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The Magnolia School: Exceptional Education for Every Child

Preschool - Middle School | Where Every Child Is Truly Seen, Supported, and Celebrated

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Our Method

01.

Individualized Learning

Every child learns differently—and we believe they deserve an education that reflects that. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach where students are grouped and taught simply by their age, at The Magnolia School, your child is truly seen and supported as an individual. Each child is first assessed to understand their strengths, challenges, and pace of learning. Then, an individualized learning plan is built that matches them with the right teachers, curriculum, and subject-level placement to ensure they have the most supportive learning environment. With ongoing assessments throughout the year, we ensure that nothing is static for your child—students are always encouraged, stretched, and guided to thrive.

02.

Low Teacher-to-Student Ratios

With intentionally small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios, our teachers truly know each child—their strengths, their challenges, and what excites them most about learning. Our approach ensures every child receives meaningful one-on-one time with their teacher each day so they receive the attention, encouragement, and tailored support they need. With daily report cards and continuous feedback, parents stay connected to their child’s progress. We believe this close connection and structure is critical to students feeling seen, heard, and valued, building the confidence to take risks, ask questions, and grow.

03.

Research- Backed Curriculum

We believe great teaching starts with a great foundation. That’s why our curriculum is built on proven, research-backed methods—created by educators, for educators. With a blend of direct instruction and individualized support, our students are placed in ability-based groups so every child learns at the right level and pace. The results speak for themselves: by 2nd grade, Magnolia students consistently exceed national standards in reading, writing, and math. Our children advance through school as confident readers, strong problem-solvers, and expressive writers—ready for the challenges ahead. Beyond test scores, they gain the lifelong skills and confidence to succeed not just in school, but in life.

04.

A Place to Learn, Explore and Just be Kids

Step inside and you’ll see kids learning the way they learn best—through wonder, play, and fun. Learning isn’t quiet or rigid—it’s alive and curious. Children aren’t just along for the ride; they’re active participants of their own education. From hands-on discovery to bursts of imagination, play is woven into every part of the day—not just saved for recess. By blending structure with creativity, we give kids the freedom to be kids while building a strong foundation for confidence, happiness, and a lifelong love of learning.

05.

Exceptional Teachers

We’re proud to have an extraordinary team of educators who bring learning to life every day. They don’t just know what to teach—they understand how each child learns best, creating an environment where every student can thrive. Our teachers are highly trained and lifelong learners themselves, continuously exploring the latest research, techniques, and best practices in education. Most importantly, they are passionate about making a lasting difference in every child’s life.

06.

Student centered environment

We believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are. Our teachers facilitate learning rather than simply instruct, taking the time to understand how a child learns and tailoring their teaching based on the child’s unique strengths and needs. Our approach is designed to support all children, creating a truly inclusive environment, ensuring that every child can thrive in a community that respects individuality and celebrates the brilliance of every mind.

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Preschool

"What makes The Magnolia School unique?"

"Why Did You Choose The Magnolia School?"

Accreditation

Accreditation serves as a formal mark of validation, indicating that an institution has successfully undergone a comprehensive quality assessment by a recognized organization. The Magnolia School is accredited by Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS). 

TAAPS

Since 1988, our primary mission seeks to accredit private schools who meet the standards of the association and continue to maintain the quality of education as expected by TAAPS.

Meet Our Team

Meet Our Team

We believe our teachers are more than faculty, they are the heartbeat of our school. Contributing to more than education and the direction of the school, they directly impact each child's life and that is what fuels each of us every day. We love our people and can't wait for you to meet them.

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Meghan Tapp,
M.ED., BCBA

 

Founder, Head of School

Meghan has worked in the field of education for over 17 years. She completed her bachelor's degree in Child Development and Early Childhood from the University of Texas. She received her master's in education from Texas State University with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Meghan became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2010. Meghan has worked in a variety of settings including consulting in public and private schools. We asked Meghan "Why Magnolia?" Here's what she shared: "I’ve worked closely with local school districts and families over the years, and I kept seeing students bump up against invisible limits—unable to reach their full potential. The reality is, the traditional system isn’t designed to support every kind of learner. At The Magnolias School, I believe we change that. With individualized attention, the right supports, and real relationships, students thrive. You simply can’t build those kinds of connections or adapt meaningfully when you have 22 plus kids in one classroom." At The Magnolia School, you can often find Meghan in the classroom instructing children one-on-one, in small groups or on the playscape encouraging imagination and fun! ​As Meghan’s family and friends know, she has always planned to open a school like the Magnolia School since she was. a student herself. Outside of school, family life, including her 3 kids and a myriad of pets  keeps her busy!

