Deborah Hale
Intermediate Classroom Teacher, Executive Director
Deborah is our Intermediate teacher of 2nd and 3rd grades. Deborah is also the founder, owner, and director of Inside Outside School. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Education from North Texas State, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State, and is Texas Teacher Certified for grades K-8. She has 35 years of teaching experience in private, public, and charter schools. She is a Kagan trained instructor in cooperative learning and multiple intelligences. She is a writer, storyteller, singer/songwriter, artist, puppeteer, jewelry designer, doll maker, and more. In her spare time, Deborah is the Children’s Program Director at the Church of Conscious Harmony and is a Godly Play facilitator and meditation instructor. She also enjoys spending time with her family, including her 6 children and 4 grandchildren. Deborah is the author of Math Trails and Other Outside Math Adventures.
www.amazon.com/dp/B06WGTC6KB
Visit Deborah's classroom page
www.amazon.com/dp/B06WGTC6KB
Visit Deborah's classroom page
Erin Johnston
Assistant Director, 4th and 5th grade teacher, Art teacher
Erin joined the IOS staff in the 2015-2016 school year and is the Assistant Director, classroom teacher of the 4th and 5th grade class, Electives Teacher, and mom of an IOS Student. Erin graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor's of Science in Applied Learning and Development and is an EC-4 Texas Certified teacher. She has been in training and education for over 2 decades in various settings, including public and progressive private schools, as well as a short time as director and co-owner of a mixed age progressive school for 4-7 year olds. She has mentored teachers, parents, and homeschool groups to infuse the science of learning environments into creating supportive spaces that encourage students of all ages to enjoy the pursuit of learning. Erin is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner who enjoys writing, reading, and all things Pinterest in her spare time and spending her weekends with her family.
Stacy Wooster
Kindergarten and First Grade, Music + Theater, Electives Teacher
Stacy Wooster began working for IOS as the yoga and mindfulness teacher, as well as electives, during the 2017-2018 school year. A Texas state certified teacher since 2005, she aims to provide a sanctuary for learning where children can explore who they are and the wonders of their world. She offers a space to dig deeply into the curiosities that inevitably arise for children by balancing structured academics with open learning. Experienced with curriculum development and implementation, she created the first Registered Prenatal Yoga School in Texas in 2012 and teaches the programming during the summer. Stacy finds herself to be a lifelong learner and she has studied various holistic wellness in various forms for the last 20 years. She maintains her own apothecary, has a love for fitness and yoga, enjoys watching the cycles of nature, and believes wholeheartedly in keeping a creative practice such as art or writing just for the fun of it. Stacy mothers her own 3 children, all of which are fully involved in Inside Outside School culture (2 current students and 1 now in high school). She feels honored to serve your children too.
Vikki Hutto
Reading Specialist, Nature Skills Teacher, Garden Coordinator
Vikki Hutto teaches Reading, Science, Nature Skills, electives, and manages the school gardens. She holds a B.A. from Rice University and Teacher certifications in Special Education, English as a Second Language, and Elementary Generalist. She has been working in education since 2003 including public, private, and alternative settings and has worked with all ages from infants to adults. A self-identified plant nerd, she has a permaculture design certificate, spent 2 years working in horticulture, and has been working with school and community gardens since 2003. A passionate life-long learner, she loves to read, and enjoys learning survival and primitive skills. Vikki loves to do anything active and outdoors and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog, Alf.
Molly Welch
STEAM Lab Coordinator, Electives Teacher, Bus Driver
Molly is our STEAM lab coordinator and classroom assistant. She has a Bachelor's of Science with a focus in Engineering, Communications, and Mathematics. She is currently working towards an Art degree and Teaching Certificate. She has worked as an after-school tutor with K-8th and has volunteered as a math and writing tutor throughout her academic life. Molly is passionate about creating a safe and positive place for children to integrate academic knowledge, outdoor activities, and life experiences that will help them learn about who they are and how they want to relate to the world. She is an environmentalist, artist, loves a great book, yoga, architecture, photography, crystals, and healthy living.
Anne Hood
School Librarian
Anne graduated from the University of Texas from the Plan II Honors Program with a concentration in Theater. After college she worked at a non-profit theater before transitioning to independent film. She worked at the Fox Family Channel in children's programming development for three years before returning to Austin. She worked at a series of internet start-ups doing everything from content development to marketing to quality assurance. Her last job before becoming a full-time mom was at an interactive ad agency doing search marketing and project management. She is delighted to be sharing her love for children's literature with the students at IOS.
Dr. Tom Hale
Grounds Man of Mystery, Builder of All Things Awesome
Principal horn of the Austin Symphony and Austin Lyric Opera and performs with orchestras in Houston, San Antonio, Victoria and Laredo
Member of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Charleston, South Carolina, and Spoleto, Italy, since 1987 as both performer and conductor
Has worked in the “emergency conductor” capacity on numerous occasions to great acclaim. Served on the faculties of the University of Texas, Southwest Texas State University and Southwestern University in Georgetown
Founding member of the Pinnacle Brass Quintet and the Wild Basin Winds and performs regularly with the Chamber Soloists of Austin, the Victoria Bach Festival, Bear Valley Music Festival, and A. Mozart Fest
Educated at Texas Tech University (B.ME., M.M.) and the University of Texas (D.M.A.)
Tom maintains the campus and builds very cool things like donkey barns, goat sheds and outside classroom spaces.
Member of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Charleston, South Carolina, and Spoleto, Italy, since 1987 as both performer and conductor
Has worked in the “emergency conductor” capacity on numerous occasions to great acclaim. Served on the faculties of the University of Texas, Southwest Texas State University and Southwestern University in Georgetown
Founding member of the Pinnacle Brass Quintet and the Wild Basin Winds and performs regularly with the Chamber Soloists of Austin, the Victoria Bach Festival, Bear Valley Music Festival, and A. Mozart Fest
Educated at Texas Tech University (B.ME., M.M.) and the University of Texas (D.M.A.)
Tom maintains the campus and builds very cool things like donkey barns, goat sheds and outside classroom spaces.