Kindergarten

My name is Libby, and I’m thrilled to be joining the Swifts class as the Assistant Guide for the 2025–2026 school year. I earned my Bachelor’s degree and teaching certification in 4th–8th grade ELA/Social Studies from Texas State University in December 2021.

 

After graduating, I spent a year traveling to seventeen different countries. This was a life-changing experience for me that widened my perspective and personal growth.

 

Headwaters has been my work home for nearly three years, and I’ve had the opportunity to serve in various roles across all three campuses. I began as a Primary Care Support Guide on the Springs Campus during the 2022–2023 school year, then worked as a substitute teacher on both the Creek and River Campuses. Most recently, I worked as an After Care and Arts & Science Guide on the Creek Campus.

 

One of the many reasons I value working with Headwaters is the supportive and accepting community that has empowered me to explore my path as an educator. I’m especially excited to step into the K-1 classroom, as I’m inspired by the curiosity and enthusiasm these young learners bring each day.

 

Outside of school, I’m an artist and writer who finds joy in creating, dancing, spending time in nature, and cooking meals at home. This year, I’m making the move from San Marcos to Austin and look forward to being closer to work and community.

 

Here’s to a joyful and fulfilling school year!

After discovering Montessori learning as a parent of two children here in Austin, I started my own path working in Montessori classrooms. In my years of working with children I have found a deep joy for nurturing young people as they grow and a passion for learning all I can to facilitate their development. I am committed to creating an engaging learning environment and supporting students in their academic and personal growth. I believe in the power of child-centered education and teamwork to transform young lives for the benefit of the student and our whole community. I am so proud to be part of the Headwaters team because our school embodies what I think is a powerful method to help children reach their potentials and dreams in an environment that emphasizes caring and empathy for all. 

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 obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Music from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. After graduation, I stumbled upon a job teaching at a church preschool in Houston. I hadn’t worked there long before I was completely hooked. Those little minds grabbed and kept my attention in a way that was far more profound than anything I had ever studied in school. After two years in Houston, I moved to Germany for a year; then returned to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. I obtained my M.A.Ed. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1995. Since that time, I’ve taught pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade in both public and private schools.

I discovered Headwaters in 2010 while exploring school options for my then four-year-old son. As a veteran teacher, I had high standards for the school setting I wanted for my child. Headwaters had it all! I was struck by the beautiful classroom environments, the school’s emphasis on peace education, and the incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable teaching staff. Within minutes of walking through the doors, I knew that I had found the ideal school for my son, as well as for myself. In 2012, I received my Montessori training from the Houston Montessori Center (AMS). I am thrilled and honored to be a part of this incredible community where I get to teach K-1 with the amazing Jennifer Phillips.

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’ve been a Montessori educator for over 20 years, working with children ranging from primary to early elementary. I hold a degree in Early Childhood Administration and am certified in early childhood Montessori education. Over the years, I’ve served in a variety of roles including classroom teacher, K-1 Team Lead, faculty mentor, summer program director, and parent education facilitator. I’ve also received specialized training in dyslexia support, trauma-informed care, and am a certified CliftonStrengths Coach.

 

My professional passions include supporting children and being their advocate, as well as integrating modern best practices into the Montessori environment. I am committed to supporting academic excellence by following the child and embracing who they are as individuals. I believe in helping children explore their academic path through compassion, understanding, and respect.

 

I came to Headwaters because I was drawn to the school’s mission, community, and its thoughtful integration of Montessori education within a broader progressive framework. I’ve found deep purpose and connection here, and I’m grateful to be part of such a dedicated and forward-thinking team.

 

Outside of school, I’m an avid Texas Longhorns fan, and I enjoy hiking, cooking barbecue, working on old cars, and spending time with my wife and two daughters.

My early life included earning a bachelor's degree in Theater. After college, I spent significant time exploring my true calling, finding joy in various roles, including that of a nanny. Becoming a mother helped me recognize that my passion truly lay in working with children. The upcoming 2025-2026 school year will be my tenth year on staff at Headwaters, and my twelfth as a parent within the community. Witnessing my own children thrive under the incredible care Headwaters provides gave me a profound insight into a truly special environment. Over many years, I gained diverse experience as a substitute, support guide, after-care guide, co-lead in after-care, and even spent a year in a primary classroom, which ultimately led me to begin my Montessori training. I joined the Doves classroom in the 2022-2023 school year as an assistant and earned my Montessori certification for Lower Elementary in the summer of 2023. By summer 2024, I had also completed my Upper Elementary training. I have, without a doubt, found my calling. Working with children at Headwaters is both a joyful and powerful experience. Contributing to the learning and growth of these wonderful students imbues my daily life with profound purpose and meaning.

I am a lifelong learner and eager student of the gifts of childhood and human potential. I was fortunate, in my late teens, to find a path into the marvelous world of Montessori Education and have spent my entire adult life in grateful service to hundreds of amazing and unique young children and their families. My biggest passion in working with children is to be an advocate and facilitator in the growth of the WHOLE child; helping to weave mind, body and spirit together in each child’s quest for self-actualization. I immensely love exploration, expression and connection through the arts and sciences, the pursuit of knowledge and sharing in the wonders of this amazing and beautiful world.

 

I have two Montessori teaching credentials, received from the American Montessori Society (AMS) in 1994 and the Association Montessori International (AMI) in 2000. And this year, I celebrate my 36th year of Montessori Education in Austin! I am a founding member and “proud mama” of Headwaters lower school (Springs and Creek). I currently guide within the K-1 program and feel completely blessed to continue my Montessori journey into the Elementary years through the Cosmic Curriculum.

 

Beautiful from the beginning, our school’s mission has perpetually manifested itself into being, threading together a vital group of Visionaries—educators, parents, and children—committed to a peaceful, empowered, and interdependent village. It has been pure joy to behold our school’s unfolding over the past two decades, and to welcome and collaborate with all those who were drawn to come, to share in our vision, and to bring their passionate and amazing talents with them! Headwaters is truly an optimal learning environment for us all, cradle to college… and beyond! I look forward to the expansive growth we will continue to create together in Headwaters’s bright and innovative future.

I have a degree in Elementary Education and over a decade of classroom experience, and I’m currently an Early Elementary guide in the Owls Class. I’ve been a part of the Headwaters community since 2015 and have had the opportunity to wear many hats—support guide in Primary, substitute guide, Creativity Club guide, K–1 guide, and now working with our amazing 2nd and 3rd grade students.

 

My professional passions include STEM education, outdoor nature-based projects, and helping children find joy and confidence in their learning. I’m deeply inspired by the way Headwaters encourages independence, curiosity, and compassion in its students—and I feel grateful to contribute to that mission each day.

 

Outside of the classroom, I love traveling and have visited more than 25 countries. I live in South Austin with my husband, Avinash, our three-year-old son Milan (who is part of the Springs Campus), and our golden retriever, Lufkin—who thinks he’s ready for school but still hasn’t mastered not chewing the classroom materials.