Global citizen. Cultural connector. Educator at heart.

Sandra has lived a life shaped by three worlds—Mexico, the United States, and Spain. Born in a rural Mexican town, raised in the U.S., and academically and personally rooted in Spain, she embodies the richness of a truly multicultural identity. Her bilingual and bicultural upbringing laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for language, culture, and meaningful human connection.

Her love for Spanish deepened during the two years she lived and studied in Spain, where she pursued Spanish and Linguistics at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. During that time, she lived with a host family who became her own—still exchanging daily texts with her “Spanish mom” to this day. Spain is her “second first home,” a place where her heart belongs and where she plans to retire. Madrid and Sevilla remain sacred to her—places where she’d happily pause to sip tea or enjoy a bocadillo de jamón de bellota any day of the week.

Sandra raised her daughter in a trilingual household—Spanish, English, and French—believing deeply in the power of language to open doors and shape identity. Today, her daughter is a globally minded young adult, pursuing French and International Studies at her dream school, the University of Miami. Their shared journey is a testament to the family’s commitment to multilingualism and intercultural learning.

Now based in Chicago, Sandra lives with her husband, a mortgage loan originator, and together they value community, curiosity, and meaningful connection.

In addition to her work in education, Sandra has also explored her creative and entrepreneurial side through studies in fashion. She began an MBA in Fashion Design at Universidad Europea de Madrid, combining her love for cultural expression with business and design—further proof of her belief that language, identity, and creativity are deeply connected.

Sandra is also currently writing and illustrating a series of trilingual children’s books in English, Spanish, and French. These books introduce young readers to the world of magical realism through the lens of Zapotec culture, with rich symbolism drawn from the Zapotec calendar, tonas, and nahuales. Stay tuned as she brings these ancestral stories to life through vibrant characters and cross-cultural storytelling.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Sandra has taught Spanish to children, teens, and adults across all levels. Whether in the classroom or online, she creates learning spaces that are vibrant, inclusive, and deeply rooted in culture. Her teaching is fueled by personal connection—she develops genuine relationships to understand the why behind each learner’s journey.

At SayHolaNow, Sandra merges academic expertise with cultural authenticity to help students not only learn Spanish but live it—confidently, joyfully, and meaningfully.