Meet our team of dedicated educators

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Maria completed her American Montessori Society training at New England Montessori Training Education Center. She began her career at Newburyport Montessori School in Massachusetts over fifteen years ago. Here in Austin, she helped open Austin’s first public charter Montessori school, and was also a lead instructor at a private Montessori school. Montessori education has been her life’s passion and she is thrilled and honored to continue this work with the Childrens House families. In her free time, she loves exploring Austin with her husband and two sons.

LEAD GUIDE- PRIMARY

Emma graduated from Southwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and study abroad experience in Rabat, Morocco. She started her career as a nanny in Austin and developed a passion for encouraging children to be curious about the world around them and confident in themselves and their abilities. Emma recieved her American Montessori Society credential at the Gulf Coast Montessori Teacher Education Center. In her free time, she enjoys baking, journaling, and playing with her cats. This is her fifth year in the Primary community.

ASSISTANT GUIDE - PRIMARY

Noelle graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and studied abroad at Oxford University in England during her time there. For 6 years she worked in Marketing/Social Media. However, in the midst of seeking a career change, she remembered her love for working with children and her recurring dream to be a teacher! She has been a Pre-K Teaching Assistant for three years, and hasn’t looked back since! When she's not pursuing her passion for helping kids grow and learn through education, she enjoys reading, writing poetry, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her friends in her free time! This is her second year in the Primary community.

LEAD GUIDE - TOTS

Meghna graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s of Arts in Human Learning and Development from the University of Colorado, Denver. While in grad school, she gained a deeper understanding of the Reggio Emilia philosophy of teaching and fell in love with this more progressive approach to education. She then went on to teach at a preschool in her hometown of New Orleans and eventually made her way over to Austin, where she discovered the beautiful world of Montessori! She was a lead Toddler guide at another private Montessori school for the past four years, before joining the Children’s House in the After School Program. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling to new places, spending time with family and friends, and listening to live music. She is thrilled to be leading the Tots program!

ASSISTANT GUIDE - TOTS

Emily gained her foundational knowledge through basic psychology coursework at Austin Community College and many years of experience as a nanny. She has a passion for interpersonal growth and loves to see children make strides in their communication and sense of self. She loves animals and spends as much time as she can with her two sweet pitbulls, Penny and Tuna. This is her fifth year in the Tots community.

LEAD GUIDE- AFTER SCHOOL

Lauren has an Associate's in Behavioral Sciences from San Jacinto Community College and works to facilitate the best learning environment she can for those in her care, with a focus on the social and emotional aspect of schooling. Above all, she strives to help children feel confident, safe, and better prepared to explore the parts of life they might otherwise shy away from. Over the last five years, Lauren has worked in various childcare settings including babysitting, YMCA childcare, afterschool programs, and  even lifeguarding a children's pool play-zone. Outside the classroom, Lauren gardens, bakes desserts, plays tabletop games, and makes recycled paper as a way to unplug and enjoy the slower side of life! This is her second year in the After School program.

AFTER SCHOOL GUIDE/FLOATER

Jasmine was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida, and moved to Texas in 2024 to pursue her undergrad education. She brings 7+  years of childcare experience including babysitting and summer camp counseling. Working in education and childcare is one of Jasmine’s many passions. She loves helping children find their individuality and become advocates for themselves and for others. When she’s not working with children, she can often be found cuddling with her french bulldog, Apollo, or cooking a yummy meal! She is so excited to be joining The Children's House in the afterschool program!