From a basement in Madison with eight children to three thriving campuses, Gletsy Oliveros and Harry Salas rewrote the early childhood playbook—proving that dual-language immersion isn’t just an academic advantage, but a bridge between heritage and the future.
Outside, a biting Wisconsin winter freezes the pavement, coating the Dane County streets in pale frost. But step inside the doors of 3401 Valley Ridge Road in Middleton, and the atmosphere shifts immediately.
The air is warm, filled with bright primary colors, children’s artwork, and a lively, fluid rhythm of voices blending English and Spanish seamlessly. In one corner, a four-year-old girl softly hums a song in Spanish while proudly holding up a paper flag. A few feet away, a young boy counts wooden blocks in English, his confidence drawing an affectionate smile from his teacher. Near the entryway, a working mother drops off her son before a busy shift, exhaling with relief. She knows that for the next eight hours, her child is in a place where he will never have to choose between honoring his family’s heritage and preparing for his academic future.
Watching it all unfold is Gletsy Oliveros.
For a brief second, her eyes glisten with emotion. It is a moment of quiet reflection—a sharp contrast to where her journey began. She remembers the terrifying uncertainty of the early days. The sleepless nights. The stack of bills on the kitchen table. The daunting weight of building something from scratch in a country that wasn’t originally her own.
Just a few years ago, Gletsy and her husband, Harry Salas, cared for just eight children out of their basement. Today, their vision—Trasnos Bilingual Child Care Center—stands as one of the most compelling stories of Latino entrepreneurship and early childhood education in the Midwest.
Yet behind the brick-and-mortar growth and the playground laughter lies a classic Hero’s Journey: a tale of migration, faith, silent resilience, and two visionary educators who transformed their personal hustle into a generational gift for Wisconsin families.
The Known World and the Call to Adventure
Every true journey starts with a departure from the familiar. Long before they were recognized business leaders managing three bustling educational centers across Madison, Oregon, and Middleton, Gletsy Oliveros and Harry Salas were simply two Venezuelan immigrants navigating the cold realities of building a life in Wisconsin.
The Evolution from early beginnings in the basement to three locations
Like so many who make the journey north, they arrived carrying far more than luggage. They brought deep-seated values, quiet anxieties, and a profound desire to build a meaningful career without surrendering their cultural identity.
In 2018, they took a leap of faith. They opened a modest home daycare licensed for just eight children. Eight.
There were no venture capitalists backing their launch. No safety nets or guarantees of market survival. There was only an unshakeable sense of purpose.
“We wanted to create a space where children felt safe, loved, and valued—just like at home,” Gletsy recalls.
From day one, Gletsy and Harry realized that Trasnos could never be just another commercial daycare center. They set out to construct a sanctuary where children grew up knowing their worth, where speaking Spanish was never framed as a barrier, and where cultural identity could thrive alongside top-tier American early childhood standards. They envisioned a curriculum where dual-language acquisition didn’t delay cognitive development, but turbocharged it.
Crossing the Threshold: The Invisible Battles
The initial years were brutally demanding. For immigrant founders navigating a strictly regulated U.S. industry, the core battle isn’t merely operating a business—it is surviving the sheer emotional and logistical friction of establishing credibility.
The days felt endless. Licensing protocols, state compliance audits, continuous professional development, staff training, payroll, and facility maintenance had to be balanced alongside their own family life.
“There were moments when growth was slow, and physical exhaustion made everything feel like an uphill climb,” Harry admits.
The regulatory environment required mastering complex legal, financial, and administrative systems in a second language. Every state inspection brought intense pressure. Every new compliance hurdle felt like a mountain to scale.
Perhaps the most persistent challenge was dismantling outdated misconceptions surrounding early bilingualism. In meeting after meeting, Gletsy and Harry found themselves defending what modern neuroscience had already proven: raised in a rich dual-language environment, young brains do not get confused—they excel.
They refused to compromise on quality. Bit by bit, family by family, they earned the trust of the local community through sheer consistency, professional rigor, and an enduring faith that kept them grounded through every setback.
Mentors, Allies, and the Turning Point
No hero completes a journey alone. In the midst of uncertainty, pivotal allies emerged to help Gletsy and Harry sharpen their vision.
Early on, their collaboration with Lighthouse Christian School provided critical insights into structured educational leadership and values-driven administration. Another key turning point came through Erika Soto, owner of Pequeños Traviesos Day Care, who offered mentorship when doubts crept in. “She helped us realize we were ready, even when we hesitated to believe it ourselves,” says Gletsy.
