Ben Beach: Finding Home at Headwaters

Ben Beach's journey to Headwaters began halfway around the world. After five years living in China, Ben and his wife were looking for a school community that aligned with their educational values. In March 2025, they enrolled their sons—then in 4th and 2nd grade—at Headwaters. A few months later, Ben stepped in as a substitute teacher for Middle and High School. By August, he joined the faculty full-time as a Middle School guide.

As lifelong educators, Ben and his wife were intentional in seeking a school where the whole child is nurtured. “The Montessori-based approach that Headwaters Elementary takes was very appealing for us coming from much stricter school settings,” Ben explains. “Our boys' previous schools prioritized academic achievement and grades over holistic child development, which did not match our own pedagogical beliefs on best practices in teaching and learning.” Their tour of the campus and their sons' trial day confirmed what they were hoping to find: a school that was welcoming, thoughtful, and child-centered.

Ben’s connection to Headwaters took a meaningful turn during a 4th-grade parent coffee hosted by the Middle School team. The conversation that day—led by the division director, a middle school guide, and several students—made a lasting impression. “The learning and school environment they described resonated deeply with what I wished to be a part of as a teacher,” he recalls. The students spoke about being supported academically and socially, and about having voice and choice in their learning. The school’s commitment to outdoor education, and to developing Peacemakers and Advocates, stood out to Ben as rare and important.

When a position opened up, Ben faced a choice between Headwaters and another school with a more financially attractive offer. He chose Headwaters. “I have not doubted once that it was absolutely the right decision,” he says.

This is the sixth year and third school where Ben has served as both parent and faculty member. What sets this experience apart? “Previously, my boys attended the school because I (and their mother) worked there. This time it is the other way around, and I find that a refreshing reminder that I am working every day to create and foster the kind of learning environment I want for my own children.” While he doesn't currently teach his son, he may one day—and that dual perspective helps him stay grounded as both a parent and educator.

Ben brings sixteen years of experience to the classroom, with a career that has spanned elementary to college-level teaching across Texas, Spain, and China. He has taught English, Literature, Composition, Social Studies, and Study Skills, and has led extracurriculars ranging from creative writing to bicycle mechanics and digital music composition.

Now back in his hometown of Austin, Ben is glad to be rooted here with his family—and grateful to be part of a school community that reflects the best of what he's seen around the world. “Headwaters embraces the very best characteristics and approaches that strong international schools adopt,” he says.

When asked what he would tell prospective families about what makes Headwaters unique, Ben doesn’t hesitate: “I’ve been a part of many schools, both public and private. Though some may claim to be focused on the whole child, I have not found a school other than Headwaters that truly walks the walk when it comes to supporting students both academically and socially.”

He continues, “We work hard academically, but never without supporting the development of the whole child and the role they play in our community, our society, and our world. The Headwaters faculty and staff truly care about children as human beings, not just as students. It’s refreshing and inspiring to be part of the work we are doing here.”

For Ben Beach, Headwaters is more than a workplace. It’s the community he chose—for his child, and for himself.