Deborah Hale
Executive Director, Intermediate Classroom Homeroom Teacher, Bus Driver
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 39 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. She also enjoys spending time with her family, including her 6 children and 6 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, Upper Classroom 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 both an IOS Alumni and a student in the Intermediate Classroom. 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. 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, camping, and spending her weekends with her family.
Amylia Williams
Primary Classroom Homeroom Teacher
Amylia joined our staff in the fall of 2024. Amylia began her journey as an educator at Childcraft School, working with toddlers and learning about play based and child centered approaches and the influences of Bev Bos and Reggio Emilia. Later she worked as a children’s residential instructor at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Her passion for nature led her to became a naturalist and outdoor guide, leading tours at Austin’s Wild Basin Preserve and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. As an environmental educator for the Wildflower Center, she designed curriculum for school field trips and trained volunteers. She developed and implemented “Discovery Packs,” family educational backpacks that can be checked out and used to explore the center. Her interest in the global interactions between humans and nature led her to pursue a degree in geography at Texas State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She participated in research studying spatial processing in young children, and engaged in geographic education outreach, mentoring geography teachers at the Texas Alliance for Geographic Education summer institute. She continued to work as an environmental educator, guiding groups of children through wetlands and on glass-bottom boat tours at the San Marcos Springs Aquarena Center. In the Spring of 2013 she became a preschool teacher at Discovery School, an outdoor intensive program. She became a full time teacher at the Woodward School in the fall of 2017. She is a mom a mom who loves music, nature, travel, and science. Her educational motto is “No child left inside!”
Cristine East
Administrative Coordinator, Librarian
As the Administrative Coordinator, Cristine is the support person for the teachers at the Inside Outside School. She enjoys collaborating with the staff so that they can focus on the most important job of teaching our students. She is responsible for enrollment, communications, purchasing, and more.
In addition, Cristine is the school librarian and connects with our students through weekly read alouds. Both Cristine’s mother and mother-in-law are librarians, and she grew up spending her Saturdays in the library as her mother worked.
In her free time, Cristine loves to sit under a tree, with her toes in the grass, and her nose in a good book.
In addition, Cristine is the school librarian and connects with our students through weekly read alouds. Both Cristine’s mother and mother-in-law are librarians, and she grew up spending her Saturdays in the library as her mother worked.
In her free time, Cristine loves to sit under a tree, with her toes in the grass, and her nose in a good book.
Sarah Graham
Nature Skills Teacher, Gardening Coordinator
Sarah started her teaching career as a nature-based educator, leading programs at summer camps, through 4H, at the Mo Ranch Environmental Leadership Program, and at the Austin Nature and Science Center. After becoming a certified teacher, she taught 6th - 8th grade science classes at schools in AISD. She transitioned to the Austin Jewish Academy and added math and health classes to her repertoire.
Sarah is certified in Science 4th-8th, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Special Education (SPED).
Sarah's educational approach is focused on generating and cultivating student enthusiasm in order to connect with the material they are learning. She works to make complex concepts accessible and enjoyable for all ages. She's thrilled to be joining the team at IOS, and learning and growing as a teacher in this community. Sarah is also a certified yoga and prenatal yoga teacher, a rescue-level scuba diver, and homesteader. She runs a small farm called SHAMBA and has dairy goats, bees, chickens, ducks, geese, and a large garden.
Sarah is certified in Science 4th-8th, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Special Education (SPED).
Sarah's educational approach is focused on generating and cultivating student enthusiasm in order to connect with the material they are learning. She works to make complex concepts accessible and enjoyable for all ages. She's thrilled to be joining the team at IOS, and learning and growing as a teacher in this community. Sarah is also a certified yoga and prenatal yoga teacher, a rescue-level scuba diver, and homesteader. She runs a small farm called SHAMBA and has dairy goats, bees, chickens, ducks, geese, and a large garden.
Jordan Molina
Music teacher, Primary Class Teaching Assistant
Born and raised in Texas, Jordan grew up visiting her grandparent's farm where she gained an admiration for nature. Coming from a large homeschooled family, she's had to take care of her little siblings from a young age, which has given her a natural calling to childcare. At 17, Jordan started teaching piano to kids of all ages (even adults!) and took on many babysitting and nanny jobs. After high-school, she began her college education at Austin Community College and has been working towards a degree in Early Education. Music and learning have been lifelong passions of hers, which she enjoys sharing with everyone, young and old! Jordan started working at the school in the beginning of 2022 and has enjoyed assisting in Nature Literacy.
Silvia Aguilar
Intermediate Class Assistant Teacher, School Support Specialist
Silvia is certified as an ESL instructor, and a dedicated Montessori teacher. Silvia lovingly cultivates a nurturing and engaging environment for the community.
Her first years teaching were in Mexico. Silvia loves spending time with family, walking, reading, dancing and challenging herself to always be learning something new. Silvia works with all the children in the school and greets everyone in the morning at drop off.
Silvia is certified as an ESL instructor, and a dedicated Montessori teacher. Silvia lovingly cultivates a nurturing and engaging environment for the community.
Her first years teaching were in Mexico. Silvia loves spending time with family, walking, reading, dancing and challenging herself to always be learning something new. Silvia works with all the children in the school and greets everyone in the morning at drop off.
Rebecca Daniels
Art Teacher, Substitute Teacher
Rebecca started with the school as a parent volunteer, electives teacher, and substitute teacher. In the fall of 2024, she joined the staff as the art teacher. Before having kids, Rebecca trained and worked as a child and family therapist. She has a BA in Psychology from the University of North Texas and an MA in Counseling from St. Edward’s University. Rebecca has a passion for fostering creativity and emotional expression in children and a lifelong love of making and experiencing art. Her approach to teaching art is choice based and child centered, and follows the philosophy of Teaching for Artistic Behavior. Rebecca lives in Pflugerville with her family and enjoys reading, baking, and crafting, and taking any chance available to escape to the beach.