Investigating how evidence becomes educational innovation.
LAJAM Education Foundation is an educational research and innovation institute. We integrate neuroscience, literacy , bilingual education , and learning science to design, test, and document educational innovation that improve learning for all students.
We do not publish conclusions. We document the reasoning that makes them possible
OUR MISSION
To improve educational systems by making the process of educational innovation visible.
INVESTIGATE
We explore the questions that matter at the intersection of neuroscience, literacy, bilingual education, and learning science.
DESIGN
We transform evidence into coherent educational frameworks and tools that can be implemented in real classrooms.
VALIDATE
We test our design through rigorous research, pilots, and partnerships to ensure they are effective and scalable
DOCUMENT
We make our reasoning public through decision logs, research notes, and pilot journals -building an open knowledge archive.
From Research Questions to Educational Innovation
Every educational innovation begins with a research question.
At LAJAM Education Foundation, we investigate how neuroscience, literacy, bilingual education, and learning science can be integrated into coherent instructional frameworks.
Those frameworks are then designed, piloted, validated, and openly documented so that every educational decision can be understood, tested, refined, and shared.
Each research programme becomes part of an expanding body of openly documented educational knowledge.
We investigate the questions that matter. We design with purpose. We validate with evidence. We document the reasoning that makes change possible.
FEATURED RESEARCH
LUZ: A Neurodidactic Framework for Biliteracy
LAJAM's first research programme investigates how neuroscience, bilingual education, and instructional design can be integrated into a coherent neurodidactic literacy framework for Spanish-speaking bilingual learners.
Rather than adapting existing curricula, LUZ is being designed from first principles, piloted in classrooms, and continuously refined through research, documentation, and evidence.
The programme explores four central questions:
How can authentic Spanish literacy be designed rather than translated?
Which neurocognitive learning pathways best support literacy development?
How can bilingual learners with diverse learning profiles learn within one coherent instructional framework?
What evidence demonstrates meaningful classroom impact at scale?
Every stage of development is documented, tested, refined, and shared to build an open body of knowledge for educators, researchers, and school systems.
We investigate the questions that matter. We design with purpose. We validate with evidence. We document the reasoning that makes change possible.
Build Educational Innovation With Us
Research changes education only when it reaches classrooms.
LAJAM investigates educational questions, develops evidence-informed instructional frameworks, pilots them in schools, validates their impact, and openly documents every stage of the process so educational innovation can be understood, improved, and shared.
As an independent nonprofit educational research institute, our work is made possible through grants, philanthropic support, strategic partnerships, and individual donations.
By supporting LAJAM, you are investing in the research, development, and validation of educational innovation that can benefit educators, schools, and learners around the world.
The Core of LAJAM Education
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Why Our Work Matters
Too many bilingual students with dyslexia are overlooked by systems that weren’t designed for them. LAJAM Education Foundation is changing that — through a groundbreaking pilot that blends neuroscience, language equity, and real-world classroom practice.
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Empowering Educators
Most bilingual programs, in USA actual market, ignore natural Spanish acquisition, and leave teachers scrambling to fill gaps.
LAJAM provides training built on authentic Spanish instruction It’s structured, research-based, and aligned to reading growth — so teachers get real tools, not more work.
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Research That Drives Change
LAJAM is more than a program — it’s a model backed by data.
Our pilot program measures reading growth, classroom impact, and teacher outcomes. Led by a neuropsychologist, this research will guide improvement, fuel replication, and be shared to help schools everywhere build more inclusive, bilingual classrooms.
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Building a Movement for Equity
We’re creating a scalable model — through partnerships, curriculum licensing, and the future launch of nonprofit schools — to expand access to inclusive, bilingual education in Texas and beyond.
Every child deserves a classroom that sees their full potential. We're building that future — one step at a time.
Our story
We are a group of passionate, accomplished educators who have spent years in bilingual classrooms — advocating, adapting, and believing in every student’s potential. While our foundation is new, our experience is not. Each of us brings a legacy of excellence in teaching, training, and leading in education.
To deepen that impact, our founder stepped away from the classroom to pursue advanced studies in Clinical Neuropsychology, Special Education, and Dyslexia and Dyscalculia — becoming internationally certified in Spain to better support bilingual students with learning differences.
We’re proud of what we’ve already given to the field — and even more excited about what comes next. LAJAM Education Foundation is more than a program. It’s the beginning of a movement to transform education for students who have waited too long to be fully seen.
