Karla Elias, a native of El Salvador, is the youngest of four children in her family. As a child, she immigrated to the United States and primarily grew up in Southeast Portland, Oregon. With over twenty years of experience in child development and a successful career as a preschool owner and director, Karla holds a B.A. in Child and Family Studies with a minor in Early Childhood Education.

Karla has always believed that children are unique individuals who deserve a loving, secure, and nurturing environment where their curiosity, creativity, and individuality are respected. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive learning spaces that honor each child’s abilities, interests, and learning styles while encouraging strong family involvement and community connection.

Before opening her own preschool, Karla spent many years searching for the right program for her own children. She imagined a program that honored a child-centered approach, celebrated the Spanish language and Latin American culture, and provided thoughtful teacher guidance to support each child’s learning and development. When she was unable to find a preschool that fully reflected these values, her passion for early childhood education inspired her to create one herself.

In 2008, Karla opened the doors to Uno Dos Tres Academy in the Sellwood neighborhood of Southeast Portland with just four children enrolled. Within nine months, the program grew to fill two preschool classrooms and later expanded to include toddler care. Today, the Sellwood location continues to flourish, serving children from 6 months to 5 years old.

In 2016, Uno Dos Tres Academy expanded with a second location in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland, serving children ages 12 months to 5 years and welcoming up to fifty children.

Uno Dos Tres Academy is a bilingual Spanish immersion child development center dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment. The program offers a thematic curriculum that incorporates children’s interests, developmental areas and teacher-lead moments. Teachers are fluent in both English and Spanish, and both languages are naturally spoken throughout the day. Karla and her team believe in the potential of every child and strive to give children a strong foundation for their future school experiences.

In her personal life, Karla enjoys spending time with her husband of over twenty years, and cherishes the moments when their two young adult daughters return home to visit. Karla also enjoys the outdoors and often takes her two playful doodles on camping getaways.