Faculty

  • Ali Ronder

    Let me start by saying that AHB Community School is my dream school! I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to join such an amazing community dedicated to learning and sharing. My journey to AHB has been a long and exciting one. My mother swears that I announced at 4 years old that this would be my profession. I don't remember it that way. I remember wanting to be an opera singer. So, I guess being a school director falls somewhere in the middle. I became dedicated to teaching while still in high school. I volunteered at People's Community Clinic as a patient's advisory board member and health educator. I worked with pregnant teens and street youth as a peer counselor. At this same time, I also worked at the Teen Help Line as a crises counselor and board member. Then a couple years later, starting with the birth of my first daughter Kaya, I dove head first into the pre-school teaching world!

    My educational background is varied, to say the least. I have been home schooled, Waldorf schooled, Montessori schooled, and public schooled. I have worked for (and my daughters have attended): parent run co-ops, Waldorf-oriented and Montessori pre-schools, public schools and public-charter schools. Recently, I have been the Development Coordinator for the Austin Discovery School helping the administration with various projects including fund raising, events, after school programs, parent education programs, volunteerism and service learning opportunities for the ADS community in the greater Austin community. My previous teaching experience focused on early childhood with: South Austin Children's Cooperative, Starbright Preschool, Montessori Escuela de Montopolis as well as bilingual Kindergarten at Maplewood elementary and Kindergarten/first grade at ADS.

    I hold an EC-4 teaching certificate from the State of Texas as well as a B.A. from UT-Austin in History/Applied Learning & Development and a M.Ed. from Texas State University-San Marcos in bilingual/bicultural education. I am currently working on my PhD. in Educational Administration at Texas State University-San Marcos. Some of my related volunteer work includes teaching ESL in Mexico and Guatemala at: Colegio Cuernavaca, Casa Xelaju, Colegio Alonzo Morelio, and La Pedrera. Additionally I was the Community Wellness Program developer and manager of Ruta Maya Coffee House for over 12 years. You can view my entire electronic portfolio at www.freewebs.com/austinyogamama for more detailed information including my resume and video documentation.

  • Anneke Swanson

    "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." ~Lao Tzu

    This quote as an educator has been a beacon of light for me, because it emphasizes the importance of equipping children with experiences to allow them to think and grow independently. As a teacher, I enjoy providing inspiring, creative and hands-on activities to cultivate a love for learning. Each child is gifted with so many unique and special qualities, and I feel privileged and honored to have my profession working with these amazing young minds.

    I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Early Childhood and Development, with a certification in EC-4. I grew up in Houston, but when the opportunity arose to move to Austin to go to college, I knew I wanted to live in a city thriving with creativity, imagination, and with a focus on wellness.  This year will be my 3rd year teaching, and my second year at AHB.

    I am an only child and have two wonderful, loving parents. They have supported me and nurtured my interests, and I feel so blessed to have grown up in a loving home where talents and gifts were encouraged. I grew up playing the piano, playing golf, painting & drawing, and traveling. My experiences have helped me learn and grow, and I feel passionate about creating those same opportunities to children.

    My husband and best friend Michael and I have been married for over a year now.  I can honestly say I have the most supportive and understanding husband a girl could ask for. Together we love taking walks and exploring the beauty of Austin (we got engaged at the UMLAF Sculpture garden), biking, cooking, eating healthy and sharing a meal with good friends. He is user experience web developer and works for Moxie Software and also co-owns 1524 Interactive, a small web development shop.

    It has been such a blessing to be apart of the AHB community, which allows children to truly embrace the beauty of the world and glide on the wings of experience and constructive learning.

    Feel free to contact me at Anneke@ahbcs.org!

  • Annie Gunn

    I was lucky to be born in Austin, and to be raised by creative parents (an artist and an engineer/musician). As an only child, I grew up in a nurturing environment that was always intellectually and creatively stimulating, which I believe gave me an innate love for learning through expression and discovery. I've always loved how unearthing, constructing, and connecting ideas organically, using a hands-on approach makes learning so exciting!

