Built by a Parent. Guided by a Teacher. Rooted in Houston.
iBis Learning is a close-knit, dual language learning center in Houston's Spring Branch neighborhood, serving children ages 4 to 9. We exist for families whose children are ready for the next step in their bilingual journey — and who want that journey to continue well past preschool.
We are not a large institution. We are not a one-size-fits-all school. We are a community of educators, families, and children who believe that when a school truly knows your child, everything changes.
"When a school truly knows your child, everything changes."
iBis is the school GiGi searched for and could not find. It is the school she built instead — a place where children are known, challenged at the right level, and given the tools to manage their own learning.
— The iBis Philosophy
Why iBis Exists
Our Mission
At iBis Learning, we nurture curious learners through dual-language immersion, social-emotional development, hands-on exploration, and mixed-age learning. Our mission is to help every child build the executive function skills and critical thinking they need to navigate challenges and become independent, lifelong learners.
Our Vision
A school where children learn how to learn — across ages, collaboratively, and with purpose. Growing into confident, bilingual, and resilient human beings ready for whatever comes next.
The Four Threads of an iBis Education
Everything at iBis flows from a single belief: children learn best when they are known, challenged at the right level, and given the tools to manage their own learning. Our program weaves together four threads to create an environment where growth happens naturally — and joyfully.
Dual Language Immersion
Structured English–Spanish instruction delivered by a TEA-certified bilingual teacher, with a language rotation designed for deep, focused time in each language — the research-backed path to genuine biliteracy.
Executive Function Development
Planning, focus, self-management, and reflection woven intentionally into every lesson. These are the skills that turn curious children into independent learners who can navigate challenges on their own.
Inquiry-Based, Hands-On Learning
Real materials, real questions, real discovery. Children build understanding through exploration and investigation rather than passive instruction — because that's how learning actually sticks.
Mixed-Age Community
A classroom of no more than 12 students, where older and younger children learn alongside one another. Every child gets to be both teacher and learner — and every child is genuinely known.
It is the school GiGi searched for and could not find. It is the school she built instead.
She Set Out to Find a School. Instead, She Built One.
Ligia "GiGi" Vasquez did not set out to start a school. She set out to find one. When her son was ready for preschool, GiGi and her husband searched Houston for a program that combined genuine dual-language immersion with a focus on social-emotional development and personalized learning. They came up empty. So GiGi went back to school herself.
The Search That Started It All
What GiGi found in Houston was either too rigid, too large, or missing the bilingual foundation she knew would shape her child's future. Nothing quite fit.
Going Back to School Herself
She earned her Texas Education Agency certification as an Early Childhood through 6th Grade Bilingual Teacher and immersed herself in the research on executive function development and dual language acquisition.
From Architecture to Education
A proud "adopted" Houstonian for over 25 years, GiGi spent her early career as an architect. The same precision and care she once applied to buildings, she now applies to designing learning environments where children can thrive.
Always Learning
GiGi is currently completing a three-year certification with Tools of the Mind — a research-based program focused on executive function development and playful, intentional learning. She also volunteers as a religious education facilitator at her local parish, working with children from Pre-K through middle school.
Ligia "GiGi" Vasquez
Founder & Certified Bilingual Teacher
The building that now houses iBis Learning once sheltered the Vasquez family when they lost their home during Hurricane Harvey. What was once a place of refuge in crisis became a place of growth, curiosity, and community. That history lives in the walls of iBis, and it shapes the warmth you feel the moment you walk through the door.
iBis has evolved and adapted along with its creators. iBis Learning is more than a school — it is a labor of love, perseverance, and a story of resilience.
The story of iBis is best experienced in person.
Come see our classrooms, meet our team, and find out whether iBis is the right fit for your child. Every question is welcome. Every conversation starts with listening.
See the classroom where dual-language learning happens every day.
Meet GiGi and hear the story of iBis in her own words.
Learn how our schedule options and programs can fit your family's life.
Financial Support Available
Financial support and founding family scholarships are available. Contact us to learn more about what may be right for your family.
Contact Us to Learn MoreExperience iBis in Person
Come tour our classroom, meet GiGi and our team, and ask every question on your mind. The best way to know whether iBis is the right fit is to experience it.