NOGALES, AZ, June 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jorge Valenzuela, BS, MBA, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Valenzuela currently serves as director and founder of Downtown Academy, a role he has held since 2022. Recognizing the unique needs of Hispanic students in Nogales, Arizona, he established the academy to provide a supportive environment for children whose first language is Spanish but who are United States citizens. Under his leadership, Downtown Academy began with middle and high school students and expanded to include kindergarten through fifth grade in 2023. The academy's enrollment grew from 60 to 120 students within its first year, and it now serves more than 450 students. Mr. Valenzuela attributes this growth to his commitment to valuing each student as an individual and to fostering a sense of belonging among students and parents alike.

Downtown Academy offers online classes separated by grade level, employs an academic coach to guide students and collaborates with Community Partners and Virtual Prep of Arizona to enhance English instruction. The school's curriculum is aligned with that of a partner institution, ensuring continuity for incoming students. Notably, when students took the AZELLA English test in Arizona, 65% of the students have shown significant progress or have passed their test. The academy also provides extracurricular opportunities such as taekwondo, basketball, volleyball and folkloric dance, with plans to introduce arts classes in the coming year.

From 2018 to 2022, Mr. Valenzuela worked at a charter school in Nogales, Arizona. Initially hired as an assistant Site Coordinator, he was promoted to Site Coordinator after six months. During his tenure, the school experienced substantial enrollment growth and achieved strong results on state-administered tests.

Before relocating to Arizona, Mr. Valenzuela spent over twelve years working in Mexico across various sectors. He served as an administrator in finance at UTN in Mexico, his responsibilities included overseeing financial operations and contributing to academic programming and as a teacher at UNO Universidad in Mexico, where he was recognized as Best Teacher of the Year. Additionally, he served as director of culture and arts in Nogales, Mexico, where he promoted cultural initiatives within the community.

Mr. Valenzuela's early career included service with the government in Mexico and experience as a high school teacher. These roles provided him with a broad perspective on educational administration and community engagement.

His academic background includes a Master of Business Administration from an institution in Mexico and a bachelor's degree in Economics from a university in Mexico. This foundation has been instrumental in shaping his approach to educational leadership and organizational management.

Mr. Valenzuela holds a third-degree black belt certification in taekwondo, reflecting his dedication to discipline and personal development—qualities he integrates into his educational philosophy and extracurricular programming at Downtown Academy.

He has been featured in the Nogales International newspaper for his innovative work at Downtown Academy and led the project "Downtown Academy growing rapidly with unique teaching model," which highlights the institution's distinctive approach to bilingual education.

Throughout his career, Mr. Valenzuela has attributed his success to an honest approach when helping others and a heartfelt commitment to his work. He consistently considers what is best for his two daughters when making decisions at the academy, believing that if something benefits them, it will also benefit his students.

Born in Nogales, Mr. Valenzuela enjoys spending time with his family—including his wifie and daughters Paulina and Frida—going to the movies and reading about history, economics and politics. Looking ahead, he plans to open a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching English and offering sports programs for youth. Drawing on his experience as a third-degree black belt in taekwondo and a former high school basketball player, he believes that combining sports with education fosters discipline and success among students. He also aims to establish additional schools along the border to support underserved communities further.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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