Gloria Baena

Gloria Baena — Educator, Author & Spanish‑Language Innovator

Education & Professional Background

Born and raised in Colombia, Gloria is a trained Preschool Education Technician, having graduated from CENDA in Cali in 1984

With over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, she has taught at prominent institutions in Colombia such as Colegio Anglo Colombiano, Colombo Británico, and others, before relocating to the U.S. in 2014

Vocalina USA

Move to the U.S. & Creation of Vocalina

After relocating in 2014, Gloria continued her work in Miami: teaching Spanish at Miami Nature Playschool and Tangerine Montessori for toddlers through elementary aged children

She is best known as the founder of Vocalina LLC, an educational program she developed based on phonetic awareness and storytelling to help children learn to read, write, and speak Spanish creatively and playfully

Children’s Book Author

Gloria is also a published author of several children’s storybooks centered around uplifting themes like inner beauty, self-esteem, and social values. Her titles include:

La Fiesta del Gorila and its guided teaching material,

La Búsqueda, Los Tres Dinos, Tito el Espantapájaros, El Cangrejo Peregollo, El Dálmata de Colores, El Ratón Pérez, entre otros.

Teaching & Research Innovation

Her educational philosophy emphasizes phonetic awareness through storytelling, employing playful material and structured methodology to foster bilingual literacy and confidence in young learners — principles that underlie the Vocalina curriculum developed over decades of classroom observation and research.