This week’s Staff Feature is Ms. Angela Pineda, one of our Preschool Teacher’s Aides, who has been part of the St. Luke’s family for 13 years. Her journey began when her oldest daughter, Valentina, started preschool at St. Luke’s at age three. What began as a preschool experience grew into a meaningful connection with the school and its community. Five years ago, Ms. Pineda had the opportunity to join the St. Luke’s staff as a preschool aide. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, and is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Outside of St. Luke’s, Ms. Pineda loves spending time with her four children and making memories together. Her daughters, Valentina, 16, and Silvana, 14, attend Oviedo High School, while her twin boys, Luca and Nico, are kindergarten students at St. Luke’s. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, listening to audiobooks, rewatching favorite movies, and watching documentaries. She is also a huge soccer fan and even had the opportunity to be a cheerleader for a professional soccer team while in high school. Today, she especially loves cheering on the Colombian National Team from the stands.
For Ms. Pineda, St. Luke’s has become much more than a school. It is a community that has supported, encouraged, and cared for her family through both joyful and challenging seasons. Being surrounded by people who live out their faith through kindness, compassion, service, and prayer has encouraged her to trust God more deeply. Her favorite Bible verse, Joshua 1:9, reminds her to be strong and courageous and to trust that God is with her wherever she goes. St. Luke’s is thankful for Ms. Pineda and the joy, care, and dedication she brings to our students and school community each day.