Pacheco family key to establishing dual-language charter school
Eva Pacheco had been a teacher in Guanajuato, Mexico before moving to the United States with her family. She barely spoke English when she started volunteering in her daughter’s classroom in East County in 1991.
When the school abruptly ended its bilingual program, Eva and her husband Jesus began organizing parents to advocate for their children and re-establish the program. The grassroots parent group grew and evolved into EJE Academies Charter School, which now serves over 800 students in its K-8 dual-language program.
The Pacheco family was honored by the EJE Academies staff at a luncheon on June 12th. The staff wanted to honor and celebrate the founders for their leadership, hard work, and dedication to the El Cajon community.
Eva Pacheco’s concerns about access to quality bilingual programs in the early 1990s led to the formation of Excellence and Justice in Education (EJE), an organization which aimed to inform and empower families. Eva was instrumental in securing grant funding and establishing EJE as a non-profit organization.
Eva and Jesus Pacheco, and their daughter Delia, have worked tirelessly to establish a dual-language program where parent and community voices matter, a student’s native language is valued, and all cultures are celebrated.
As part of the June 12 luncheon, the Pacheco family was honored with recognition certificates from federal, state and local officials, including Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs, State Senator Brian Jones, Assemblywoman Akilah Weber, Supervisor Joel Anderson, El Cajon Councilmember Steve Goble, and El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell.
Eva Pacheco served as Executive Director of EJEA for more than 18 years before stepping down last year, but she is proud to continue her service as a trustee on the EJEA Board of Directors.
