Teachers
Little Learning Grove is Brittney Simmons’s heart and soul. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Development from The University of Texas at Austin, with a minor in Music Education. With a passion for innovative teaching methods, Brittney holds certifications in Early Childhood through Grade 4, Gifted and Talented, ESL, Montessori, Whole Brain Learning, and Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness. She is also pursuing her Reggio Emilia certification to further enrich her educational approach.
With 19 years of experience in education, Brittney has taught music, second grade, and kindergarten in public and charter schools across Austin, Kyle, and Buda. Her dedication to excellence earned her Teacher of the Year at Carpenter Hill Elementary and the prestigious HEB “Excellence in Education” State Teacher of the Year award. While these honors are meaningful, what she values most are the lasting relationships she builds with her students and their families.
Brittney believes that children are unique, capable, and full of potential. Her teaching philosophy is child-centered, fostering curiosity through play-based, self-directed learning. She creates intentional environments where children explore the world through music, movement, self-expression, and hands-on experiences. Early childhood education, in her view, should nurture the whole child—mind, body, and heart.
Brittney is committed to providing a safe, loving, and inspiring first educational experience for every child at The Little Learning Grove. She looks forward to partnering with families and guiding young learners as they discover the joy of learning.
Jenny Pickering has cared for and taught young children for 20+ years. She has taught pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and special education in public schools for the past 6 years. Pre-K has always been her favorite age. She loves how curious, imaginative, and excited young children are about the world around them. She believes that they are the ultimate role models in how important it is to slow down and find the magic and joy in the little things that surround us.
Jenny enjoys creating fun, hands-on learning experiences where her students can explore, play, ask questions, and simply be kids. Some of her favorite activities are reading silly stories together, messy art projects, sensory play, music and movement, and spending time outdoors exploring nature. She is never afraid to catch a critter for a closer look or get her hands dirty right alongside the kids.
She holds certifications in Early Childhood Education through grades 4 and Special Education-Early Childhood through grades 12. She is also a TIA designated Master Teacher.
With nearly 16 years of experience in early childhood education, Ms. Maria brings warmth, dedication, and expertise to Little Learning Grove. As a mother herself, she understands the importance of nurturing young minds in a safe, engaging, and structured environment.
Ms. Maria has spent over a decade as a Pre-K Lead Teacher, where she skillfully designs interactive lesson plans in math, science, history, art, and reading. She believes in fostering a love for learning through hands-on activities while carefully tracking each child’s progress through assessments. Her ability to connect with families ensures that every child’s unique needs and interests are supported.
Certified in Child Development (CDA) and CPR-trained, Ms. Maria is committed to creating a joyful and enriching classroom experience. Her organizational skills, creativity, and compassionate approach make her a beloved guide for young learners.
When she’s not teaching, Ms. Maria enjoys spending time with her own family and finding new ways to inspire her students.
Elizabeth Stephens is excited to join The Little Learning Grove, where she can combine her passion for child-centered learning, outdoor exploration, and meaningful connections with children and families. As a mother of two young boys, she believes childhood should be filled with wonder, curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning.
Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University and later completed her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification. She holds additional certifications in Early Childhood through Grades 8, Physical Education, and ESL.
With 13 years of experience teaching in Buda and Del Valle, Elizabeth has taught in the classroom and elementary physical education. She was honored as Teacher of the Year at Tom Green Elementary for her dedication to creating engaging learning experiences where every child feels valued and successful.
Elizabeth looks forward to helping children learn through exploration, creativity, and hands-on experiences while building meaningful memories and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
With 35+ years of experience shaping young minds, Gina brings wisdom, energy, and joy to Little Learning Grove’s academic hours. After an award-winning career as a teacher (music, dance, and PE), Hays’ Assistant Principal of the Year, and elementary principal, she “retired” in 2021—only to return to her first love: guiding learners.
Now, she spends her mornings supporting LLG’s academic foundations with a kinesiologist’s understanding of movement and an educator’s heart. She guides Little Learning Grove learners through music and movement classes. They focus on musicians and composers each month and have an instrumental focus.
To Gina, education is a lifelong adventure—one she now enjoys as both a teacher and proud grandmother.
Jessica brings over a decade of organizational expertise from Austin's design-build world to Little Learning Grove. With an architecture degree from UT, she now applies her precision and problem-solving skills to support the school's operations.
As a mother of three, she wanted to contribute meaningfully to her children's learning community. To her, Little Learning Grove isn’t just a workplace—it’s where her skills, passions, and family all come together.
As parents of five young children and longtime dreamers of creating an extraordinary learning space, Eamon and Attilie brought Little Learning Grove to life. Their vision was simple yet profound: to build a school that nurtures children’s natural curiosity and love of learning—inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s wisdom to "teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."
Though Eamon works in tech and Attilie is completing her medical residency, their true passion lies in fostering meaningful education. They’ve entrusted the daily magic of LLG to their incredible team—Brittney, Jenny, Maria, Elizabeth, and Gina—while remaining deeply connected as advisors and cheerleaders. Living right next door to the school, they’re often spotted popping in with their little ones, sharing their joy for the community they helped create.
For the Carrigs, Little Learning Grove is more than a school—it’s the realization of a dream to give children (including their own!) a foundation of wonder, confidence, and lifelong discovery.
"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood, and don't assign them tasks and work, but teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "Wisdom of the Sands"
It takes a village and we have countless “villagers” that helped Little Learning Groves become a success. As passionate educators with over 25 years of combined experience, Casey and Allison helped open the doors of Little Learning Grove in 2024. Casey and Alison serve on our board of education.