Affectionately known as “La Maestra”, Ms. Ordóñez is the original developer of Inglés Para Progresar, the series of study-at-home courses providing instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL). She also is the instructor for the series. Inglés Para Progresar is informed not only by her academic training – she has a BASc from the University of California Northridge and an MEd Multi-Cultural Education from the University of San Francisco -- but by the challenges she herself faced as an immigrant coming to the United States knowing no English, then studying ESL and going on to complete high school and university studies and become an ESL instructor, all without ever encountering materials suitable for learning English in a way that is practical and relevant to the immigrant experience. In 1987, spurred by encouragement from her ESL students, she published her own learning system to at last address the lack of appropriate ESL materials. That system today is known as Inglés Para Progresar.

For 25 years, “La Maestra” has taught ESL at Garfield High School in Los Angeles. There, thousands of students have learned to speak English and Spanish in her classroom, earning her wide recognition for her dedication, compassion, creativity and instructional accomplishments. Now, with Ingles Para Progresar, countless others can benefit from her talent, experience and insight.