Institutional allies soon followed. Partnerships with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), WECA, YoungStar, 4C, and the Latino Chamber of Commerce provided the frameworks needed to scale operations, elevate educational quality, and professionalize their growth.
As the foundation solidified, the real momentum came from local families. Word-of-mouth spread among professional parents across Dane County. Working mothers and fathers found peace of mind leaving their children in an environment where cultural pride and high academic standards walked hand in hand.
Trasnos was no longer just growing—it was filling a crucial void in Wisconsin’s educational landscape.
The Transformation: A Three-Campus Legacy
Today, that humble basement initiative has transformed into a premier educational institution operating across three strategically located campuses:
- Trasnos Atlas (Madison)
- Trasnos Oregon (Oregon, WI)
- Trasnos Middleton (Middleton, WI)
For Gletsy and Harry, acquiring the permanent facilities in Oregon and Middleton marked a decisive shift from survival to long-term stability. Yet, they measure their true return on investment not in square footage, but in student outcomes.
| Program Pillar | Educational Focus & Child Impact |
| Natural Immersion | Organic Spanish/English acquisition through daily interaction and play |
| Early Academics | Foundational mathematics, early literacy, and problem-solving skills |
| Socio-Emotional Growth | Building emotional intelligence, self-worth, resilience, and empathy |
| Creative Arts & Movement | Rhythm, music, tactile exploration, and physical coordination |
| Multicultural Pride | Inclusive celebration of Latin American and global traditions |
The real pride shines when their students graduate into kindergarten—academically ahead of benchmark expectations, emotionally secure, and completely fluent in two languages.
Bridging Worlds: Culture as a Strength
At Trasnos, cultural heritage is not a decorative backdrop for one month of the year; it is built into the everyday curriculum.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the classrooms burst with vibrant colors, regional music, and flags from across Latin America. Children sing bilingual songs while exploring traditions that many first- and second-generation parents worry might fade over time. Simultaneously, the centers celebrate Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, Harvest Day, and Valentine’s Day with equal enthusiasm.
This balanced approach has yielded an inspiring outcome: a rapidly growing community of English-primary and non-Latino families enrolling their children at Trasnos specifically to achieve early Spanish fluency.
Native English-speaking parents frequently report their amazement when their three- and four-year-olds come home effortlessly speaking Spanish, counting fluently, and developing a sophisticated global mindset before ever setting foot in elementary school.
Trasnos has successfully evolved into a cultural bridge—a place where bilingualism is elevated from a mere practical skill to a lifelong competitive and social advantage.
The Ultimate Gift: Premium Dual-Language Education for the Next Generation
When asked how they hope to be remembered, Gletsy Oliveros and Harry Salas pause, answering in unison:
“We don’t want to be remembered simply as a daycare. We want to be remembered as a story of transformation, hope, and educational excellence.”
Their journey offers a powerful takeaway for the modern Wisconsin family. For first- and second-generation Latinx professionals, Trasnos represents the ultimate peace of mind: ensuring your children hold fast to their roots, speak fluent Spanish, and carry their heritage with pride. For mainstream, English-speaking professionals, it offers a rare, high-standard immersion environment that unlocks the proven cognitive, social, and future career benefits of early dual-language mastery.
True early childhood education does more than watch over children—it elevates their potential, builds their confidence, and expands their world. At Trasnos, Gletsy and Harry have created far more than a business; they have built a launchpad for the leaders, thinkers, and global citizens of tomorrow.
Give Your Child the Lifelong Advantage of High-Standard Bilingualism
Whether you are seeking to preserve your family’s native language or give your child the invaluable gift of learning Spanish as a second language, Trasnos Bilingual Child Care Center provides an exceptional, immersive educational environment tailored for early childhood development.
Experience the Trasnos Difference Today:
- Immersion Excellence: High-standard, native-level Spanish curriculum integrated into daily play and early academics.
- Three Convenient Campuses: Serving families in Madison, Oregon, and Middleton.
- Now Enrolling: Openings for infants, toddlers, and preschool programs.
Schedule Your Personal Campus Tour
- Madison Campus: 1 Atlas Ct, Madison, WI 53714
- Oregon Campus: 125 Rosewood Ave, Oregon, WI 53575
- Middleton Campus: 3401 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI 53562
📞 Call us today !
(608) 609-2047
(608) 609-2107