News
Forty-Year Journey: Amber Miller Retires from Austin Montessori School
Born and raised in Texas, Amber Miller first came to Austin Montessori School in 1979. Not as a staff member, but as a young mother looking for the right educational environment for her three year-old son. Her decision was rooted in an admiration for what founder Donna Bryant Goertz was building and, as she admits with a smile, in the wholesome snacks she saw being served. She didn’t know it then, but that moment would shape the next four decades of her life. At the time, Austin Montessori was a small, close-knit community with just a handful of classrooms. “It felt like a hidden gem,” Amber recalls.
With a tranquil pace and a laugh that is recognizable anywhere on campus, Amber embodies the very essence of what Austin Montessori stands for. She has been the first face most parents see when entering the school, a role she stepped into with quiet confidence, warmth, and unmistakable grace. In every interaction, she brought not only deep institutional knowledge but also the empathy of someone who had once been in their shoes.
She has become a pillar of the school community, bridging the earliest days of Austin Montessori with its present, and carrying forward the legacy of our founder. Now, after 40 years of devoted service, Amber is retiring from her role as Director of Admissions. Her impact on generations of families is immeasurable, and her example will continue to guide us.
She has become a pillar of the school community, bridging the earliest days of Austin Montessori with its present, and carrying forward the legacy of our founder. Now, after 40 years of devoted service, Amber is retiring from her role as Director of Admissions. Her impact on generations of families is immeasurable, and her example will continue to guide us.
“Amber Miller truly embodies the essence, spirit, culture, mission, and values of Austin Montessori School”, says head of school, Grae Baker. “Her infectious positivity and remarkable gift for introducing Montessori education to young families have inspired countless parents to envision no other place for their children. For much of our school’s history, every family’s journey began with Amber. She will be deeply missed and is truly irreplaceable. We wish her the most joyful and fulfilling retirement imaginable.”
Below, Amber reflects on her time at the school, the evolution of her role, and what she’s learned from a lifetime spent walking alongside the children and families of Austin Montessori School.
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Below, Amber reflects on her time at the school, the evolution of her role, and what she’s learned from a lifetime spent walking alongside the children and families of Austin Montessori School.
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A Conversation with Amber Miller
FS: You started at AMS as a parent. How did that unfold?
AM: I was a mother of a three-year-old searching Austin for the right school. A group of close friends and I were all looking at schools at the same time, and one of them suggested I visit Austin Montessori School. At first, I wasn’t drawn in by the philosophy, because I didn’t understand it yet, but by the snacks. That might sound funny, but I cared deeply about what my child was eating. And when I came to observe, they were serving sunflower seeds, raisins, and very diluted juice. Real, wholesome food. I thought, “I could be okay with this.” That mattered to me.
The moment I walked into one of the classrooms to observe, something clicked. There were 37 children, ages three to six, all calmly working and moving around the room. It was peaceful and focused, completely unlike anything I’d seen. I thought, “This is it.”
FS: What was your son’s adjustment like?
AM: Honestly? It was hard. He had never been away from me, and every single morning he would cry when they took him out of the car. I would drive home and pace the floor, sick with worry. But the school had a rhythm. The same person greeted him at arrival every day. There was structure and consistency, and slowly, he came to understand that I would always come back for him. That experience, being that mom, never left me. It shaped the way I’ve always related to new families. I know what that moment feels like when you let go of your child’s hand and trust someone else. It’s incredibly vulnerable.
FS: When did you first start working at the school?
AM: I was a parent for five years before I officially started working at AMS. I began as a volunteer, mostly in the library, because we didn’t have a librarian at the time. I also helped make materials for the classrooms, and eventually, I was hired for two hours a day as the “Material Maker.” That was my actual title, and I loved it. I had a whole room—paper cutter, laminator, different kinds of paper and tools—and I’d spend my time creating and handwriting materials for the classrooms. I even had to refine my cursive! Every now and then I still spot something on campus that I wrote during that time.
FS: That’s amazing. What came after Material Maker?
