AHB Community School

Meet Ms. Michelle, one of our Gamma teachers (3rd/4th)! 🍎✨

With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Michelle brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep love of learning to the classroom. She earned both her B.S. in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and her M.A. in Education from East Texas A&M University. Coming from a family of educators, Michelle believes great teaching is rooted in meaningful relationships, curiosity, and helping each child discover their unique strengths.

Michelle loves creating a classroom where students feel safe to take risks, think critically, and make real-world connections through learning. After teaching in multiple states and grade levels, she found her passion in upper elementary and especially enjoys helping students grow in confidence and independence during these important years.

Outside of school, Michelle enjoys exploring the Texas Hill Country, boating, camping, traveling to Alaska, and relaxing with her cat, Luna. She’s also completed the Austin Marathon four times! 💛

What does science look like in Beta (1st/2nd) at AHB?

Well, the topic the Beta class explored in the spring was the wonderful world of insects. 🦋🐝🐞

And one very important insect students learned about is the honey bee. Bees are one of the world’s most important pollinators for food crops — in fact, 1 out of every 3 bites we consume relies on pollination!

The Beta class also learned about compound eyes and different types of insect mouth parts. They really shined during an engineering challenge when they created their own compound eye views, using a limited set of supplies.

This science unit culminated in a field trip to Two Hives. Betas made seed bombs, tasted fall and spring samples of honey, and got to try on beekeeper suits! 🍯

Meet Ms. Emma, one of our Beta teachers (1st/2nd)! 🌿✨

Emma brings creativity, curiosity, and hands-on learning into the classroom every day. She earned her B.S. in Ethics and Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin and previously worked with students in nonprofit and nature-based education settings, where she discovered her passion for student-led learning.

At AHB, Emma believes the classroom should be a safe place for students to explore, problem-solve, and grow through productive struggle. She loves creating engaging learning experiences that encourage creativity, confidence, and curiosity.

Outside the classroom, Emma enjoys gardening, crafting, live music, hiking around the Hill Country, and spending time with her beloved cat, Juno. 💛

🌊 What does science look like in Alpha (kinder) at AHB?

For starters, science is NOT something they just read about in a textbook! Instead, it's an opportunity to explore how the natural world works through observation, discussion, art, movement, and hands-on projects.

During their ocean science studies, for example, Alpha students explored multiple layers of the ocean, from the sunlit euphotic zone to the twilight zone hundreds of feet below the surface. Along the way, they learned about marine ecosystems, ocean life, and the challenges these environments face.

Students created ocean depth maps, learned about Portuguese man-of-wars and why they aren't actually jellyfish, and explored the importance of kelp forests and coral reefs. They also studied fish anatomy and put their knowledge to work in a collaborative "make-a-fish" design challenge.

As they ventured deeper into the ocean, students learned about life in the twilight zone, including s***m whales, giant squid, nautiluses, and the remarkable daily migration of deep-sea animals that move toward the surface to feed before returning to the depths. They created artwork depicting the famous s***m whale and giant squid rivalry, experimented with watercolor techniques while studying nautiluses, and even participated in their own migration activity.

Science at AHB is about building knowledge while always nurturing curiosity. By exploring real ecosystems, animal adaptations, environmental challenges, and scientific discoveries, Alpha students develop an understanding of the world around them... and just how fascinating science really is.🌊

Meet Ms. Andrea, one of our teachers in Beta (1st/2nd)! 📚✨

Andrea brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to the classroom and is passionate about building a learning environment rooted in curiosity, cooperation, and confidence. She earned her B.A. in Mass Communications from UC Berkeley and later received her M.A. in Education from the University of San Francisco.

Since beginning her teaching career in San Francisco, Andrea has worked with students in a wide range of educational settings, including public, private, charter, and Title I schools through AmeriCorps. At AHB, she loves helping students grow into engaged learners who ask questions, think deeply, and support one another as a classroom community.

Outside of school, Andrea stays busy with her two energetic daughters and enjoys reading and traveling whenever she gets the chance. 🌎💛

Did you know more than 20 countries have Spanish as an official language? And that Spanish is one of the fastest-growing languages in the United States? 📈

AND did you know that AHB is adding Spanish 1A for middle school students next year?! 🙂

This is the first step in a larger plan to help AHB students earn a high school Spanish credit before graduating from middle school, preparing them to begin Spanish 2 in high school.

Students will meet twice a week with longtime educator Ms. Amanda Fernandez, and the course will earn official transcript credit, just like Algebra 1.

We’re thrilled to expand language opportunities for our middle school students and can’t wait to launch this new program in the fall! 📚

Meet Kim, our Alpha (kinder) teacher! 🍎✨

Kim has been inspiring young learners for more than 40 years and brings a deep love of creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning into the classroom every day. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin and began her teaching career at Athena Montessori School, one of Austin’s original Montessori preschools.

Over the years, Kim has founded schools, created innovative summer programs, and even written nine volumes of curriculum for a nonprofit focused on healthy childhood development. At AHB, she’s known for creating joyful, engaging learning experiences where students can sing along as she plays guitar, create, explore, and grow with confidence.

When she’s not teaching, Kim enjoys spending time with her five sons, who continue to inspire her belief that learning never stops. 💛

Congratulations again to our AHB class of 2026. We can't wait to see the wonderful things you learn and do in high school, and we already miss you! 💙🤎💚

It's hard to believe, but we've wrapped up our first year at our new campus...
..and our class of 8th graders graduated today. We're so excited to see what they do in high school! 🫶

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau

Children's musician Joe McDermott came to AHB to put on a concert for Alphas and Betas!

Referred to as 'a Texas treasure' by the Texas Library Association, Joe released his first album of children's music in 1988. A former Montessori teacher, he has dedicated the last 37 years to honing the art and craft of entertaining children. His songwriting has garnered numerous Parent's Choice Awards and nominations, in addition to NAPPA and international songwriting contest awards. 🎶