Longtime readers will recognize Marie Catrett, the beloved director of Tigerlily Preschool, who has been sharing her early childhood wisdom on our blog for years. In this guest post, Marie takes us back to the living-room roots of her school and reflects on the unique magic that happens when educators give their whole hearts to small-scale learning. Read on to find out how you can experience this magic firsthand at multiple programs participating in the upcoming Small Schools of South Austin coordinated open houses on Saturday, November 7.

When I left my classroom position in 2008, I was unsure what I wanted to do next. Thankfully, I had the ear and patience of a good friend who knew me, who knew how I show up for children, and she made me take myself seriously when I threw out to the universe that maybe I would just start my own program in my living room. Would it be crazy to strike out on my own? I’d learned so much from my beginning training, been tested in the early childhood classroom environment, and gratefully connected with the tools that worked for me and was ready to let go of the labels that did not.

I was hungry to offer a place where I could support children in all the ways they show up: The fierce, fiery ones! The delicate flowers, and every variation in between.

You know, I said, the tigers. Oh how I love the tigers—and the delicate lilies!

And so, in 2008, Tigerlily Preschool was born. What started in my living room gradually expanded to include the entire downstairs of our house. For over a decade families found us through word of mouth, arriving on my doorstep, and I was largely a one-woman operation. That same good friend who listened to me speak Tigerlily into existence had done in-home care herself and both cautioned and encouraged me with these words:

This will feel different than working with children in a classroom. When you care for children in your home, you’re giving more of yourself. Your heart. Your everything.

Tigerlily left my living room in 2022 and we’re now in our sixth year of our school tucked into the woods off South 1st Street. Instead of six children, we’re a group of twelve, and I have a gifted teaching partner. We’ve left behind quite a few labels, but it would be accurate to describe us as play-based, child-led, and deeply inspired by the work of educators in Reggio Emelia. We get messy. We clean up. We spend about half our day outside and have access to constructing with often messy, process-based and inquiry-led materials. Julie and I are teachers with extensive education, hands-on classroom experience, and heart.

We’re still small. There is still a comfy sofa in our room, and little paint smudges in unexpected places. At this point many, many children have worn the smocks that have been in heavy rotation since 2008. We’ve learned so many lessons. For example, everyone, did you know that there can, in fact, be two Elsas in your play?

Dear parents, dear Alt Ed Austin community, if you’re interested in programs with heart like my friend described, I want to encourage you to connect with the passionate group of educators who make up the Small Schools of South Austin at our collective open house event on Saturday, November 7. From 9am to noon, twenty unique programs across south Austin will open their doors to you and your family. You’ll see a great variety of educational styles and options with caring educators who would be honored to share our work with you.

About Small Schools

The Small Schools of South Austin collective is a diverse group of secular and alternative educational programs located in South Austin. While each program is unique, we share a commitment to small learning communities, low student-to-teacher ratios, and meaningful connections with the families we serve. Most participating programs serve 50 students or fewer. Our participating programs are either licensed by the state, accredited through a recognized organization, and/or led by certified educators with specialized training and experience.

Marie Catrett | Tigerlily Preschool | Small Schools of South Austin

Frequent blog contributor Marie Catrett, of Tigerlily Preschool, and her colleagues at the Small Schools of South Austin, have an invitation for you and your family:

I'm spreading the word about the upcoming Small Schools of South Austin Educational Fair happening on Saturday, April 5th, 9am–noon, at upRising Church, located at 8601 S. 1st Street, Austin Texas 78748. This is a free family event, open to all.

Small Schools of South Austin is a group of educators, each of us independently running a small school program somewhere south of the river. Our collective is a varied group. We have differing educational inspirations and philosophies—some of us focus on outdoor learning, some are play based. Many of our members are Montessori guides, while others find inspiration in Waldorf or the Reggio approach. We have programs that view learning through the lens of exploring art or prioritize giving children space and freedom outside the city limits. Still others of us are looking to reinterpret existing labels, attempting to describe something that hasn’t existed before. Many of us are teaching and raising our own children. A common cause for creating a small school is that the program you wanted for your child didn’t exist yet. And if you’re pretty brave, determined, and maybe a little crazy, you make it happen.

Small schools are wonderful schools. You can find reduced class sizes and beautiful, home-like environments with so much love and character. In these spaces, children are seen. In these groups, children become known. There’s a sense of freedom and choice on the part of those teaching. We are here to bring our vision, without administrative hindrances, directly into the lives of the children who need us.

It can be hard to discover that we exist as an option for your family. We’re tucked away. We’re part of a connected but smaller immediate community. You need to hear about us from a neighbor maybe, or a friend. We’re, well, small.

The Small Schools of South Austin collective formed to help more families connect with our programs. In the fall we host a multiple-schools-wide open house day, where each school opens their doors for the morning and families are able to tour several of the programs they’re most curious about. This spring marks our inaugural educational fair, where around twenty participating programs will be set up under one roof. Families are invited to come browse our tables to learn more about each of our programs and upcoming enrollment options. Schools will offer hands-on activities for children at many of the booths, host several local vendors, and feature a music performance.

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend. We are community gems who want—and deserve—to be discovered.