    Ever since I began working with kids, I've gravitated toward environments with a reverence for this kind of learning. I started out 10 years ago as an assistant in public school classrooms, coaching small groups of struggling readers, and although I grew up within the public school system myself, it didn't offer what I was seeking in a learning environment. So I was very lucky to find Starbright Preschool, where I plunged head-first into the world of Waldorf-based education. I spent three and a half wonderful years at Starbright, teaching 3-5 year olds and later 2-3 year olds in this fantastic arts and nature-based curriculum. I received a wealth of learning-from-doing, and from mentors alongside me, as well as guest speakers from all over the country who flew in to train us. This experience really shaped me and taught me to love learning (and learning about learning). I was inspired to learn more about brain development, even on hiatus as a photographer touring with rock bands (I was the one who could be found in the back of the tour van with my stack of books about developmental psychology and neuroscience).

    In 2006 I was invited aboard at Austin Discovery School. I found that their Constructivist philosophy complimented Waldorf ideas well, and further enriched my experience. There, I worked as as an assistant teacher in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades and later within to the Special Education department, focusing primarily on literacy. For the last year and a half, I've enjoyed many activities, working as an office administrator, a photographer, a substitute teacher in private schools across Austin, and being a private Dyslexia tutor for an amazing 10-year old.

    A wide range of experiences has brought me here to the wonderfully dynamic atmosphere of AHB. I couldn't be more thrilled to be brought on in the Fall as the LA teacher in the Beta classroom! It will be so exciting to take part in such a tight-knit and enthusiastic learning community, with such incredible kids. I look forward to a wonderful year!

    Feel free to contact me at Annie@ahbcs.org!

  • Candace Hutchens

    I was born in Seguin, Texas - a small town an hour outside of Austin. I met my husband at Texas A&M and earned a B.S. in Journalism. Jeff and I purchased our first house in Salt Lake City, Utah where we lived as ski bums, mountain bikers, and campers for 6 years before starting a family. I worked as a graphic designer during those years.

    When our first daughter was almost a year old, we moved to a Ellicott City, Maryland for a couple of years. We returned to Texas and expanded our family with a second daughter, Zoe, who was born at home with the help of her 3 1/2 year old sister, father and midwife.

    My greatest joys in life have come from the experiences I've had parenting with Jeff and raising our daughters. I teach Natural Childbirth Classes the Bradley® Way in our home and sometimes I am lucky enough to be invited to attend births as a doula (a support person). In awe, I witness the miracle of life unfold before me, and I see the moment a newborn takes his first breath.

    I also enjoy photography, yoga, camping, canoeing, and green living. In 2008 I attended a 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course that has become a life changing experience for me - the transformation is never ending and reveals itself ever so slowly!

    My husband and I love to travel and think providing these opportunities to our children is an important part of their education. We've taken our girls to Scotland, England,Costa Rica, Belize, Canada and on trips across the USA. As a family we enjoy camping and cooking outside, gardening, and star gazing. We hope to raise children that can hear the silence, enjoy slow food and good company, and truly be present in each moment as they grow.

    I was a stay at home mother for almost 10 years before accepting this position with AHB. I feel fortunate to have found a wonderful school to contribute to and be a part of now that I enter a new era in my life.

    Feel free to contact me at Candace@ahbcs.org!

  • Eliza Waugh

    My children tell me, "You're a big kid, Mom" and they're right! I don't think I ever lost the ability to see the world in the magical way a child does. I love to explore & learn with children and continue to be enchanted, fascinated, and amazed by what I see and experience with them & in life.

    I graduated from the University of Arizona with an undergraduate degree in creative writing and fine art. My two first loves being poetry and painting - both of which I continue to nurture and pursue. The most important loves in my life, my husband and two boys, came later and have transformed it in the most delightful and fulfilling ways.

    We moved to Austin from Colorado several years ago, and although we miss the high country, we immediately found ourselves at home in this wonderful, eclectic family town of Austin. I have worn many hats in my professional career - including Researcher in the publishing industry, Print Production Manger for two software firms, & managing a multimedia business with my husband. By far, though, my most rewarding professional experiences have been those spent teaching. I have eight years of teaching experience from preschool to elementary.

