WHY MAGNOLIA
What makes us genuinely different
West Austin has no shortage of private schools. Most of them offer good teachers, structured curriculum and a solid reputation. Magnolia offers something rarer: a school that actually sees your child, not a version of them, not a test score, but the small things that make them unique.
-
No one-size-fits-all
Every student is assessed individually. Curriculum, pace and support are built around who your child actually is - not who the system expects them to be.
-
Small enough to matter
With a 10:1 ratio, teachers know every child's strength, their favorite book, their special interest and what makes them come alive. That's not an aspiration - it's a Tuesday.
-
Joy is not optional
We believe children learn best when they genuinely love school. Rigor and joy are not opposites here - they are the same thing.
-
We teach to mastery
We believe that early educational concepts are building blocks. We don't teach to meet minimum requirements. We revisit concepts until each child has a thorough understanding, and then we move on.
WHAT'S IN A NAME
Why Magnolia?
The magnolia is one of the oldest flowering plants on Earth - resilient, unhurried and quietly extraordinary. It doesn't rush its bloom. It takes the time it needs and flowers beautifully in its own season.
We think that's a pretty good description of a child, too.
40%
of students are taught a year above grade level
100%
individualized learning plans for every student
OUR BACKGROUND
The school we
wish existed.
We didn't set out to build a school. We set out to build the one we wished had existed when we needed it.
The Magnolia School was founded on a deceptively simple conviction: that every child should genuinely enjoy coming to school — every single day. Not on the good days. Not when they happen to connect with a particular teacher. Every day.
What emerged was something the families of Bee Cave and Lakeway had never quite seen. A school where the curriculum bends to the child - not the other way around. Where positive reinforcement isn't a technique layered on top of fear; it's the entire architecture. Where teachers know your child's pet's name, their favorite subject, and what set them off last Tuesday.
13+ years on, the families who found Magnolia first are sending their second - and sometimes third - children. That, more than any credential, tells the real story.
Our Approach
Our methodology isn't borrowed from a textbook. It's been built - and continuously refined - through nearly two decades of watching children learn, struggle and thrive. Every element exists because it works.
01
Individualized Learning Plans
Every student begins with a thorough assessment. We identify their learning style, current proficiency by subject and set individual goals - then build a plan that evolves continuously as they grow. No two plans look alike.
04
Social Emotional Learning
Friendship, citizenship, self-regulation and emotional intelligence are taught alongside academics - not as an afterthought. SEL group classes are embedded throughout the week at every grade level.
02
Positive Reinforcement
Grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis, our Daily Support Card system tracks each child's progress across academics, learning skills, organization and citizenship - celebrating wins, not just flagging struggles.
05
Intervention & Enrichment
Whether a child needs additional support in reading or math, or is ready to sprint ahead in science, we build targeted pathways - including on-campus access to speech, OT and specialized subject-level tutoring.
03
Proficiency-Based Progression
Students move forward when they've genuinely mastered materials - not when the calendar says so. Approximately 40% of our learners work in at least one subject a full year above grade level.
06
Screen-Free Childhood
We are proud to maintain a minimal-to-no screen environment. Children engage with real materials, real teachers, and each other - not devices. Imagination and hands-on learning flourish when screens step aside.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND MAGNOLIA
Meet the Team
Our teachers are not just credentialed - they're curious, passionate and genuinely invested in each child they teach. They bring their whole selves to school every day. Here's a glimpse of what they bring to the experience.
Meghan Houseman, M. ED., BCBA
BCBA • BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST
Meghan built Magnolia from the ground up with a singular vision: a school where every child is genuinely known and celebrated.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 17 years of experience as an educator, she brings the science of learning into every classroom — and the warmth of a true believer into every conversation with a family. Her door is always open.
Where you'll find Meghan: On the playscape, encouraging imagination, or in a classroom doing 1:1 instruction.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
PreSchool Team
EARLY CHILDHOOD • AGES 3-5
Maria
HEAD OF PRESCHOOL
Experiential Learning
Bi-Lingual (EN/ES) SEL
Maria started teaching early in her career. She has a lifelong love that keeps calling her back. Her Sociology background shapes her teaching philosophy that is built on hands-on discovery, emotional confidence and the spark of a child realizing they've figured out something for themselves.
She loves hiking and new foods - and her students can feel her sense of direction in every lesson
PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Marisol
Montessori Trained
Bilingual (EN/ES)
Marisol began her career as a Montessori teacher in Mexico. She's spent more than 16 years in early education and believes education is a two-way street - teacher and student gorwing together. She sings, dances, plays games and brings warmth into everything she does.
She loves tacos, traveling and making every classroom feel like a welcome home away from home.
PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Leislee
Early Literacy
Bilingual (EN/ES) SEL
Leislee focuses on early literacy, foundational math, and social-emotional skills through hands-on play and routines. She creates a safe space in her class where children feel encouraged to explore at their own pace - and build the lifelong love of learning that starts right here.
Fun Fact: Leislee is a novice sourdough baker.
