Founder, Head of School

Meghan Houseman, M.ED., BCBA

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! 

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Fun Fact about Meghan: she is a WAGs. Her husband, from the UK, played professional football in the Premier League. They have 3 kids and several pets that keep them on the go!

Principal 

Nida

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

Assistant Admissions Director & Registrar

Emily

Emily has an undergraduate degree in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from The University of Minnesota and a Master's Degree in Special Ed: Autism and Developmental Disabilities. She has been with Magnolia for almost 10 years. Prior to Magnolia, she worked as an in-home ABA therapist.

Emily also teaches a math intervention group working to fill gaps in students' learning profiles. Her motto is  "teamwork is the dream work."  She strives to make information easy for her students to understand and retain so they have a less stressful learning experience than she had, especially in math. She also believes that building relationships with students is key to gaining their trust and helping them grow and learn. 

Emily loves her co-workers, her family, and traveling. She misses the snow up North. 

Fun Fact about Emily: she holds an international world record in volleyball.

Director of Operations / Supplemental Instruction Coordinator - BCBA

Deidra

Deidra joined Magnolia as an intern in 2014 and loved it so much that she stayed and became a full-time employee. She has been a Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2016. She is currently working as the Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, as well as the Director of Operations (since 2023).

Being a BCBA, individualized instruction is so important because learning is not a one size fits all. Magnolia’s students learn in different ways and at different rates, which has to be taken into account! Deidra also believes that all education should be fun and engaging!

Deidra loves being able to provide any support or help outside of the classroom and then seeing these skills generalize back into the natural environment.

Deidra is a new mom which is truly her calling and will never have a house without dogs. 

She also loves gardening and taking care of her house plants. She loves spending her free time with her family. 

Fun Fact about Deidra: both her and her husband are UT alums and love attending any and all UT events. Hook 'Em Horns!

Communications and Parent Engagement

Nicole

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! 

Head of Preschool/Teacher

Maria

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!

Preschool teacher

Jeanna

Jeanna has over thirty years of teaching experience. She studied early childhood development and theater arts at Texas State. She has taught Pre-K, KinderBridge, and Kindergarten at several schools in Austin and Los Angeles.

She was the original creator/owner of PAIYH Dance Studios (LA & Bee Cave) from 2001-2018. She was the first Creative Director at TexArts Academy from 2008-2009 and Miss Melodees LA Academy from 2018-2020. She teaches Dance, Art, Music, and Voice after school and runs Performance Camps during the Summer.

Jeanna believes that letting kids paint, draw, sing, dance, engage in imaginary play, and get messy is an important part of a child's development. She loves seeing the kids grow in academics through the arts. 

Fun fact about Jeanna: she is an actor, director, and filmmaker here in the Austin area. When she's not teaching she's having fun on set!

Preschool Teacher

Marisol

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. 

Preschool Teacher

Leislee

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.

Kindergarten Teacher

Jonelle

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.

1st Grade Teacher

Madeline

Madeline holds a BA in Child Development from California State University of Los Angeles and is currently in her second year at The Magnolia School. As a first-grade teacher, she is committed to fostering a growth mindset in her students, guiding them not only to master academic content but also to develop the skills to empower them to become lifelong learners. She is passionate about teaching because it allows her to inspire and guide others to discover their potential. The satisfaction of helping students grow and succeed brings her a sense of fulfillment. 

Madeline also loves working out, eating healthy, and exploring Austin with her husband and dog. 

Fun Fact about Madeline: she recently got married and is enjoying life as a newlywed.

2nd Grade Teacher

Sara

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 

3rd Grade Teacher

Claudia

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.

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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!

4th Grade Teacher

Juan

Juan brings over a decade of experience in both special education and general education. His teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child is capable of growth and success when given the right support. As a fourth-grade teacher, he strives to create an inclusive, engaging, and nurturing learning environment where all students feel valued and empowered. He loves seeing his students develop confidence in their abilities, and he approaches teaching with patience, creativity, and adaptability to meet their diverse needs. By fostering a classroom culture of respect, collaboration, and curiosity, he aims to inspire a lifelong love of learning while equipping his students with the skills they need to thrive academically and personally.

Fun fact about Juan: he was the musical chairs champion at Magnolia School’s recent pep rally and has five children. 

5th Grade Teacher

Mari

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

Middle School 

Salome

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.

Middle School 

Josh

Josh graduated from Sam Houston State with BS in Education/History. He taught for 11 years after college and coached football, basketball, baseball, and softball. He then spent 10 years on the road playing in various bands and as a solo artist. He toured with and opened for Whiskey Myers and Blackberry Smoke, along with several other regional artists

His classroom philosophy is simple: All You Can Do Is The Best You Can Do. He doesn’t mind if students try and fail but giving up is never an option. We learn from our failures but we learn nothing from quitting other than how to quit.

He loves being a part of the Magnolia team in particular because there is such a solid base of support for not only teachers but for students. He enjoys the latitude to teach life lessons along with everyday lessons as opposed to just teaching to a test. He also loves the fact that there is not a teacher or administrator at Magnolia that he wouldn't trust with his own children. The amount of love and kindness exuded in this school on a daily basis far surpasses any educational environment he has ever been in and is proud to be a part of the Magnolia School. He looks forward to what’s in store for the future!!

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Fun Fact about Josh: he offers music lessons after school for piano, guitar, and ukulele.

RBT/Support Staff

Lauren

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

Physical Education

Coach Megan

With five years of teaching experience, including the past two years in physical education, Megan is passionate about helping students develop lifelong healthy habits through movement and sports. She earned her degree from Texas State University and has since dedicated her career to creating a fun, inclusive, and engaging environment in physical education. She teaches a variety of activities, from team sports to personal fitness, always emphasizing teamwork, perseverance, and overall well-being. In addition to physical skills, she incorporates social-emotional learning and team bonding activities to help students build confidence, communication skills, and strong relationships with their peers. Megan believes that every student can find joy in physical activity, and she strives to make PE a place where all students feel confident and motivated. The most rewarding part of her job is seeing students grow in their abilities and enthusiasm for fitness. Outside of school, she enjoys playing pickleball, volleyball, and golf.

Fun Fact about Megan: she recently became a first-time aunt. 

Art

Adria

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. 

Receptionist

Jessica 

Jessica supports students by creating a warm and engaging environment where children feel safe to explore and express themselves. Outside of teaching, Jessica has a love for reading and enjoys exploring various parks and trails around Austin with her husband and their dog. 

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Fun Fact about Jessica: she is the oldest of six children.