    It has been exciting and challenging leading our own children to their paths of learning. It has been important to us that their natural desire to explore and learn be nurtured and that they be active participants in the course of their education. We want for them to be inspired and inspiring in their lives. This philosophy ultimately led us to AHB Community School.

    I am excited to "go to school" with all of the creative teachers and ray-of- sunshine children that are at AHBCS. I learn as much from the community as they, hopefully, do from me. I love to be in an environment where creative ideas are free to be explored and where learning is an integrated, joyful, encompassing experience.

    Feel free to contact me at eliza@ahbcs.org!

  • Courtney Owen

    I have lived in Austin for the past five years, and am thrilled to call it home. I recently graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Elementary education, and I am certified in early childhood education through sixth grade.  Texas State University provided me with a variety of experiences teaching children, including opportunities to work with preschool, first, and second grade.  I have enjoyed every experience on many levels, and I am amorous of any encounter that will lend itself to learning and growing as an educator.  I have also had the pleasure of teaching at Camp I Want to Help, a local summer camp that empowers young people to set about improving themselves, their community, and their world. 

    The majority of my experience with children comes from my son who continually shares with me a new and interesting way to view the world.  I admire his curiosity, perpetual spark, and wit.  Spending time with my son often allows me to partake in some of my favorite childhood games, including hide-and-seek and Candy land.  I enjoy the chance to release my inner child and to laugh, to smile, and to share the excitement of new discoveries and ideas. 

    I seek to inspire my students to be curious about their world, and to explore it in as many ways as they can imagine.  I believe in encouraging students to develop a life-long love for learning.  I seek to create an environment where children will be eager to learn and explore their world, and where they will feel safe to take risks without fear.

    When I have a free moment, I enjoy reading alone or to my son.  I love to read aloud as it allows me to create characters that help bring any story to life.  I have always loved to write poetry and short stories, and it continues to be one of my favorite past times.  I hope to bring my passion for the written word into my classroom and to inspire our future Mark Twain's and Jane Austen's.  I also enjoy walking in the greenbelt, or strolling on South Congress while window-shopping. 

    I am thrilled to be a part of Austin Home Base as the Penta Alpha teacher!  The collaboration of the amazing educators at AHB makes for an exciting environment to be a part of.  I look forward to spending my days with the creative, passionate, and extraordinary individuals who come in and out of our doors each school day.

    Feel free to contact me at Courtney@ahbcs.org

     

  • Kirsten Coleman

    I am delighted to be at AHB Community School- the children, fellow teachers and administration, make it a truly joyful experience!

     

    Before AHB Community School, I tutored children in Math and Reading, created & led a Math Club and coached several teams in Math Pentathlon (see www.mathpentath.org) and Math Olympiad (see www.moems.org).   I have taught both children and adults for over 20 years in different capacities, but primarily in math, science, programming & teaching techniques.

     

    The path that led me to ahb Community School has been varied and exciting.  I planned on being a veterinarian for my entire childhood and much of my early adulthood and worked and volunteered with animals in many capacities:  veterinary assistant, animal rights activist, pet therapist (at nursing homes), farm worker, and vaccinator for Heifer Project International.    

     

    I changed career goals while at Earlham College (a small Quaker school in Indiana) and ended up doing the high-tech corporate thing during the late 80's and 90's.  I started out teaching Pascal programming and doing computer science lab work during college which led me to various technical positions after graduation, then into management and finally into executive management.   Throughout my high-tech career I was always teaching in some capacity: clients, other employees, set up training programs, presenting at trade shows, developing and presenting executive, marketing & technical seminars and was a "train-the-trainer" for more than 12 years.    I love teaching!

     

    The arrival of my children prompted me to step out of the corporate world and into the magical world of seeing everything again through my children's eyes.   I held different jobs while home including co-owner of a small business, home child care, math tutor, contract technical recruiter, and substitute teacher in AISD and at a local pre-school.  Out of everything, running math programs and coaching math teams really caught my fancy and so I decided to pursue teaching children more fully - and here I am!

