Elena Landa

High School Spanish Teacher

Elena Landa’s journey into teaching began as a calling rather than a carefully laid plan. With a lifelong love for languages, literature, and helping others see beauty in words and cultures, she spent years studying and traveling throughout Europe and Latin America before feeling led to bring those experiences into the classroom. “Teaching became not only my career but also my ministry,” she shares, describing it as a way to build bridges of understanding and inspire curiosity in young hearts.

Elena earned her degree in Literature and Modern Languages in Peru, with further studies in Denmark and Germany. Her academic background centers on language education, literature, and culture, shaping a classroom approach that views language as much more than vocabulary and grammar.

In her classroom at Heritage, Elena strives "to create an atmosphere where language becomes a doorway to wonder, compassion, and global awareness, walking humbly with God as written in Micah 6:8.” She wants students to understand that learning another language expands the heart as much as the mind. “It’s about expanding the heart to embrace God’s creation,” she explains, believing the world needs young people who listen well and lead with love and understanding.

Faith is woven into every part of her work. Before each class, Elena prays for her students and for the time they will spend learning together. Students regularly read a Psalm to open their hearts and minds before instruction begins. She points to the diversity of languages and cultures as a reflection of God’s creativity, sharing that learning about others also teaches us more about Him.

Some of her most meaningful moments come when students recognize how far they have grown. She especially treasures the moments when students realize they can hold deep conversations in Spanish and even share their faith with Spanish-speaking people beyond the classroom. “Watching that light awaken in them is a gift,” she says.

Outside of school, Elena is a mother, writer, and artist who enjoys photography, painting, and journaling about faith and the beauty of God’s world. She is also a long-distance walker who has traveled hundreds of miles along pilgrim routes in Europe and Japan, using those journeys as times of reflection, prayer, and renewal.

We are thankful for Elena and for the way her passion for language, faith, and culture invites students to see God’s world with greater curiosity, compassion, and understanding.