Cara Arlauskas

My earliest and fondest memories of school took place in a Montessori setting. I was privileged enough to begin my Montessori education at the age of 18 months and continue through the fourth grade. My school nurtured my love for language and awakened my voracious appetite for all things Art. I later received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Texas at Arlington. While working toward my degree, I was a nanny (turned tutor) for several families in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I found the work extremely rewarding and it seemed to come to me naturally. I loved building relationships with the children, and did so with ease. After graduating I began doing commercial photo work in Dallas and was pleased with my success, but was burned out by “The Business” aspect. I began to really miss the child/education element of my former life, so I decided to go back to school for my Early Childhood–4th Grade Certification. I learned rather quickly that, even after all these years, a public classroom still was not the right fit for me; I longed to get back to my true roots. By an act of fate, my then-boyfriend’s company moved us from Dallas to Austin and I immediately began looking for Montessori programs, hoping to get my foot in the door. I toured Primavera, posing as a potential parent, and absolutely fell in love! I’ve been with the school for 3 years now and it was definitely meant to be. I started in the Creativity Club after-school program, and I’m now partnered with Elizabeth Vickers in the Primary I classroom.

I’ve seen a lot of personal changes in recent years: moving (a lot!), getting engaged and married, and buying a house, to name a few. But my Primavera family and routine have remained strong and supportive. I love that. I stumbled nervously into this city that I now proudly call home, and the first time I felt really relaxed and comfortable was under the Primavera roof. As soon as I stepped into the building I felt at home. I think each and every one of us brings that comfy feeling directly to each child. Here we all are in a safe, home-like environment where all thoughts and feelings are expressed and discussed. We all work together, we all play together, and we all learn from one another. What I love about Primavera is that it’s about the child, but it’s also about the family…each individual family, and all of us together as one.

“One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child."..…Maria Montessori