Our Story
While working in the public school system, Dr. Angeles Martinez saw a need for something different for those students struggling academically and emotionally. Masterpiece Bilingual Academy began at home, when her daughter was told by teachers and administration that because she was not meeting her literary goals due to her dyslexia, she would be pushed back from 3rd grade to 1st grade. Dr. Martinez refused, instead taking it upon herself to study and trained to become a Dyslexia coordinator. Dr. Martinez worked in a charter school where she taught 23 unique students. some of these students were Autistic, ADD, ADHD, and oppositional defiance. These obstacles became the motivation to find a unique solution, a program that will help students to love learning and excel.
In 2011, Masterpiece Bilingual Academy officially began, with 18 students. Dr. Angeles Martinez became the fearless leader, working both as teacher, director, and owner; against the odds and bureaucracy that comes with starting your own school, MBA persevered. Mi Mundo Daycare came from a need, students at MBA had younger siblings and parents trusted Dr. Martinez and saw the results in their older children. Mi Mundo Daycare and MBA became unified, sharing the same motivation and becoming a unique solution for families in need. Dr. Martinez emphasized the Bilingual goal in both Mi Mundo and MBA, taking on the European influence of teaching children several languages in the classroom. Believing that every student should become multilingual, especially in South Texas, she believes that education is necessary. Citing multiple studies that these students become fluent within 3-5 years of am immersive approach, bilingual education continues to be a part of the MBA / Mi Mundo curriculum.
Dr. A. Martinez Bilingual Academy is the next step to fulfill the original goal that Dr. Martinez had, which is to provide a unique alternative for those students who struggle academically and emotionally. Every child is different, they come from different backgrounds, learn different, process differently - but every parent has the same dream for their child: to become a happy and successful human being, regardless of the differences they may have. Public schools may not be the solution for every family, and every family may not have the privilege of private school, Dr. A. Martinez will be that solution. From her original 18 students, Dr. Martinez has graduated 3 students who have learning disabilities, they are now college students who still return for that helping hand Dr. Martinez offers. Many of her students have excelled in their studies when they moved to public school, the gifted and talented program due to the early influence and preparation of MBA/Mi Mundo. We want to open the doors of opportunities for any student to achieve their dreams through a quality education.
What is Montessori?
Dual-Language
As a Bilingual academy, we want our students to be fluent in a second language, “The U.S. has nearly 41.8 million Spanish speakers, giving it the fifth-largest population of Spanish speakers in the world, according to data from Spain’s Instituto Cervantes. In Texas, where roughly 40 percent of residents are Hispanic, nearly 1 million students in public school are English learners who speak Spanish at home.”
An innovative approach we will be taking is Spanish Immersion, our students will be taught by fluently bilingual teachers, who will teach in English, while students following along and have conversations in Spanish. Helping students by having materials, rooms, and everyday classroom items and schedules labeled in both English and Spanish. At any level, from beginner to fluent speaker, we want our students to feel immersed in the Spanish language.
For our ESL (English as a Second Language) students, this environment will allow them to have the same type of immersion through English. This type of immersion allows for a simple duality of language learning, having students learn a new language together and helping one another.