At Mi Second Casa, we believe childhood should feel joyful, nurturing, and deeply connected. Founded in 2007 by Graciela “Tía” Tejada, a lifelong early childhood educator with more than 30 years of experience and a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development, Mi Second Casa began as a small family childcare program built on one simple idea: children thrive when they feel safe, loved, and at home.

Today, Mi Second Casa has grown into a family-led Spanish immersion preschool serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in the heart of San Mateo. While our program has expanded, our heart remains the same. We are more than an escuela. We are a second casa for children and families alike.

Our classrooms are rooted in play-based learning, meaningful relationships, and full Spanish immersion. Through exploration, creativity, movement, music, outdoor play, and hands-on experiences, children build confidence, independence, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning while naturally developing language skills en español.

We celebrate the diversity of our community and strive to create an environment where every child feels seen, valued, and included. From our caring educators to our close partnerships with families, everything we do is centered around connection, trust, and whole-child development.

Mi Second Casa continues to be proudly family-run today. Michael Tejada helps guide the program’s growth and works closely with families and educators to expand access to high-quality Spanish immersion early education while preserving the warmth and personal care that families value most. Miguel Tejada, who has been part of the program for more than a decade, supports our classrooms and school environments with a dependable, hands-on presence that has become a familiar and trusted part of daily life at Mi Second Casa.

Whether families join us during infancy, toddlerhood, or preschool, our goal is always the same: to create a nurturing and engaging environment where pequeños grow with confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging.