Elvel School was founded in 1967 by two women who shared a vision and the commitment to carry it through: Margarita Isabel Elvir, a principled and steady Honduran educator, known for her warmth, sound judgment, and the natural authority that made others feel both welcome and accountable, and María Otero de Tavel, a Cuban educator known for her strength of character, high standards, and unshakable sense of purpose — she set expectations early and stood by them.
The name Elvel itself reflects this union — a joining of Elvir and Tavel, two families who believed that education, when done right, could shape not only students, but generations.
By their side stood Antonio Tavel Martín, known affectionately as “Don Toño”, María’s husband, who brought presence, steadiness, and principle. He wasn’t one to raise his voice, but his guidance and quiet strength helped shape the school’s path from the very beginning.
Doña Albertina, our first Principal and Margarita’s mother, helped define the school’s tone with her sharp eye, high standards, and calm authority. She saw what others missed, ensured things were done properly, and remained a constant presence for decades — respected by all who passed through the school gates.
From the beginning, Elvel stood for structure, values, and serious bilingual formation. English and Spanish were taught with intention. So were discipline, responsibility, respect, and accountability. The expectations were clear — for students, for teachers, and for how the school operated.
What followed wasn’t a sudden rise — it was steady, deliberate growth. New grades were added, new buildings constructed, new families joined — often staying for generations. Some of Elvel’s first students returned as teachers, others as parents. And through it all, the founding values held firm.
Today, Elvel serves more than 1,100 students and employs over 170 staff members. It remains an independent, family-run school — still led in partnership by the founding families, and still grounded in the same values that shaped its first classroom.