AM: Eventually, they changed my title to Curriculum Assistant, but I continued helping where needed. One day, Don Goertz, who had become Head of School, told me they needed someone to handle tours and enrollment. There hadn’t been a formal admissions process before. He said I could choose between two titles: Registrar or Director of Admissions. I said, “No way am I going to be a Registrar!”. So I became the Director of Admissions. I started leading tours, talking with families after observations, and helping them understand Montessori. It became something I truly loved.
FS: What made you so effective in that role?
AM: I think it’s because I’ve lived it. I raised two children here, and I remember so clearly what it felt like to be a parent coming into a Montessori school for the first time. The language can be intimidating—Children’s House, Casita, Lower Elementary. I always tried to translate what people were seeing in everyday terms. “This is a Children’s House classroom, which means it’s for three to six year-olds,” or “This is our Lower Elementary, which is kind of like first through third grade.” It helped people feel like they could belong here, even if they hadn’t heard of Montessori before.
FS: You worked closely with Donna Bryant Goertz, the school’s founder. What was that like?
AM: Donna is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever known. She has an extraordinary gift with children. In the beginning, I was intimidated by her. She’s incredibly focused and driven. But over time, we became true partners. We worked side by side for years. We shared a lot – long hours, big decisions, and a deep sense of mission.
FS: You started at AMS as a parent. How did that unfold?
AM: I was a mother of a three-year-old searching Austin for the right school. A group of close friends and I were all looking at schools at the same time, and one of them suggested I visit Austin Montessori School. At first, I wasn’t drawn in by the philosophy, because I didn’t understand it yet, but by the snacks. That might sound funny, but I cared deeply about what my child was eating. And when I came to observe, they were serving sunflower seeds, raisins, and very diluted juice. Real, wholesome food. I thought, “I could be okay with this.” That mattered to me.
The moment I walked into one of the classrooms to observe, something clicked. There were 37 children, ages three to six, all calmly working and moving around the room. It was peaceful and focused, completely unlike anything I’d seen. I thought, “This is it.”
FS: What was your son’s adjustment like?
AM: Honestly? It was hard. He had never been away from me, and every single morning he would cry when they took him out of the car. I would drive home and pace the floor, sick with worry. But the school had a rhythm. The same person greeted him at arrival every day. There was structure and consistency, and slowly, he came to understand that I would always come back for him. That experience, being that mom, never left me. It shaped the way I’ve always related to new families. I know what that moment feels like when you let go of your child’s hand and trust someone else. It’s incredibly vulnerable.
FS: When did you first start working at the school?
AM: I was a parent for five years before I officially started working at AMS. I began as a volunteer, mostly in the library, because we didn’t have a librarian at the time. I also helped make materials for the classrooms, and eventually, I was hired for two hours a day as the “Material Maker.” That was my actual title, and I loved it. I had a whole room—paper cutter, laminator, different kinds of paper and tools—and I’d spend my time creating and handwriting materials for the classrooms. I even had to refine my cursive! Every now and then I still spot something on campus that I wrote during that time.
FS: That’s amazing. What came after Material Maker?
AM: Eventually, they changed my title to Curriculum Assistant, but I continued helping where needed. One day, Don Goertz, who had become Head of School, told me they needed someone to handle tours and enrollment. There hadn’t been a formal admissions process before. He said I could choose between two titles: Registrar or Director of Admissions. I said, “No way am I going to be a Registrar!”. So I became the Director of Admissions. I started leading tours, talking with families after observations, and helping them understand Montessori. It became something I truly loved.
FS: What made you so effective in that role?
AM: I think it’s because I’ve lived it. I raised two children here, and I remember so clearly what it felt like to be a parent coming into a Montessori school for the first time. The language can be intimidating—Children’s House, Casita, Lower Elementary. I always tried to translate what people were seeing in everyday terms. “This is a Children’s House classroom, which means it’s for three to six year-olds,” or “This is our Lower Elementary, which is kind of like first through third grade.” It helped people feel like they could belong here, even if they hadn’t heard of Montessori before.
FS: You worked closely with Donna Bryant Goertz, the school’s founder. What was that like?
