Alex Kinkade (She/Her)

Hi families, 

I'm delighted to return to the Cardinal classroom for another year alongside Jennifer and Jazmin. I'm also proud to share that I earned an Early Childhood Montessori teaching credential this past May from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. I'm excited to transition to my new role as Co-Lead in a classroom with a special place in my heart!

I grew up just west of Austin, where I spent most of my formative years playing outside and exploring the world around me. I have many childhood memories of following the creek in my backyard, riding bikes with friends for miles, and learning to navigate our way back home. I’m grateful to have had a safe environment to explore, play and learn. I believe these experiences have positively shaped much of my life and are part of why I’m drawn to the Montessori philosophy—how it is designed to build the child’s confidence and independence.

A passion of mine has always been working with children, and I have been fortunate to have had many opportunities to do so. From my early days as a babysitter and nanny throughout high school and early college, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to positively impact young people's lives. While working towards my degree in child development, I learned about many different early learning environments and had the chance to observe various pre-schools. During this time, I was first introduced to the Montessori method, which immediately caught my attention with its emphasis on respectful language, beautiful materials, and hands-on learning. I was fascinated by how the method supported children's development, independence, and love of learning.

Since then, I have had the privilege of working as an Assistant Guide at two Montessori schools in the Austin area, where I have had the opportunity to work with children of Toddler and Primary ages. In 2019, I was hired as a substitute at Athena and later joined the full-time staff. Even after several years, I am still awed by the natural beauty of the campus every day. It’s such a peaceful and inspiring environment for both students and staff! What makes Athena truly unique is the close-knit community that exists here. As soon as you step onto campus, you can feel the warmth and welcoming nature of the community. Our shared commitment to constantly grow and learn alongside the children makes Athena a special place to work and learn!

With gratitude,

Alex