     

    I feel privileged and eager to know each child I will work with at the AHB Community School and look forward to learning right along with them!  Please come introduce yourself to me and always feel free to send any and all feedback.  You will find me digging in the dirt, trying to measure eyelashes, and doing math games - anything fun and inventive the kids and I can think of to both increase our individual knowledge and, hopefully, ultimately, better our world.

     

    I look forward to seeing you at school!

    Feel free to contact me at Kirsten@ahbcs.org!

  • Valerie Ott

    I love kids! I always have. It is fascinating to understand how they learn and how they grow to understand the world around them. One of the most enjoyable parts about teaching kids is getting on their level and teaching from their perspective. Creating hands-on activities and incorporating art into learning has worked very well in my teaching.  One of the best rewards of being a teacher is knowing that learning is fun for your students!

    While my childhood home was in South Texas. Austin became home more than 15 years ago. My degree in Early Childhood Education ( Applied Learning and Development),  minor in Art is from UT.   After college, opportunities allowed me to live and travel around California. While living in San Francisco, my occupation was Academic Adviser for The Academy of Art College. Previous employment was in the Higher Education departments of Apple computer in Austin and in Cupertino, Ca. My hobby is Art and welding/metal sculpture which led me to attend many different colleges in California tinkering in metal and making creative pieces.

    Austin became home again in 2002, and my formal teaching career began. My teaching experience consists of more than 5 years in alternative schools in Austin. Beginning with teaching First grade at Cedars International Academy for two years. Then, Austin Discovery School opened, and I accepted a position co-teaching a Kinder/First Grade class. In June 2006, my son was born and it was important for me to take the time to be home with him. When he was 3 years old, I accepted a position to teach Math at an alternative Middle School/HS campus in Del Valle. My Teaching certification areas are in General Education, Special Education, ESL, Math, and Art with a Gifted and Talented endorsement. My experience stretches across many grade levels, but I can't wait to get back to my true calling of teaching Elementary students!

    I am so excited to be a part of Ahb and look forward to working in such a wonderful school!

     

  • Jennifer Mulvey

    I am humbled and honored, gracious and enlightened, each day I spend witnessing a moment of learning with a student.  It is a gift to be in the occupation of inspiring, fostering, and believing in the talents and abilities of others.  For me, teaching is an opportunity to connect and engage with different learning styles in the ways needed for individual holistic growth.  I love working with children and co-creating a learning environment that is safe, supportive, creative, and fun!

    There are many hobbies and interests I carry with me in my teaching.  As a child, I loved reading and writing.  One of my first books (pre-kindergarten) highlighted my love for cats.  My mom read three or more books to me every night before bed, and my dad helped edit my poetic endeavors.  Eventually, my love for poetry evolved into song writing, which continues to be a creative outlet.  I also love painting, mixed media art, the natural world, natural health, and international travel.  A philanthropist at heart, I seek to honor and nurture the individual pursuits and talents of my students.

    I hold a B.A. with an individual concentration self-titled "A Holistic Approach to Mental Health" from the University of Massachusetts.  I enjoyed working in the mental health field and with adults with intellectual disabilities for several years before relocating to Austin in 2004.  At that time, I had the fulfilling experience of serving in an AmeriCorps program for two years as a full time elementary bilingual literacy tutor.  I also volunteered many hours educating parents and families on supporting literacy development.  It was through this amazing work that the seed for love of literacy and all things language arts continued to be watered. 

    Loving the art of teaching, I then went on to become certified in EC- 8 as a generalist, EC- 12 Special Education, and English as a Second Language.  I am fortunate to have taught in public, non-profit, and charter school settings.  I have taught Kinder through fifth grade, mostly in multi-aged classrooms; and have substituted Early Childhood through grade 12.  These experiences have been impactful and valuable in facilitating my personal and professional growth as a teacher.  Connecting with a diverse student population has enabled me to differentiate for various learning styles, to meet learners where they are, and to bring them where they want to be.  I am so thankful to have found AHB and to be joining this community to continue my journey.   I resonate with the school philosophy and seek to support and nurture each child's pursuit of knowledge.

    It is with great joy and excitement that I embark upon this opportunity to reach out and inspire a love for reading, writing, and life long learning with the students of AHB!