2nd Grade

Why hello there! I am Cayla Cecil, honored to serve as the Headwaters Creek Counselor. I am a licensed social worker who has a passion for helping children navigate the challenges of life and has spent the last decade working with children of all ages, most frequently in the school system. In the world of children's counseling, I am dedicated to fostering a nurturing, playful, safe, and empowering space where young hearts can flourish.

I am a born and raised Texan who graduated with her Bachelor's from Baylor University in 2013. Shortly after, I moved to our amazing city and fell in love with the sense of community and positivity that runs deep within the heart of Austin. It was here that I started working in the school system and later got my Master's Degree in Social Work at Texas State University to pursue my calling into school social work. After several years working as a Program Manager for a nonprofit that partners with schools across the Austin area, I started working with a private practice, Tula Counseling, who brought me to Headwaters Creek in the 2023-2024 school year to start building a counseling program. Working at Headwaters has been the most rewarding experience, and I am incredibly grateful to be welcomed into the Headwaters Creek family as their first ever School Counselor. 

At heart, I am a rainbow person with a charismatic & energetic personality, who exudes positivity & joy, and sees the good in everyone. I love people with every fiber of my being and wish I could give every person on this planet a hug. I am a firm believer that music and food heals the soul, and I love to listen to music & dance around my kitchen while cooking a delicious meal for the people I love. I am so thankful to be spending my life making connections and building relationships with the young people of this world. I have a holistic approach to mental health, believing true healing encompasses one's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, recognizing that everything in a person's life is interconnected. From individual sessions & group sessions, to helping a child who is emotionally disregulated, to collaborating with staff & providing resources to families, etc., I am committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those in our community. I'm thrilled to grow further as a counselor and community member at Headwaters, where every day brings new opportunities to enrich young lives

My name is Alexandra Gantley and I’m the Learning Specialist at the Headwaters Creek Campus. I’ve been a special educator for over twenty years in all kinds of schools and settings. My experience includes working at both public and private schools, teaching students of all ages from elementary to high school.  

 

I grew up in a small town in the Merrimack Valley of New Hampshire, in a house on 11 acres of pine woods. I spent my childhood exploring the outdoors and helping out on my best friend's farm on weekends. After graduating from UMass Amherst, I started my career as a special education teacher at an alternative high school in Watertown, MA. I got my master’s in education from Boston College a few years later. When I moved to Austin in 2010, I spent two years as an inclusion teacher at a public middle school before transitioning to Rawson Saunders. I was at Rawson Saunders for four years as a Language Arts teacher, and I learned a lot about students with dyslexia, ADHD, twice-exceptional students, and many other non-traditional learners. I’ve also worked at a charter high school, as a private tutor, and as an IEP consultant for families in the Austin area.  

 

Throughout my years as an educator, it has been my absolute privilege and joy to work with students who think and learn differently than many of their peers. As the Elementary Learning Specialist, I work with teachers, families, and students to help all learners reach their full potential and find what works best for their unique needs and interests.  

 

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, gardening, movies, checking out new restaurants, and spending as much time as I can exploring Texas with my husband and 5-year-old son.

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama where I was encouraged by my family to find strength in learning, engage in community building, and work towards positive social change. I received my BA in Anthropology and Art History as well as a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Texas. I have worked in a variety of professions including public libraries, archives and art museums, the health and wellness sector, and as a substitute teacher.

I first came to Headwaters as a parent; my three boys are now in the Elementary program. I am looking forward to being in service to our amazing teachers and staff. In my free time I like to cook, read, run, garden and enjoy the outdoors with my family.

I graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2005, and quickly found a job right where I had spent a year interning, at Dallas Children's Theater. I spent two years there doing everything from acting to light, sound and set crew to teaching children's theatre. I continued pursuing my love of theatre in ever evolving ways as I moved from Dallas to Austin in 2008. I founded a theatre troupe, "The Dramazons," with my best friend, and while I loved acting, I began finding a new passion- teaching. After moving to Austin, I began working at Dougherty Arts Center, and I landed at Headwaters in 2013. I began as the Director of After Care (then called Creativity Club) and Support Staff, and integrated theatre whenever and wherever I could, whether through after school programs or summer camp. In December of 2019 everything changed, as my daughter Corey was born, and shortly after that Covid shut us down. During that time, as we moved to hybrid learning, I found myself working in the Meadowlarks classroom, and truly found my place here at Headwaters. I recently completed my Montessori training, and am so happy to continue working here, in a job I love, with kids that inspire and challenge me, and with a community of people I adore.

When I'm not teaching, I love spending time with my wife, Leah, our five-year-old daughter, Corey, and our animals (four cats and a recently adopted doggie!) They're my world, and I love them with all my heart. Between my job and my family, I feel pretty lucky!