My name is Tess Karlan, and this will be the start of my 12th year working in a Montessori classroom, my 9th year as a Lead Guide certified in Montessori Early Childhood Education, and my first year teaching at Bastrop Montessori. I’m very excited to establish myself in a new setting close to home, and I look forward to broadening my teaching experience at such a respected and close-knit school. My introduction to Montessori began while growing up in Austin, Texas, with a Montessori teacher as a mother and attending Montessori school through my Toddler and Primary years. After graduating college, it felt natural to follow in my mother’s footsteps and continue down a path that had been laid for me in my early childhood. Something I quickly learned during my foundational years in the classroom is that I absolutely love working with children. Being able to positively contribute to their educational and social-emotional growth during such formative years feels deeply rewarding and reinforces my passion for teaching every single day.During my free time, I enjoy slow-paced days spent with my husband, Shaun, my daughter, Josie, and my dog, Molly. I love things like maintaining a regular yoga practice, discovering new recipes to enjoy with my family, taking leisurely walks by the river, and a good late-night game of Scrabble.