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Marisol

Preschool Teacher

Marisol is from Mexico, where she began her career as a Montessori teacher in 1999. She then moved to LA, where she continued her journey as an early childhood and Spanish teacher. She believes that education is a two-way street where both the teacher and student grow together. She respects the way the founders of the school work so hard and their genuine care for the students and teachers. She loves teaching and being with the kids. Marisol loves singing, dancing, playing games, eating tacos, and watching Netflix. She also loves to travel, especially to visit her family in Mexico. Fun Fact about Marisol: she finds joy in cleaning and organizing.

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Nida

Head of Elementary

Nida has been teaching since the age of 19. Her mom is a teacher and it runs in the family. Nida holds a degree in Psychology. She has a passion for teaching and she emphasizes individualized instruction and the power of play. She is also trauma-informed and always continues to seek additional education in all aspects of her life. Nida’s teaching philosophy includes building a culture of kindness with an emphasis on continual education. Nida also loves animals, food, fashion, unique and fun hairstyles, reading, kickboxing, dancing, singing, and cooking. Fun Fact about Nida: She really enjoys taking cooking classes and has a dog named Pancake

Leislee
Leislee
 

Preschool Teacher

Leislee has over four years of experience as a preschool teacher, working with children across diverse age groups, learning environments, and developmental needs. In her role as a preschool teacher, she focuses on teaching early literacy, foundational math, and social-emotional skills through hands-on activities, creative play, and structured yet meaningful routines. Leislee believes in creating a safe, supportive space where children feel encouraged to explore, express themselves, and grow at their own pace. She is passionate about sparking curiosity and building confidence by helping children problem-solve, connect with others, and develop a lifelong love for learning. Fun Fact about Leislee: she is fluent in both English and Spanish, which allows her to support bilingual learners and foster inclusive communication within the classroom.

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Maria

Head of Preschool, Teacher

Maria began her teaching career in her 20s but stepped away to work in international sales. Ultimately, her desire to make a meaningful difference and give back to the community brought her back to the classroom seven years ago. With a background in Sociology, she is deeply passionate about nurturing a child’s love of learning through hands-on, experiential activities. She loves to see the spark of discovery as students learn and discover things inside and outside of the classroom. She believes in fostering a love of learning through lessons and engaging activities. Maria strives to build social and emotional confidence to make students feel safe, valued, and encouraged. She loves to watch her students grow into confident little individuals. Maria loves to teach at Magnolia because she gets to work alongside an amazing team of teachers who work so hard to make a difference. She also loves her family, traveling, trying new foods, hiking, and being out in nature. Fun Fact about Maria: she was a 1/2 marathon runner, has already completed 1 full marathon, and is training for another this year before her big birthday!

Jonelle
Jonelle

Kindergarten Teacher

Jonelle has taught Kindergarten for fifteen years. She is heading into her fifth year at the Magnolia School after teaching for ten years in Louisiana. She has three kids and loves being a mom, traveling, watching football, playing pickleball, and cats. She is passionate about building relationships and emotional connections with students, which she feels is the key to being a teacher. Jonelle loves teaching Kindergarten knowing that she is building the foundation of their learning experience. Fun fact about Jonelle: she has the uncanny ability to predict children’s behavior from invisible eyes in the back of her head.

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Sara

2nd Grade Teacher

Sara is heading into her fifth year of teaching at Magnolia. Prior to teaching in her own classroom at Magnolia, she worked as a behavior therapist at the school. She has a degree in education from Concordia in New York City, which is also where she had her first teaching job. Sara has fun with her students and enjoys creating meaningful relationships with them. She is enthusiastic about helping them grow not just academically, but as confident, curious individuals. She has lived in Austin since 2005 and particularly loves the outdoors and enjoys hiking, backpacking, and camping. Fun fact about Sara: she grew up in NYC and enjoys barefoot hiking

Claudia
Claudia

3rd Grade Teacher

Claudia is from Mexico , she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Technology. Her teaching philosophy is centered around hands-on learning, exploration, and meaningful interactions. She believes that students learn best when they are actively engaged, encouraged to ask questions, and given the space to discover knowledge in ways that connect to their world. She loves seeing the excitement in her students’ eyes when they make a new connection or master a new skill. She finds helping them grow into confident, curious learners to be incredibly rewarding. ​ Claudia moved to Austin to work at The Magnolia School in 2021 . She has a passion for traveling, learning languages, and meeting new people. Fun fact about Claudia: she loves incorporating games, movement, and real-world projects into her lessons—you never know when a science experiment or a classroom scavenger hunt might pop up!

