Introducing the Strong Women of Jaltemba Bay Series:
Supporting Education Elaine Smith, Los Ayalas Part 1 of 5
Tara A. Spears
“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the road to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” – Melinda Gates
Women, especially, deserve to be celebrated for their tenacity as they generally have more obstacles and setbacks to pursue their dreams. That’s why this five part series intends to applaud and share the stories of several Jaltemba Bay women. While they range in age and economic background, all of the women showcased share a richness of character, a deep commitment to family and education, and have a strong love of community. They are role models and the essence of a modern Mexican woman.
The introduction to the series starts with Elaine Smith. Although she was not born in Mexico, Elaine has spent 50 years absorbing Mexican culture. “I fell in love with Los Ayalas because of the people and the beautiful environment.” For the last 30 years Elaine has resided half the year in Jaltemba Bay. “When we retired to live in Los Ayala the elementary school didn’t have a building. The teacher took the bus from Tepic and lessons were conducted on a concrete slab.”
Immediately after purchasing their home and settling into Los Ayala years ago, Elena learned of two children who didn’t have uniforms or shoes to go to school. They were far behind their peers in opportunity and learning. After talking to the teacher, Elaine was able to convince her to allow the children to attend if she would tutor the children to help them improve their reading skills. What started as a daily lesson on the patio table, expanded into a group session as other children in the village came for help. Elaine’s husband, Morris, would fix the kids pancakes nearly every morning. Those original children are now parents with children and grandchildren who come to Elena’s Biblioteca.
As with many talented people Elaine is an avid reader and life- long learner. Even at age 94, Elaine continues to devote more than an hour a day on practicing Spanish. Her love for learning started early because her family owned a farm, and as the only child for many years, her life centered on helping her parents work the farm. It was a difficult economic time during the 1930s depression but her parents sacrificed to buy her a piano. From age six, music became her greatest passion. She continued her music studies and by high school Elaine was able to play piano and organ at school, choirs, solos, church meetings, weddings, and funerals. For university she pursued a Bachelor of Arts from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington in Music with emphasis on Organ. Besides playing piano, Elaine studied art and has considerable talent in painting as the following photos show.
“I was fortunate to have a wonderful life with a man who appreciated me for 66 years,” said Elaine. “Although Morris passed in 2013, we were blessed with three children, ten grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.” Elaine also considers the children and families in Los Ayala to be her family as well. Her former students stay in contact and frequently come to visit. In the 1970s and 1980s Elaine and Morris began flying themselves and their family to Mexico after earning pilot’s licenses. “Back in those days, some Mexican towns’ “landing strip” was a pasture that the cattle would be moved off so we could land.”
For more than 25 years Elaine has welcome the village children into her home. She has collected over 1,000 children’s books that are available to the public and are used to tutor the students. In addition to remedial instruction, Elaine provides art activities one day a week. She collects and passes out donated clothing, jackets and shoes besides giving taxi fare to keep kids attending secondario in La Penita.
After Elaine devoted time and money to setting up her Los Ayalas library, she met a gentleman who was a principal at an elementary school in Las Vegas, Howard Garrard. “As the school district in Las Vegas would discard Spanish language books that were replaced by new curriculum, he saved and sent them to me. Over the years, he and others have added thousands of books, school supplies and materials.” As the numbers of children grew to include most of the children in the village, Elaine realized how important education was for the future of these children. Typically the Los Ayala child didn’t make it past the third or fourth grade due to needing to work to help support the family.
Elaine’s neighbors, Italia Winter and Teresa Chacon, were motivated to help Elaine tutor the children. Women in other parts of JB, such as Mary Alice Ranta, Barbara Lundquist, Kathleen Hurn, Louise Morley, Chris and Ray Carter, Jill Norton and Jeannette Morrison also began volunteering several afternoons a week. Classes were free and ranged from 20-50 kids each day. The primary focus of the classes is to teach basic reading skills, comprehension, basic math skills, then focus on crafts and creativity and play. Due to the international composition of the community, instruction in English was added in recent years.
For Los Ayala children to continue beyond 5th grade, they must travel out of the village to go to middle school. Elaine and other very generous friends have funded uniforms and combi fare to secondary school in La Penita. Hundreds of children have been blessed by Elena’s love for them.
Over the years, Elaine has touched the lives of nearly every local family in Los Ayala. Elaine said that crafts were important to children’s development and made learning fun. Art classes (free materials provided) give the kids a chance to do things they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do at home or in elementary school. The Smith family and supporters built a garden with playground equipment, grass and shady trees for the children to swing, play soccer, volleyball, basketball and all kinds of safe activities. Daughter Stephanie said, “Children just seemed to flock to my parents. The children were safe, they were loved, taught and cared for. It has been a huge labor of love by both my parents. “
Elaine feels that it is her mission to continue helping children in Los Ayala. She is now 94 and even with Covid she has continued working with children, helping them with recognizing the alphabet and learning to read. She is deeply concerned that there might be an educational lapse due to the pandemic that puts the village children even more behind. In 2021 Elaine taught reading to children in small groups and individually.
Throughout the 30 years of helping village children learn, Elaine says it is so fulfilling. “Tutoring and mentoring the kids is a communication of spirit in that they realize that you see them, that you love them as they are, where they are, and you value them individually. I believe that I give each child hope, to know that they can do anything if they believe, if they try, if they put education first. That is the key. I’ve had students from this village who have gone to college and beyond. It is thrilling to see them make changes that improve their lives and the lives of their children. Generations ahead are blessed because of their pursuit of education.”
If you would like to get involved with Elena’s Biblioteca in Los Ayala, contact her daughter Stephanie on Facebook: The tutoring classes meet three times a week for two hours. (More days if volunteers are available.) “We would love to add a volunteers who would be willing to donate a few hours every week. The ability to speak Spanish and teaching experience is very helpful.” There is no fee to any child. “This is a labor of love that my husband and I financed, although we have been gratified by donations from friends over the years to help with this project”.
The greatest need is funding is to pay for children to be able to go to secondary school in La Penita. There are many children who cannot afford to go to middle school that Elaine and supporters give uniforms, backpacks, and fare for the combi. The group has also given informal scholarships to children with special needs to receive training. Of course, basic school supplies like notebooks, paper and pencils are always needed.
Elaine is excited about the beautiful newly painted school in Los Ayala believing that the improved environment will encourage students to feel excitement and pride in Los Ayala and in education.
“My purpose and hope is to continue supporting and being a center of learning after school in Los Ayala. Each child needs to be given encouragement, and have opportunity to learn, to prepare for their future.” Elaine feels this statement sums up her 30 year mission: ”Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself. “ Dewey.
“Education is a multi-faceted process which encompasses acquiring knowledge, developing ideas, attitudes, values and skills. It is a process which can provide new visions and actions for a better world. My hope is to help young people realize their role and through this, the realization to empower them to try and make their world a better place.” – Elaine Smith
It is the people of this community, such as Elaine, that make a lasting impression long after the photograph of the beach begins to fade. Elaine Smith is but the first example of the strong women of Jaltemba Bay. Her devotion to children and education is a great example to all of us: thank you neighbor!
