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At BELLA Academy, our mission is to nurture compassionate, curious, and connected learners by providing high-quality, bilingual early childhood education and connections to community resources.
We empower children and families with the language, intercultural understanding, and cognitive skills needed to build meaningful connections, both locally and globally.
Through intentional teaching and play, as well as intentional partnerships, we foster empathy, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning that prepares young minds to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.
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Jess has had a love for languages and cultures from the second her kindergarten specials teacher taught her class the “days of the week” song in Spanish. As she grew up, she learned just how useful her knowledge of Spanish was in connecting with others, even going as far as using Spanish to learn other languages with which she could communicate with others. Though AI and dictionaries can help one get around the world, Jess savors the feeling of compassion and empathy that she can exude to others while maybe even being uncomfortable and muddying through an unknown language; it makes her feel more human to try to connect with others than to use the internet’s (often poor) translations.
She speaks primarily Spanish to her own two daughters and owns Harford County’s only licensed Spanish dual immersion child care, run out of her home. She also has experience teaching elementary, middle, and college students, as well as adults. Jess founded BELLA because she saw a handful of gaps in child care in her area and wants to not only fill them, but also change the way her community sees the value of multilingualism.
Savanna Hellman is the President of Bella Academy, where she brings a unique blend of leadership, compassion, and educational expertise. With a background as a K–12 educator and holistic birth worker, Savanna is dedicated to fostering inclusive, transformative learning environments. Her work is rooted in community care, equity, and empowerment, and she leads Bella Academy with a vision to uplift future leaders and create meaningful impact in the lives of families and learners alike.
Nyssa is an experienced educator with a strong commitment to building community and promoting language learning. She has worked in education for 20 years in a variety of positions in middle and high schools, universities, international education programs, and summer programs. She is currently an Instructional Consultant in the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University at Albany and an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Second Language Acquisition at Colorado State University. Nyssa is excited to join the other passionate and dedicated members of the BELLA Academy board to support the goal of community language learning for children.
With over 15 years of experience in technology and education, Adam brings a wealth of expertise to every project. He has served on multiple boards, including the Lions Club and various nonprofit organizations. He has a strong family legacy within the California Teachers Association.
Adam is also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation, having guided students at San José State University, San Diego State University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Whether it’s through tech innovation or educational outreach, Adam’s passion for community and lifelong learning shines through.
Alexandria Cummings is a passionate and versatile professional with a background in physical child development, healthcare, and promotional marketing. As the previous owner of a successful LLC, she created programs that supported motor skill development for children. Her experience also includes administrative and clinical roles in the medical field, including direct patient care and recruitment for clinical trials, where she helped connect individuals with essential healthcare services.
Driven by a deep moral commitment to make a lasting positive impact, Alexandria is proud to align with BELLA’s mission of fostering unity and compassion within the community. Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to uplifting others and creating meaningful change through service, collaboration, and purposeful action.
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