A military family chooses a multicultural education

May 21, 2026

Meet Ezekiel (9) who just completed third grade and Milah (6) who just finished kindergarten at the International School of Tucson (IST). Their parents, Edwin and Noelle Rivera shared why school choice is so integral to them:

From the Rivera family:

We are a military family who relocated to Tucson from Germany in August 2025 after spending five years overseas in support of my husband’s active-duty service. Our time abroad was deeply meaningful, and we are grateful for all it gave our family. At the same time, returning to the United States brought a difficult transition. Although the military covered part of our relocation expenses, the rising cost of living and the realities of an international move created unexpected financial demands. During this same period, I was also a full-time graduate student pursuing my MSW and recently completed my internship in an inpatient psychiatric unit. Because of the demands of graduate school and my internship, our family has relied on a single income for the past year and a half.

We chose The International School of Tucson because both of our children were introduced to German language and culture through their education while we were living overseas. Our son attended a Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) school on base, where he participated in a host nation class. Our daughter attended a local German KITA off base, where she experienced full immersion in the language and culture. Each setting offered unique benefits and played an important role in shaping our children’s curiosity, adaptability, and appreciation for the world around them.

We first learned about IST through a friend who had been stationed with us overseas and spoke highly of their child’s experience in the Mandarin program. We were excited to discover that the school offers four language program options. Everything we heard pointed to a strong multicultural environment and a community that truly values global education. Most importantly, we saw it as an opportunity for our children to continue growing up in a diverse, internationally minded setting. Based on their interests, we enrolled one child in the German program and the other in the Spanish program so each could continue developing a love for language and culture in a meaningful way.

A multicultural education is especially important to our family because our children come from a richly diverse cultural background. I have European roots, and their father is from El Salvador. We want our children to understand, appreciate, and remain connected to different cultures, languages, and perspectives. We value an educational environment that celebrates diversity and helps prepare them to become compassionate, culturally aware individuals in an increasingly global society.

What we love most about this school is that it truly feels like a family. The environment is warm and welcoming, and the campus reflects the experiences, holidays, traditions, and achievements of many cultures through the artwork and activities displayed throughout the school. As parents, we genuinely feel the inclusiveness and support of the community. We have also been deeply grateful for the counseling support the school has provided to our children, along with thoughtful check-ins throughout the year. As military children, they navigate deployments, frequent moves, and unexpected life changes. The school has shown great understanding of those challenges and has offered meaningful support to help protect their emotional well-being and encourage their success.

We love hearing a variety of languages spoken throughout the school, and we deeply appreciate the consistent communication from every staff member involved in our children’s education. It also encourages children to explore their interests and learn about different cultures through art projects, cultural activities, and events that celebrate diversity and global learning. For our family, this environment is deeply meaningful because it allows our children to keep growing in a setting that values language, culture, creativity, and inclusion.

Ezekiel’s favorite subjects are English and Science, while Milah says her favorite subjects are “all the languages.” Both of our children have had the privilege of learning alongside students who speak a variety of languages and participate in cultural expos and events that broaden their understanding of the world. In kindergarten, children who do not nap are given opportunities to visit other language classes, such as Mandarin and Spanish. Our daughter often comes home excited to share new words and experiences from those classes, and it has been a joy to watch her enthusiasm for learning about different languages and cultures grow.

Ezekiel hopes to attend college one day, specifically the Air Force Academy or the Naval Academy. Milah is not yet sure where she would like to go, but she often says that she loves learning and is excited to continue her education in the future. When he grows up, Ezekiel hopes to become either a Navy SEAL or a herpetologist. Milah dreams of one day owning a “dog farm” where stray dogs can be loved, cared for, and given a safe home.

Mr. Chris Ezekiel’s Math Teacher has this to say about him, “He is always eager to learn and shows a strong interest in understanding new concepts. He participates positively in class and consistently demonstrates a good attitude toward his work and classmates. His behavior has been respectful and appropriate, and he approaches learning with enthusiasm and determination. It has been a pleasure having him in class. I wish Ezekiel continued success.”

Frau Nekoye Masibili, the German Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher shared this about Milah. “She is a hardworking, creative, and emotionally mature student who consistently demonstrates leadership, responsibility, and kindness within the classroom community. She is academically curious, highly artistic, and naturally supportive of her peers, particularly younger students. Milah’s ability to combine creativity, initiative, and compassion with strong learning skills and positive leadership makes her an exceptional and well-rounded student who contributes meaningfully to the classroom environment.”

The scholarship from the Arizona Leadership Foundation has been an incredible blessing to our family. Without this support, we would not have been able to provide our children with the opportunity to attend IST and continue receiving a high-quality multicultural education. It has allowed our children to remain in an environment that values language learning, cultural diversity, and global education experiences that are deeply important to our family and essential to our children’s growth. We are profoundly grateful for this scholarship and for the opportunities it has created for our children and our family.

Our values and experiences are what make our family unique. As a military family, we have learned to value resilience, adaptability, and the importance of building community wherever we are stationed. We are also a faith-centered Christian family and believe deeply that God places people and opportunities in our lives for a reason. In this season of transition, we truly feel that The International School of Tucson has been exactly the right place for our children. The support, encouragement, and nurturing environment provided by the staff and school community have made a meaningful difference for our entire family. We value kindness, cultural awareness, service, and education, and we work every day to instill those same values in our children. For us, this school is more than a place of learning; it is a place where our children are being shaped into thoughtful, compassionate, and globally minded individuals, and for that, we are sincerely thankful.

About The International School of Tucson:

The International School of Tucson (IST) offers an immersive language preschool program for children aged 3 and up in Spanish, French, German, or Mandarin, taught by native speakers. The curriculum is inquiry-based, using the Cambridge Preschool Curriculum, and focuses on holistic development through play-based learning centers that foster academic, social, emotional, and physical growth. The school emphasizes small class sizes, cultural understanding, and a strong sense of community. Find out more: istucson.org