Montessori For All Groundbreaking

Magnolia Montessori For All from above when it was just a cleared plot of land

Many of you are aware that my wife, Sara Cotner, with several other awesome folks, like Sarah Kirby Tepera, started Austin’s first public Montessori School, Magnolia Montessori For All (MFA). There are over 20 Montessori schools in Austin and MFA is the only one (until this year) serving students that isn’t private (meaning the only one that does not cost anything for students in grades kindergarten and up). 

Sarah Kirby Tepera and Sara Cotner before the groundbreaking ceremony

Two students carefully carry their groundbreaking shovels

Since MFA began three years ago the classrooms have been in portable buildings on their nine acre campus. While portables do the trick, they aren’t an elegant or long-term solution. They also aren’t what students deserve. Charter schools are unique in that, though they are public, in Texas they only receive per pupil funding, which does not cover any operations or building expenses. This means that any building (temporary or permanent) need to be maintained and built using a charter school's per-pupil funding or the money needs to be fundraised.

Amazingly, because of the awesome, awesome parents and donors of Magnolia Montessori For All, MFA will be opening up their first permanent classrooms TODAY. These classrooms will be serving grades PK3 through kindergarten and construction for classrooms serving grades 1 through 6 will begin immediately and will wrap-up in January.

These kids are just incredible. Everything about this picture makes me smile.

Six months ago MFA broke ground on these grade PK3 through Kindergarten classrooms and I was on-hand to take pictures. 

Congratulations, my love. And, thank you to all the parents and foundations that put their trust and their money in this incredible project. As a husband to the founder, I know that things aren’t always perfect but that lack of perfection is never due to lack of trying or care. I can’t wait to watch what happens next!

I’ll be posting a follow-up to this blog post with footage from the completed buildings.

Two students look over the plans for their future school

This is what the classrooms actually look like!!!!!

Maggie chatting with several students about the ground breaking

Sara (again) at the groundbreaking

Attendees, funders, and architects getting ready for the groundbreaking

Parents and funders getting into the act at the groundbreaking

MFA's building foreman means business!

School layout. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? It's REAL!!!

Madison and Maggie watching the groundbreaking

Shovels at the groundbreaking

MFA-branded hard hats

Big projects require big machines

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HAAM - Corporate Battle of the Bands

One of HAAM's awesome bands waiting for the judges to announce their score 

HAAM stands for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. It’s a fantastic organization that provides access to affordable health care services to support Austin's low-income and uninsured musicians. HAAM’s services fill a large hole that affects Austin’s creative residents due to a number of factors like Austin’s gentrification, rising rents and costs of living.

Each year HAAM throws a fundraiser called Corporate Battle of the Bands that raises money for programming, staffing, and health care services. I had wanted to volunteer photography for them for a while and this awesome event was the perfect time to do it!

Couple dancing the two-step

Bands are made up of employees from different companies around Austin who practice for hours and hours to perform original pieces and covers in front of a packed house at the ACL Live Moody Theater. The bands are then judged by several prominent music folks from the Austin area. This year, the judges were Omar Vallejo (bass player in the band Vallejo and founder of 512 Studios), Graham Wilkinson (local musician), and James Minor (head of the SXSW festival). The event also has super cool, music-related items that are auctioned off, e.g. ACL tickets and signed guitars.

When taking these photos I wanted to focus on the chemistry between band mates, the enthusiasm that these musicians had with each other, and the beautiful lighting that performing under the Moody Theater’s lights afforded. I also wanted to try and get intimate shots of the audience and judges reacting to the artists.

I’m really happy with the results. It's incredibly important to be reminded of the critical role that non-profits like HAAM play in our community, filling-in the gaps that are left by a healthcare system that isn’t affordable and doesn’t cover all people. I can’t wait to work with HAAM on future events!

James Minor (music manager for South by Southwest) discussing a band's performance with the other judges

Guitar player jamming hard

One of the night's MCs

Record player that was up for auction at the HAAM Corporate Battle of the Bands

One of the night's fantastic musicians waiting for her band's turn to perform

Two of the night's excellent singers

Guitar player jamming so hard and killing the fashion game

Soundboard-ers, the unsung heroes (pun intended)

Omar Vallejo judging the night's bands

Drummer getting ready for his band's performance

Graham Wilkinson judging one of the night's bands

Singer shining under the lights

Graham Wilkinson and Omar Vallejo bantering about the performance

Attendees mingling next to the taco bar

Attendees leaving HAAM's Corporate Battle of the Bands

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All photos in this blog post are available as prints. Just fill out the print request form and we will work together to get one created to fit your space and needs!

I'm also available for hire. Just fill out my contact form and we will kick off the process!

If you are an awesome non-profit or company doing good in and for the Central Texas area I’m eager to work with you! Head over to the contact page and let’s get something started!