Athena Montessori Academy

free the child's potential

Sara_DeShaw.jpgSara Deshaw

    Hi, I’m Sara! I am thrilled to join the After School Program at Athena. I discovered the joy of working with children during my high school years. My twin sister and I volunteered each summer at a child development center. I was amazed by how children develop and learn through discovery and exploration. My sister, Jenny, and I also babysat together as a team throughout our middle and high school years.

After high school I pursued a Bachelors degree in Psychology at Texas A&M. I loved my human development, child development, and psychology of learning classes. I found the value of allowing children to explore their natural curiosity and urge to learn.

After I left College Station, I moved to Austin and felt like I was home. A year after moving, I was pulled to continue my education and pursue a field that has led to my own self discovery. This past May, I finished a Masters degree in Counseling from Texas State. What I enjoyed most about my program was the opportunity to learn about human development and the importance of our relationships. I discovered that our life experiences in our early years are what particularly shape us. Through my studies I discovered Garry Landreth and his book Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. My LPC supervisor, Christopher Brown, is a child psychologist, who works with children and their families. In his doctoral program he studied under Garry Landreth, where he mastered the art of play therapy.

I am finding many parallels in the Montessori philosophy and my background in the study of human development and psychology. My hope this year is to provide a warm and supportive environment that allows each child to lead his or her learning. I am eager and thankful for the opportunity to be part of your child’s development of self, independence, and interpersonal awareness.