About Us

Parent Testimonials

It would be difficult to overstate the impact Athena Montessori had on our son Leif, on our family, and on our community. When I first heard about "grace and courtesy," it sounded like a lovely thing to teach, but I had no idea how far the effects would reach into the rest of his life. Roughly twenty years later, people meet our son as someone unusually composed, empathetic, and thoughtful beyond his years. From those earliest days, he was also a self-starter who took genuine ownership of his own learning, and that habit has stayed with him ever since.

What moves me now, looking back, is how little the school seemed to be teaching achievement and how much it was simply teaching him who to be. The achievements came anyway, and they came on their own steam. The same thoughtfulness that began with grace and courtesy is what later put him on a TEDx stage. The same self-direction he practiced as a small child, choosing his own work, is what led him to start his own company and to be named a Fulbright alternate, because following his curiosity and taking responsibility had quietly become who he is.

I credit the entire Athena staff and community. Grace and courtesy were never a slogan; they were lived every day by teachers who treated very young children as capable humans worthy of real respect, and children grow towards that. Independence was woven into the environment, one small responsibility at a time. Whatever Leif has gone on to do, the foundation was laid in those rooms by people who understood that how a child learns to move through the world matters more than any single thing they memorize.

If you are a parent weighing this decision, I would say simply that the Montessori promise is real and that Athena delivers with passion. Composure, empathy, and ownership of one's own path are gifts that last a lifetime. Twenty years on, we are deeply grateful, and we always will be, that this is where our son began.

- Joel Rasmussen, parent of May 2010 graduate

Athena was the first place our daughter went to without us, and there was never even a moment when I doubted her place there. The guides offered peace, mentorship, kindness, wisdom, and consistency for her and for our whole family during a time of transition and growth. There isn’t any other place where we would have wanted her to be for these crucial years.

Athena’s leadership fosters an environment unlike any other in all the best ways. It’s balanced with the real world, while fostering a space somehow protected and secure for little learners to thrive. It provides a foundation of life skills, critical thinking, compassion, and a knowledge that kids are part of something bigger than themselves. Our daughter has grown in ways we could never have imagined, and she will carry this bedrock with her forever.

Because of Athena, our daughter knows that learning is fun. That making mistakes and taking risks and trying new things are joyful. That teachers are leaders and allies and brilliant mentors. That in a classroom she can explore; she’s safe; she’s respected; she’s powerful.

The world tries so many ways to steal our joy and our light, and our kids aren’t immune to that. But Athena gives them tools to push back against it! Our daughter is headed into first grade with the academic skills to succeed and continue growing…but even better, she’s leaving Athena with confidence, with courage, and with security. She was so loved and so SEEN there – not only by her guides but by the entire staff.

- Colleen Kepner, parent of May 2026 graduate

Our family had 5 wonderful years at Athena, with two children in both Tots and Primary, and we would absolutely recommend our experience to any family. Our little ones blossomed into young kids, and as much as they adored the comforts of Athena's intimate faculty and campus, both were also confident, excited, and certainly academically prepared when they transitioned into AISD elementary school. And they each still have best friends from Athena — a magical time for each of them.

- Ashley Heeren, parent of May 2024 & May 2026 gradautes

We could not have loved our time at Athena more. Every teacher we had was so in tune with the children’s needs, so gentle and so calm. We have pretty high expectations for our children’s care and athena exceeded them all. The leadership team is so thoughtful and careful with each decision and their commitment to raising kind, responsible children shines through in every area of the curriculum and school design. We trust them wholly and are so glad our daughter got to experience a full three years in primary.

- Noemi Jimenez, parent of May 2026 graduate

We were an Athena family for 7 amazing years - watching both our boys grow and graduate from here, and we have absolutely loved every minute of it. The amount of thoughtfulness and care that all the admin and guides pour into the school is deeply felt, and there is a strong sense of community that connects everyone. We feel such a deep sense of gratitude for the strong foundation Athena has given our boys - both academically (where they have both excelled) and as caring, creative, and responsible people (which has been incredible for us to witness in them). It’s all the beauty of a Montessori education, but with something extra magical. Athena is truly a special place.

- Katrina Bekessy, parent of May 2022 and May 2026 graduates

Athena is a place to grow as a child, a parent, and a family. We attended for four years for both of our kids, and in a way, the environment truly is infused with magic. But in practice, that magic looks like exceptional educational grounding, deep emotional support, and a staff fully committed to preparing your child—and you—for the next phase of the journey.

What I appreciate most is how deeply the educators invest in teaching parents the Montessori philosophy, which felt truly transformative compared to the traditional schooling my husband and I experienced. That individualized observation made all the difference for our family: Athena’s staff helped us identify early on that our son is neurodivergent and has dyslexia. Because it was caught so early, we were able to seamlessly pivot and place him in a specialized school tailored to his specific learning profile.

Today, our daughter is thriving as she continues her Montessori path, while our son is thriving in his specialized environment—academically confident and socially secure. Athena gave our family the rare balance of genuine heart, developmental safety, and observational rigor.

- Olga Garcia Kurkjian, parent of May 2025 & May 2026 graduates

We had a wonderful experience at Athena Montessori. Our son attended for three years, through his kindergarten year, and we couldn't have asked for a better start to his educational journey. During his time there, he learned so much—not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. He also discovered a true love for math, which has continued to grow.

The classrooms are beautiful, and the guides are truly outstanding. The heart of Athena, though, is its community. The guides, administrators, students, parents, and even grandparents create a warm, caring, and engaged environment where children feel supported and encouraged to thrive.

We are incredibly grateful for the foundation that Athena gave our son and will always cherish the years our family was part of this remarkable community.

- Amy & Christian Gilmore, parents of May 2025 graduate

One of my favorite parts of being an Athena parent was the feeling I got every day entering the gates into the courtyard for pick-up. The noise and traffic and pace of Austin city life immediately disappears when you step through the wooden gate, get a high five from Peyton, and are immediately transported into a peaceful world of imagination, giggles, flowers, sunshine and shade, kids hanging upside down from a pretend pirate ship, babies hopelessly chasing "big kids" all being half-heartedly chased by parents who don't really want to leave, teachers in paint-smeared overalls and silly hats pulling little red wagons full of kid backpacks and above all, smiling faces of all generations from baby to grandparents. Athena is - on the surface - a place for kids, but for me it was an everyday trip to a real life Neverland. I already miss it!

- Bonesaw Kepner, parent of May 2026 graduate

Athena Montessori Academy

Office:
1503 Morgan Lane, Austin, TX 78704
Parking Lot:
1400 West Ben White Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
Tel: (512) 494-6237