has provided me with the amazing opportunity to connect culturally, linguistically, and humanly with people from other parts of the world.
I hold a Bachelor’s in International Studies and Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies. I also hold a Master’s in Bilingual and Bicultural Education from DePaul University, a Master’s in Public Administration from University of Illinois at Chicago.
I am currently studying for my PhD in Educational Leadership at DePaul University.
I currently live in Chicago with my husband and our 3 children. I love to travel the world and read books with a cup of coffee in my hand.
Director of Operations and Finance
Jorge Rodriguez
Learning and supporting educators is my passion. I have the privilege of living in Mexico, Colombia, and the US and in that time I have been able to connect with different cultures and found ways to elevate others. In my journey in different countries, I have found that education allowed me to explore new skills, improve what I knew, and connect with others.
I hold a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Universidad de Especialidades, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I have experience in various fields in business as well as in education. I have many years of experience supporting Special Education and Bilingual educators in Chicago.
I currently live in Chicago with my wife and 3 children. One of my favorite ways of learning is through DIY home projects and exploring new ways to improve our home. I also enjoy playing and watching fútbol.