LETI Vocational School
Escuela Vocacional LETI • Celebrando Excelencia
About LETI Vocational School
facsimile of LETI LVS license from WA State.
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Mission & Vision

The Latino Educational Training Institute strives to facilitate the personal and financial success of Spanish-speaking and bilingual persons as well as to inspire Latinos/as to pursue their dreams and become leaders in their communities.

Our mission is to provide Latino injured workers a fast-tracked education and basic academic knowledge in Computer Technology, ESL, and GED preparation to help them advance from a low-English level to a college ready English level while preparing them for a successful entry into a vocational certificate program or other post-secondary program.

Our vision is to prepare first generation Latino immigrants, specifically injured workers with the skills and knowledge to gain or upgrade employment in order to obtain financial independence so that they may positively and productively contribute to their own family and local community.


History
Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI) is a private, non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization located in Lynnwood, Washington that serves the Latino Community in Snohomish and Skagit County. It was founded in 1998 to address the lack of adequate information and resources within the Latino community.

LETI is not alone in its efforts to support the Latino immigrant community. We work with and support the efforts of community partners such as Lutheran Community Services Northwest “Familias Unidas” and El Centro de la Raza. While we are all working toward the same goal of a successful Latino immigrant community, LETI differentiates itself in a couple of ways. Geographically, LETI concentrates its efforts in Lynnwood and South Snohomish County. Familias Unidas does have a Lynnwood presence but is primarily focused on Health Care and referral services. Likewise, El Centro de la Raza is a fixture in Seattle and King County but has no presence in Snohomish County. Additionally, LETI is differentiated by its primary focus on education and leadership for youth and adults.

Within the non-profit and educational community, LETI has a Memorandum of Understanding with Edmonds Community College, UW Bothell, and Financial Beginnings to work together in support of education for the Latino community. From its beginnings LETI has been dedicated to ongoing work in the areas of education, economic development and homeownership among the community at large and specifically among first-generation Latino immigrants in Snohomish County.

For the past five years LETI has coordinated and directed the Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI) in coordination with Edmonds Community college, Everett Community College and Skagit Valley College. Each of the colleges recruit 10 Latino students to participate in this annual program. Over the course of six months these 30 students are taught leadership skills, as well as the history of Latinos in Washington State. They have the chance to meet and learn from professors, politicians and community leaders.

In additions to the program curriculum, LETI leverages its 19+ years of community work and relationships to secure summer internships for the LLI graduates.

LETI seeks to continue to expand and formalize its programs that focus on serving Latino immigrants in low income households who have limited English language skills and a limited understanding of the financial and educational systems of the United States. If we are to promote economic development, financial success, and homeownership in the Latino community, community members must know how to manage their financial assets and have a clear understanding of the standard practices of the American financial system.


What We Offer
With well-qualified bilingual- bicultural instructors, the use of laptop computers with online access, culturally appropriate educational instruction and low instructor-student ratio, we aim to assist students to craft and achieve their educational goals.


Facilities
The Latino Educational Training Institute Training Center is located at 6605 202nd St. SW, Lynnwood, Washington 98036, ph 425-775-2688. We are conveniently located right off of Hwy 99 in Lynnwood, and only one block away from Edmonds Community College Transit Center. Our maximum class size is 15 students, and the student/teacher ratio is 15:1. Our staff are dedicated to providing students the support, tools, and comfortable environment that they need to succeed, including on site computers and business machines.



LETI Officers 2018-2019
Rosario Reyes, Founder and President
Rees Clark, Ph.D., Vice President
Diana Morelli-Klima, Ph.D., Secretary

Correspondence for Officers should be directed to:
Latino Educational Training Institute
Board of Directors
6605 202nd St SW
Suite 300
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Faculty
 

Faculty

Rene Acevedo Rodriguez
Instructor
Mr. Acevedo is a Puget Sound small business owner with practical management experience. He teaches practical bookkeeping and related computing topics. He speaks Spanish and English.
Christy Thwing
Instructor
English.
Betty Koteles
Instructor
Ms. Koteles has taught in LETI's GED en Español high school completion program for several years and has a management background. She speaks Spanish and English.

Administration

Rees Clark
School Director, Instructor
Dr. Clark is a former urban planner and university professor, with academic degrees in geography (MA, CSU-LA; PHD, Penn State), political science and government (BA, UCLA). He has worked in local government in Southern California and Pennsylvania and has taught geography, urban studies, and computer applications at Penn State, Villanova, University of Maryland and Colgate University. Since 1980 he has worked full time in computing and data services management. He is a co-founder of Clark Internet, a developer of web applications for small businesses and non-profits. He oversees our web-based services and consults with our partners about cooperative online services and project development, curriculum and finance. He speaks English and Spanish.

Support Team

Marisol Bejarano
Administrative Assistant
Cynthia Barrios
Teaching Assistant, Business Division
Cinthya Barrios was born in Mexico City. She came to the US in 1999. Her family of four includes two girls and a cat named Chia. She is a DACA recipient who loves to work with the Latino community. She successfully completed an associates’ degree in Business & Management at Edmonds Community College. She has been a volunteer for the Mukilteo food bank, EDCA and, Madrona K8 school. She speaks Spanish and English. MORE