Why Our Teachers Stay: Inside Casita Azul's Employee-Owned Model

If you've toured more than one childcare center, you've probably asked the same question we hear every day: will my child's teacher still be here next year? At Casita Azul, the answer is almost always yes. We retain 99% of our educators year after year, a number that's rare in early childhood education and one we're proud to talk about.

Casita Azul is employee-owned, with profit-sharing and co-ownership opportunities built into how we operate. That means the teachers greeting your child each morning have a real stake in the school's success. Our teachers are more than employees: they're invested partners in the community they help build, and that investment shows up in the classroom, in the consistency of care, and in the relationships that form over time.

This kind of community-based philosophy, where culture is celebrated daily and educators are given real flexibility and ownership, builds strong bonds across our entire community. We are proud to hear that our teachers feel valued and their voices feel heard.

And because our teachers stay, we're able to practice looping, a model used in some of the world's most respected school systems, including Finland's, where children keep the same teacher across multiple years. The relationship your child builds with their teacher is always growing, from 6 weeks to 6 years. Throughout their time at Casita Azul, your child's teacher will always know their story, their strengths, and how they like their goodbye hug.

We believe this is the true value of our 99% retention rate. It's not just fewer goodbyes, it's the trust and stability that let your child settle in and feel at home, with the same caring teacher by their side for as long as they're learning at Casita Azul.

About Casita Azul

Casita Azul is a family-founded, employee-owned Spanish-immersion school serving children from infancy through preschool with campuses in Hillsboro, Tanasbourne, and Beaverton and a network of in-home casitas. Founded in 2018, Casita Azul creates a home away from home where children learn through play, culture, and connection and guided by caring teachers who stay: 99% of our educators return year after year, and looping keeps children with the same teacher as they grow. In September 2027, our journey extends through 5th grade with Spanish Horizons Academy, our K-5 expeditionary Spanish-immersion elementary school in Hillsboro. Get to know us at www.casitaazulpdx.com and on Facebook and Instagram. Enrollment is open year round.