Robin Scott: From One Small Sign to a Big Life Shift

Registrar & River Academic Office Manager

Sometimes the most important discoveries happen in the most ordinary moments. For Robin Scott, that moment came while driving on Mopac. "I saw a white Khabele school bus on Mopac one day and it had a dove and said 'the school for peace' on it," Robin remembers. "I was very intrigued and looked it up that day."

At the time, her son Bodhi was in daycare, and Robin wasn't thrilled about the public school options they were zoned to. That glimpse of a school bus sparked something. She researched Headwaters, and in August 2015, Bodhi joined as a kindergartener at Creek.

Two years later, in August 2017, Robin herself joined the Headwaters team as Registrar.

The transition from parent to staff member felt natural. "All the staff I had been in contact with were just really cool, down to earth, good humans," Robin says. She had been working at a toxic environment and decided to leave, taking a couple months off to reset. "When doing Bodhi's back to school paperwork it occurred to me to check the available jobs." With her background in database management, the registrar position was immediately appealing. But the biggest draw? "The staff and environment."

When the Scott family moved to Austin in 2013, they were thrilled with the energy of the city but not so thrilled with some of the school options. Robin attended college at the University of Colorado for music, then returned to Texas and found herself on a career path that included spreadsheets and data. "Go figure," she laughs. "But I actually enjoy it! And now I get to use my skills for this wonderful school I truly believe in, which is all I could ask for in a job."

Being both a parent and staff member has given Robin a unique perspective. "It's definitely deepened my appreciation for all the school employees' hard work throughout the year. It takes a lot to keep this place running!" She talks about the great team at Headwaters, how they can rely on each other, but acknowledges it's certainly a ton of work. "It's work in a purpose I believe in, however. We are truly so grateful for how this school and these people have shaped Bodhi. We give a lot of credit to the kind of person and the kind of learner he has become from his time at Headwaters."

When asked what she would tell prospective families about why Headwaters is special, Robin doesn't hesitate. "I would tell anyone that your kid is really seen at Headwaters. Seen and honored for who they are and where they are on their educational journey." Bodhi has certainly had challenges, but the communication directly with him about what is going on and what he needs has always been paramount.

Robin also wants families to know something important about small schools. "I would say just because it's a small school doesn't mean no grit. At a small school you have to learn how to navigate conflict because you have to be around these people all the time! It's not easy to hide or avoid people you don't want to be around. You gotta work it out and there are lots of staff and other students to help you navigate and support you."

When she's not managing databases and supporting families through the enrollment process, Robin enjoys hiking and rowing on Town Lake with the Austin Rowing Club. But her favorite role remains being part of a community that started with a simple moment of curiosity on a busy highway, and grew into something her family will never look back from.