Meet the Students Who Changed Everything
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María
She used to avoid eye contact and disappear during reading time. But Maria wasn’t hiding because she couldn’t learn—she was waiting for someone to teach her in a way she could understand. The day she raised her hand to read aloud changed everything.
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Alejandra
Most adults couldn’t understand Alejandra. Most specialists couldn’t reach her. But her classmates? They always knew.
Misdiagnosed simply because she didn’t speak English, Alejandra was nearly removed from the classroom—until we built a path forward in her own language.
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Luis
Luis was seven years old and couldn’t write his name. He loved numbers, but letters made him shut down. He was almost written off—not for a lack of intelligence, but because no one had the tools to see him clearly.
His story led us to change everything.
Disclaimer: To protect the dignity and privacy of our students, names have been changed and photographs have been generated using artificial intelligence. However, the stories are 100% based on real classroom experiences and reflect the challenges and triumphs that inspired the creation of LUZ.
We envision a world where every child — no matter their language, ability, or background — has access to an education that sees their strengths, supports their needs, and helps them thrive.
We envision inclusive bilingual classrooms, empowered educators, and nonprofit schools — in Texas and beyond — built on equity, research, and the belief that every learner deserves to belong and succeed.
When reading felt like darkness, I stayed hidden. But once the light came on, every word lit me up from within.
LUZ: A Neurodidactic Spanish Literacy Program for Bilingual Students
Teacher Training Model
Before classroom implementation, participating educators will receive on-site, hands-on training grounded in practical neurodidactic strategies.
This includes:
Direct modeling and coaching
Real-classroom integration
Reflection and guided planning
100% contact support
What We’re Measuring
LUZ is not just about curriculum — it’s about transformation. We’ll measure:
Decoding skills
Reading fluency
Comprehension
Confidence
Classroom engagement
Teacher effectiveness and feedback
“Luz” means light — and it’s the perfect name for a program designed to ignite the hidden potential inside children with dyslexia. It’s also inspired by one very special person whose journey from silence to fluency changed everything. This is her legacy — and a promise to every child who’s ever felt left behind.
LUZ is a research-based, bilingual, dyslexia-informed curriculum designed to help Spanish-speaking students in PK4 through 2nd grade learn to read — fluently, confidently, and with joy.
Developed by a clinical neuropsychologist and bilingual education specialist, LUZ blends neurodidactics, natural Spanish acquisition, and inclusive strategies into a complete, teacher-ready toolkit.
The pilot will reach 500+ students and include 30 educators in Texas schools. Its outcomes will shape how we serve bilingual learners for years to come.
Our Program is important because it is:
Fully in Spanish — aligned with natural acquisition, not just translated from English
Neurocognitive design — every activity is built to activate key neural pathways for learning
No gaps — the curriculum is complete, so teachers never have to supplement
Culturally responsive — it respects how bilingual students think, learn, and express themselves
Evidence-based — designed to align with reading level benchmarks and validated by data
Your donation will support us follow our Implementation Plan:
Timeline: Fall 2025 – Summer 2027
Fall 2025 Curriculum Development Completed
Scope and Sequence G1 and GK Completed
Student and Teacher Manual G1 in progress
Student and Teacher Manual KG
Spring - Summer 2027: ISD partnering / Teacher training & classroom modeling
2027-2028 School year: Full implementation & evaluation
Our Team
We are a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, neuropsychologists, educators, administrators, and advocates brought together by a shared belief: that every child — regardless of language or learning difference — deserves a classroom where they can thrive. With backgrounds in educational leadership, curriculum design, ESL, Bilingual Education, psychology, special education and neuropsychology, we unite our expertise to build inclusive solutions that truly work for diverse learners.
Laura Morales
President - Founder
Sandra Mijares-Kaylor
Vice President
Brenda Albarrán
Secretary
Claudia Morales
Treasurer
Mary Nieves Tamés Haces
Member at Large
Jose M. Landino
Director of Communications
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President - Founder
Dr. Laura Ynes Morales is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, bilingual educator and Special Education Specialist with a decade of experience teaching in Texas classrooms and International Schools. Her professional journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to equity in education — especially for bilingual students with learning differences which granted her the Master Teacher Recognition in the State of Texas. She is also an author of the book: Don´t be a Master Teacher, Create a Master Classroom.