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Annabeth
 

4th Grade Teacher

Prior to joining the team at Magnolia, Annabeth gained a lot of experience teaching students how to read, which led her to a passion for education. In addition to leading the 4th grade class, she also teaches an inclusion class for language-grammar and writing. Annabeth's teaching philosophy is to meet each student where they are in their learning process. Every student is unique and everyone's best looks a little different, so working towards individual bests should always be the focus. She believes everyday is a new day to try again, so just because you have one bad day doesn't mean everyday will be bad. Annabeth loves getting to know her students and helping them learn, grow and become their best selves everyday. Fun fact about Annabeth: She has a grey cat named Pumpkin who is the sweetest kitty in the world!

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Lauren
 

RBT/Support Staff

With over five years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Lauren specializes in providing personalized 1:1 instruction and working with small groups to create meaningful learning experiences for each student. She is passionate about developing creative and engaging teaching strategies that cater to each student's unique needs, ensuring they thrive in their learning journey. Lauren’s goal is to build strong, supportive relationships with her students, getting to know them on a deeper level to help them reach their full potential. She’s excited to work alongside your child and help them succeed in a positive, individualized learning environment. Fun fact about Lauren: she’s a rare native Austinite and carries a bit of that Texas charm with her into everything she does

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Joel’s approach to teaching is to foster engagement so students break away from an attitude of "powering" through material. Joel likes to make the learning as engaging as possible by tying fun elements into the material wherever possible. His philosophy regarding teaching is that learning should be fun and lifelong. In order to achieve that goal, Joel strives to create as much discussion around topics as possible. This allows the students to see learning as a "part of them" versus information they need to attain, memorize, and prove memorization of through testing. His goal is to create memories instead of foster memorization. What Joel loves most about his job is seeing students grow and learn. Seeing that growth process and the proverbial "light bulb" coming on is what keeps him going. Fun fact about Joel: He played golf in college.

5th Grade Teacher

Joel
Mari
Mari

6th Grade Teacher

Mari brings over 20 years of experience in the education field including, pre-k, elementary, and college levels. She approaches teaching by creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment to ensure students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. She also understands and fosters individual needs, which is also part of her teaching philosophy. She enjoys building unique relationships with her students. Fun fact about Mari: she collects Pinocchio Mugs

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Salome

Middle School Teacher

Salome attended King’s College University in London and UT Austin, where she earned a degree in Biochemistry. She was previously the owner/director of a Kumon Center where she was able to instill a love for learning math and language arts in her students. Her goal is to help students reach their full potential. Salome has a husband, three children, and three grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling across Europe, hiking, gardening, art, and decorating. Fun Fact about Salome: Her family has lived in England, Switzerland, and Texas.

Adria
Adria
 

Art

Adria has been an educator for almost 30 years, working as both an academic teacher and an art instructor at a variety of schools and venues. She obtained her teaching certificate from San Francisco State. She then taught third grade where she discovered how much she loved incorporating art into the curriculum. Seeing kids engaged in the creative process and stimulated by artistic endeavors is a source of joy for Adria. She loves to see the charming artwork they produce and to see them happy and satisfied about their efforts. Fun Fact about Adria: she has taught at both the Contemporary Austin and Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.

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Nicole

Communications/Parent Engagement

Nicole has a background in science, with a BS in Biology and an MS in Clinical Research. She is a mom of three with personal ties to the Magnolia School -- two of her kids have attended the school, and her youngest is a rising 6th grader. She first got involved as a room parent and continued to serve the school community through the PTO as a Room Parent Coordinator, Secretary, Vice President, and President. She enjoys organizing, working out, reading, and spending time with her family. Fun fact about Nicole: she was born and raised in Alaska and has a soft spot for fostering and rescuing dogs (she has four) - you may see them around the school on occasion!

We have 2 kids enrolled at Magnolia and couldn't be happier. I researched and toured countless private schools and truly feel the level of individualized care and attention our kids get here is unmatched in the Greater Austin area. We have one child who needs special accommodations and another child who is very advanced and the teachers' ability to meet them both where they're at is impressive. When your child has a teacher who pushes them and believes in their ability to rise to the occasion, the results are magic. It's a shame this is so hard to come by, but makes us appreciate Magnolia all the more. 

Leslie S

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