GRADES K-5
Elementary School Team
Nida
KINDERGARTEN - FIRST GRADE
Psychology Degree
Trama-Informed SEL
Ms. Nida is every student's biggest cheerleader. As a second-generation teacher, it's been a passion since early adulthood. Nida believes in the importance of kindness and continuing education.
She is most commonly found moving from class to class, greeting kids, and doling out shout-outs.
Fun Fact: Nida has a love of animals and a dog named Pancake.
Sara
2ND-3RD GRADE TEACHER
Former ABA Therapist
Trama-Informed SEL
Sara started at Magnolia as a behavior therapist before stepping into her own classroom, which means she brings a unique, deep understanding of how children learn and what gets in the way.
Now in her 5th year teaching 2nd grade, she's built meaningful relationships while helping students grow not just academically but also as confident, curious individuals.
Sara is an avid outdoor enthusiast and is the resident butterfly expert for the annual Magnolia metamorphosis project.
Claudia
4TH-5TH GRADE TEACHER
Masters in Ed Technology
Bilingual (EN/ES) SEL
Claudia puts her Master's in Education, with a Technology minor, to good use in her 3rd-grade class. Ever the science enthusiast, she focuses on exploration, movement, and real-world discovery.
Her students never know what kind of adventure the next lesson holds.
When the weather is good, you will most likely find Claudia on a nature walk or playing soccer with her students outside.
Fun Fact: Her hidden talent is shucking oysters.
Annabeth
4TH GRADE TEACHER
Reading Specialist
Annabeth's teaching career was born from a love of literacy and reading instruction.
Her philosophy: every student is unique, every day is a new chance to try again, and everyone's best looks a little different. She helps students become the best versions of themselves - every day.
Fun Fact: Annabeth has a cat named Pumpkin that the kids love hearing updates about.
GRADES 6-8
Middle School Team
Mari
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER - ELA
Bilingual (EN/ES)
Mari brings over 20 years of experience spanning pre-K, elementary, and college-level teaching. She creates safe, engaging environments where students can share their thoughts.
She believes in building unique relationships with each student.
Fun Fact: Mari collects Pinocchio mugs.
Joel
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER - HISTORY
Pokemon Enthusiast
College Golfer
Joel's goal is to create memories, not foster memorization. He teaches by sparking discussion - making learning feel like something students own. His philosophy: "All you can do is the best you can do."
He doesn't mind students failing: he just doesn't let them quit.
Joel is the official Pokémon trading referee. As an enthusiast, he approves all trades and hosts an after-school Pokémon club for fellow enthusiasts.
Salome
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER - MATH & SCIENCE
Salome studied at King's College and UT Austin, earning a degree in Biochemistry. She previously owned and directed a Kumon Center, where she developed a gift for instilling a genuine love of math in students.
A mother of three and grandmother, she spends her free time traveling.
Salome has lived in England, Switzerland and Texas. She offers and shares her global perspective with the students.
ALL AGES
Enrichment & Support Staff
Lauren
RBT & SUPPORT STAFF
FORMER ABA THERAPIST
With over 5 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis, Lauren specializes in 1:1 instruction and small-group learning. She builds strong, deep, supportive relationships with her students - getting to know them on a level that lets her help them reach their full potential.
Lauren is a rare Austinite - and she carries a bit of that Texas charm into everything she does.
Nicole
ADMIN DIRECTOR
With a background in Clinical Research, Nicole approaches all school projects with precision. She has a deep, personal connection with Magnolia, as a mom of 3. She joined the community as a room parent, then took on the responsibility of PTO President, and now channels that energy into connecting families to everything Magnolia has to offer.
Nicole was born and raised in Alaska, which nurtured her love of dogs. They can be spotted on campus from time-to-time.
Jonelle
SMALL GROUP & OPERATIONS
With more than 15 years teaching Kindergarten, Jonelle knows that building emotional connection is the key to everything else and she proves it every day. She loves knowing she's laying the foundation of each child's entire learning journey - and she takes that responsibility seriously.
Jonelle hosts a Magnolia Mardi Gras each year to teach students about her Louisiana roots.
.jpg)
Adria
ART TEACHER
Adria has been an educator for nearly 30 years, working as both an academic and art instructor. She discovered her love of integrating art into curriculum while teaching 3rd grade. Seeing children engaged in the creative process - and proud of what they've made - is a source of pure joy.
She has taught professional lessons at both the Contemporary Austin and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden—gallery-level art education.
STANDARDS & RECOGNITION
Accreditation & Credentials
TAAPS Accredited
Rigorous annual review of curriculum standards, faculty credentials, facilities and student outcomes.
BCBA Leadership
Our Head of School holds Board Certified Behavior Analyst credentials - the gold standard in the science of learning and behavior.
Award-Winning
Magnolia was named one of the "Top Ranked Private Schools" in Austin by Google
5-Stars on Niche (A)
Niche.com and other third-party tools rank Magnolia a top-tier educational experience across a variety of criteria.
Magnolia is committed to continuous improvement. We pursue accreditation not as a credential but as an accountability structure - a regular external lens on whether we're living up to what we promise families.