After witnessing firsthand how traditional programs often fail to meet the needs of neurodiverse, multilingual learners, she pursued advanced certifications in Spain, including specialization in dyslexia and dyscalculia, to bring evidence-based, culturally responsive tools to the classroom.
Her vision for LAJAM Education Foundation is rooted in empathy, research, and lived experience — building a future where every student can read, thrive, and shine.
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Vice-President
Sandra Mijares is a passionate bilingual educator with over 30 years of combined experience in education, business, and leadership — including more than a decade in Texas classrooms. Known for her dynamic approach to teaching and strong leadership skills, she has served as a Dual Language Lead Teacher, LPAC Chairperson, and Grade-Level Team Leader, earning recognition as Elementary Teacher of the Year at two different campuses.
With advanced degrees in Economics and Education (specializing in Mathematics), and certifications in bilingual education and gifted learning, Sandra brings a multidisciplinary lens to her work. Her teaching is rooted in creativity, cultural relevance, and high academic expectations, always centered on the diverse needs of her students.
Sandra’s commitment to equity and excellence in bilingual education drives her work at LAJAM, where she helps shape inclusive learning environments that celebrate language, identity, and student potential.
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Treasurer
Claudia brings a powerful blend of leadership in both engineering and education to LAJAM Education Foundation. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and began her career leading infrastructure projects before transitioning to education in 2011. Driven by a deep passion for equity and bilingual learning, she became a Bilingual Certified Educator in Texas.
Since then, Claudia has served in bilingual classrooms and progressed into school leadership roles. She earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University and has served as assistant principal and, since 2019, principal of Golden Rule Sunnyside — a campus that earned the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School distinction under her leadership.
Claudia is widely recognized for her commitment to culturally responsive instruction, inclusive school improvement, and community engagement. She believes in celebrating each student's success, fostering environments where learners feel proud, motivated, and prepared for their future.
Her operational expertise, instructional insight, and financial stewardship position her as a key leader in LAJAM’s mission to deliver accessible, research-based education for bilingual and neurodiverse learners.
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Secretary
Brenda is a passionate and dedicated bilingual educator committed to helping all students reach their full academic and personal potential. With a strong foundation in early literacy and math instruction, Brenda fosters a positive, inclusive classroom environment and integrates research-based strategies to support diverse learners.
A graduate of Texas Tech University (Summa Cum Laude) with a B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies, Brenda holds certifications in Core Subjects EC–6, ESL, and the Science of Teaching Reading (STR). Her approach to teaching is grounded in student-centered instruction, data-driven planning, and social-emotional support.
Brenda brings to LAJAM a strong background in small group instruction, TEKS-aligned lesson development, and technology integration. Her belief in the transformative power of education and her hands-on experience with multilingual learners make her a valuable member of the LAJAM Education Foundation team.
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Member at Large
Mary Nieves brings to LAJAM over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience in psychology, inclusive education, and gender equity programming. Licensed in Psychology with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, she has coordinated and led intervention programs across public education systems, nonprofit sectors, and governmental institutions in Spain and Latin America.
Her career spans specialized roles in student support, psychological evaluation, disability advocacy, and youth empowerment. She has designed and implemented gender-sensitive educational content, conducted psychosocial counseling, and led programs aimed at improving the quality of life for marginalized communities. As an active contributor to national and international women’s empowerment networks, Nieves has served as vice president of Spain’s Federation of Young Women and represented the Asturias youth movement in multiple councils and forums.
In addition to her background in mental health and social inclusion, Nieves is also a trained frontend developer and technology manager, adding a valuable digital literacy dimension to LAJAM's development of accessible learning tools.
Her deep commitment to educational equity and her unique cross-sector expertise position her as a strategic voice in LAJAM’s mission to build inclusive, research-based bilingual education.
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José Landino is a strategic leader and educator with a Doctor of Law (JD) and a licensed attorney qualification in Latin America, with experience in the educational field in the United States and Italy. He brings a global perspective to program growth, partnerships, and communications. Skilled in marketing, strategic planning, and problem-solving, José connects vision with actionable solutions to expand the foundation’s reach and impact.
Holding advanced diplomas in Managerial Leadership and Neuro-Linguistic Programming for effective negotiations, José combines analytical thinking with creativity and leadership. At LAJAM, he drives the foundation’s strategic expansion and visibility, ensuring programs reach more children, educators, and communities while advancing the mission of inclusive, bilingual literacy education.
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