Somos Uno. We Are One.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide quality children’s books in English and Spanish.
Our Mission
To focus on toddler books, an early childhood dual language book series, and a Hispanic Heritage Series, with support for family engagement and quality teacher strategies.
Somos Uno Leadership
“The impact of a book on a child is beyond measure.”
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Dr. Rebecca Palacios is a National Teacher Hall of Fame inductee, National Board Certified Teacher, and leading expert in early childhood education. With over four decades of experience, she is a pioneer in the field of dual language learning and specializes in curriculum planning and instructional design.
In addition to co-founding and formerly serving as vice-chairperson of The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards — an organization that has certified more than 110,000 teachers — she also serves as a Senior Curriculum Advisor for Age of Learning, the leading education technology company that created ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy, and owns her own consulting business, Palacios Educational Consulting. She is also a co-founder of the Texas National Board Coalition for Teaching and currently serves as its Treasurer and Professional Learning Facilitator.
Dr. Palacios is the author of Being Your Child’s Most Important Teacher: A Guide for Families with Young Children, published by Shell Education, which offers advice and techniques to families with young children on enhancing early learning, nurturing curiosity, and preparing them for school. She is also the author of the Ana Dual Language Book Series, with books 1–8 of a planned 22-book series completed.
In 2023, Dr. Palacios received the James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards — the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Past recipients include Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Dr. Palacios is a featured expert on Reading Rockets, a national multimedia literacy initiative, and The Atlantic profiled her journey as an educator in the feature “A Witness to the Desegregation — and Resegregation — of America’s Schools.” She has presented at the local, state, national, and international levels. She was the first Latina to be inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame in 2014.
“Enriching communities through literacy, engagement, and relevant content promotes economic growth and improves healthcare access.”
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Sumya Ojakli is Co-Founder and Producer of Somos Uno, an educational media company creating bilingual, culturally grounded stories that support early literacy, family engagement, and cultural pride. With a background spanning media, publishing, entertainment, and strategic partnerships, Sumya brings deep experience in building meaningful programs that connect schools, families, foundations, and communities. Her work includes leadership roles with organizations such as Digitas, Universal Entertainment, Simon & Schuster/CBS, Random House, IGN.com, and Billboard Magazine, as well as literacy-focused initiatives with Grand Street Settlement and national book donation partners. Through Somos Uno, she champions joyful, inclusive educational media that helps children see their language, family, and culture reflected in the stories they read.
Our Projects