AM: Donna is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever known. She has an extraordinary gift with children. In the beginning, I was intimidated by her. She’s incredibly focused and driven. But over time, we became true partners. We worked side by side for years. We shared a lot – long hours, big decisions, and a deep sense of mission.
One of the most inspiring things I ever witnessed was Donna’s approach to welcoming children who had been labeled “difficult” or “disruptive” in other schools. Her classroom was a self-managing community, and she helped the children take responsibility for one another in such beautiful ways. I remember how she’d ask a student to work with a peer who needed support, even just for 15 minutes. And they would say yes. And slowly, that child who once didn’t “fit in” began to feel accepted, and to grow. It was like watching a magic show, except it wasn’t magic, it was skill and faith. That stayed with me.
FS: How do you think the school has changed since you started?
AM: It’s grown so much, but the core of it hasn’t changed. The child-centered, respectful, deeply human approach is still at the heart of everything we do. That’s what I’ve always tried to help parents see when they come for a tour, that Montessori is not just a method. It’s a way of seeing and honoring the child.
FS: What are you most proud of?
AM: The relationships. I’ve had parents tell me, years later, that what convinced them to enroll was how they felt on the tour – seen, understood, welcomed. If I’ve helped families take that first step with confidence, then I feel like I’ve done something meaningful. That’s always been the heart of the work for me.
Something I really valued about working with Donna was her gift for identifying what people were good at. She had a way of drawing out your strengths and finding a meaningful place for them in the life of the school. Donna noticed early on how much I cared about what children were eating. It was something that mattered deeply to me, and she found a way to put that passion to use. Together, we helped develop what eventually became our School Lunch Nutrition Guidelines, which emphasize simple, wholesome foods served with intention.
FS: What are you taking with you from this experience?
AM: So much. Montessori reframed how I understand not just children, but people. Once you really spend time studying Maria Montessori’s work, her insights about human tendencies and development, you start to recognize those patterns in every part of life. We all want to feel oriented, purposeful, and capable. That’s not just true for children; it’s true for all of us. Working here changed how I see the world, how I approach challenges, and how I relate to others. It gave me a completely different lens.
FS: And what’s next for you?
AM: Rest. Reading. Spending more time with my mom, and helping babysit for my great-niece, Georgia. I’ll always be connected to this place. But it’s time to let the next generation lead, and I have so much faith in them.
FS: How do you think the school has changed since you started?
AM: It’s grown so much, but the core of it hasn’t changed. The child-centered, respectful, deeply human approach is still at the heart of everything we do. That’s what I’ve always tried to help parents see when they come for a tour, that Montessori is not just a method. It’s a way of seeing and honoring the child.
FS: What are you most proud of?
AM: The relationships. I’ve had parents tell me, years later, that what convinced them to enroll was how they felt on the tour – seen, understood, welcomed. If I’ve helped families take that first step with confidence, then I feel like I’ve done something meaningful. That’s always been the heart of the work for me.
Something I really valued about working with Donna was her gift for identifying what people were good at. She had a way of drawing out your strengths and finding a meaningful place for them in the life of the school. Donna noticed early on how much I cared about what children were eating. It was something that mattered deeply to me, and she found a way to put that passion to use. Together, we helped develop what eventually became our School Lunch Nutrition Guidelines, which emphasize simple, wholesome foods served with intention.
FS: What are you taking with you from this experience?
AM: So much. Montessori reframed how I understand not just children, but people. Once you really spend time studying Maria Montessori’s work, her insights about human tendencies and development, you start to recognize those patterns in every part of life. We all want to feel oriented, purposeful, and capable. That’s not just true for children; it’s true for all of us. Working here changed how I see the world, how I approach challenges, and how I relate to others. It gave me a completely different lens.
FS: And what’s next for you?
AM: Rest. Reading. Spending more time with my mom, and helping babysit for my great-niece, Georgia. I’ll always be connected to this place. But it’s time to let the next generation lead, and I have so much faith in them.
Austin Montessori School
Austin Montessori School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or gender, disability, or age in providing educational services, activities, and programs. The school adheres to all applicable state and federal non-discrimination laws for private, non-profit educational institutions.
