1st Grade

Kate brings a dynamic blend of passion, experience, and curiosity to the classroom. A proud graduate of the University of South Florida, she studied both Biochemistry and Economics. For the past four years, Kate has been a middle school teacher in Colorado. Beyond the classroom, Kate has contributed to schools as a curriculum developer, team leader, and mentor. She has led student journalism programs, created leadership opportunities for young learners, and coached high-achieving Science Olympiad teams to success. Originally from the farmlands of north Texas, Kate is thrilled to be returning to her roots after years of living and learning across the country. Outside of school, Kate enjoys exploring the outdoors with her partner, Austin, and their dog, Ranger.

As a founding team member of Compass, Caroline is excited to shift to the 1st Grade team this year. Previously, she taught Pre-K at Compass and 1st grade at Washington Woods Elementary School in Westfield, Indiana. She has her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and completed two minors, Diverse Learners and Art + Design. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Baylor University. Additionally, Caroline studied the Reggio Emilia approach at Butler University. Caroline taught in a Reggio-inspired Pre-K-8 school. Caroline enjoys living in Dallas alongside her older sister since family is very important to her. Caroline grew up in southern California and loves going back to visit her parents and grandparents.

Originally from Houston, Austin moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area over a decade ago and has since become deeply rooted in the community. She began her seven-year journey in early childhood education by teaching Pre-K and kindergarten in Dallas and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. Austin graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Strategic Communication and a minor in Spanish. She also studied at the Istituto Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy, and Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo in Seville, Spain. Austin enjoys traveling, reading, shopping, and spending time with her friends and family. She is active in her church and several Dallas community organizations.

Leslie is a passionate educator who brings both leadership and experience to her work in independent schools. She has shared her expertise in literacy instruction at national conferences, including the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). A graduate of an independent school, Columbus School for Girls in Columbus, Ohio, Leslie holds a B.A. in Political Science from Wellesley College and an M.A. in International Affairs from Ohio University, where she was honored by the U.S. Department of Education with a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. She earned a second Master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College as a Klingenstein Fellow in Private School Leadership. Leslie is the proud parent of a sixth grader and finds daily inspiration in the quote, “A life of significance is about serving others.”