Erin Alathea Ronder
We humans have two great problems: the first is knowing when to begin; the second is knowing when to stop. ~ Paulo Coelho
Co-Founder and Chief Implementer at Enlight Ignite
Ali’s learning and teaching experiences span the range of conventional and alternative education approaches. As a child, Ali was homeschooled, unschooled, Waldorf-schooled, Montessori-schooled, and public-schooled. She has worked for (and selected for her daughters’ education) parent-run educational cooperatives, Waldorf-oriented and Montessori preschools, Sudbury schools, traditional public schools, and public charter schools.
Ali currently serves as the founding executive director of Integrity Academy at Casa de Luz, Center for Integral Studies, a unique program that nurtures the physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual development of students with active participation from their families. Prior to joining Integrity Academy, she spent four years as executive director of AHB Community School, a creative and collaborative educational alternative that cultivates authentic, balanced critical thinkers who are prepared for a life of learning and community engagement.
Her early teaching experience focused on early childhood at South Austin Children’s Cooperative, Starbright Preschool, and Escuela Montessori de Montopolis. She taught bilingual kindergarten at Maplewood Elementary (an Austin public school) and kindergarten/first grade at Austin Discovery School, a progressive charter elementary school where she later served as development director. Ali also helped found the Clearview Sudbury School of Austin.
Ali holds an EC-4 teaching certificate from the State of Texas, a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in history/applied learning and development, and a M.Ed. from Texas State University in bilingual/bicultural education. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in educational administration at Texas State University. Ali has taught ESL in Mexico and Guatemala at Colegio Cuernavaca, Casa Xelaju, Colegio Alonzo Morelio, and La Pedrera. She also has taught yoga to both children and adults.
Ali has distinguished herself as a community leader, serving on the boards of numerous alternative schools and nonprofit groups that support health and social justice. She is a three-time Texas State University appointee to the Clinton Global Initiative University.
She can be contacted at ali@enlightignite.com
Personalized Education Consultant at Start Up Learning
Ali’s educational and teaching background spans the range of conventional and alternative methods, and she has extensive experience in creating highly personalized schools that address students’ educational, social, and nutritional needs. Ali was home-schooled, unschooled, Waldorf-schooled, Montessori-schooled, and public-schooled. She has worked for (and selected for her daughters’ education) parent-run educational cooperatives, Waldorf-oriented and Montessori pre-schools, Sudbury schools, public schools and public-charter schools.
Educational Philosophy: Ali strongly believes that multicultural education, a social justice paradigm, bilingual instruction, and democratic educational institutions are integral pieces of the current educational puzzle. Her recent work focuses on highly personalized options that also include emphasis on community building, nutrition, and ensuring students have ample time to learn, seek adventure, and develop impactful relationships beyond “school” walls.
Ali believes that by understanding communities’ needs through language and culture, and by demonstrating respect for differences within our communities, we can truly reach every student. When careful consideration is given to these concepts, education becomes a democratic process that will engage and prove to be meaningful for all participants. For more on her personal theory of education as social justice, please click here.
Life Experience: Ali’s professional path is a culmination of her personal one, influenced by her “hippie diaspora” childhood, to her middle school years at a transitioning public school, to leadership at the Science Academy at LBJ High School, to college, the birth of her children, and studies/teaching abroad. Learn more about her personal background here.
Most recently, she is the Founding Executive Director of Integrity Academy at Casa de Luz, Center for Integral Studies. Prior to joining the Integrity Academy, she spent four years as Executive Director of Austin Home Base Community School, a creative and collaborative educational alternative that cultivates authentic, balanced critical thinkers who are prepared for a life of learning and community engagement.
Ali helped found the Clearview Sudbury School of Austin. Prior to that, she worked as Development Director for the Austin Discovery School assisting administration with various projects including fundraising, events, after school programs, parent education programs, volunteerism, and service learning opportunities for the ADS community in the greater Austin area. Her previous teaching experience focused on early childhood, including at South Austin Children’s Cooperative, Starbright Preschool, and Montessori Escuela de Montopolis. She taught bilingual kindergarten at Maplewood Elementary (AISD) and kindergarten/first grade at Austin Discovery School. Ali also has extensive experience serving on the boards for a number of alternative schools and community and health-oriented non-profit groups.
Ali holds an EC-4 teaching certificate from the State of Texas, a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in history/applied learning & development, and a M.Ed. from Texas State University in bilingual/bicultural education. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in educational administration at Texas State University. She has taught ESL in Mexico and Guatemala at Colegio Cuernavaca, Casa Xelaju, Colegio Alonzo Morelio, and La Pedrera. Ali was also the Community Wellness Program developer and manager of Ruta Maya Coffee House for over 12 years.
Ali has extensive community leadership experience with organizations including the Austin Public Library (volunteer), Fulmore Middle School (principal’s advisory council), People’s Community Clinic (patients’ board of directors, lab assistant, health educator, counselor), Teen Help Line (board of directors, volunteer), Out Youth Austin (volunteer), March of Dimes (community outreach), Peer Assistance in Leadership (mentor), LIFE (founder), Alonzo de la Veracruz Primaria, KLRU (educational outreach), Central Texas Writer’s Project (educational/ESL curriculum development and outreach). She has served on the board/council of Clearview Sudbury School, the Austin Discovery School, and the Education Transformation Alliance. She is a three-time Texas State University appointee to the Clinton Global Initiative University.
Source - http://startuplearning.me/our-team/erin-ali-ronder/
Executive Director at Integrity Academy
My educational background is varied, to say the least. I have been home-schooled, Unschooled, Waldorf schooled, Montessori schooled, and public schooled. I have worked for (and my daughters have attended): parent run co-ops, Waldorf-oriented and Montessori pre-schools, Sudbury schools, public schools and public-charter schools.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the founding executive director of Integrity Academy at Casa de Luz, Center for Integral Studies. Recently, I spent four years as Executive Director of Austin Home Base Community School (AHB Community School). During this time, I helped to found the Clearview Sudbury School of Austin. Prior to that, I worked as Development Director for the Austin Discovery School assisting administration with various projects including fund raising, events, after school programs, parent education programs, volunteerism and service learning opportunities for the ADS community in the greater Austin community. My previous teaching experience focused on early childhood with: South Austin Children's Cooperative, Starbright Preschool, Montessori Escuela de Montopolis as well as bilingual Kindergarten at Maplewood elementary (AISD) and Kindergarten/first grade at Austin Discovery School.
My board of directors experience includes membership:
People's Community Clinic patient advisory board (1989-1992)
Teen Help Line board of directors (1990-1992)
March of Dimes (1991)
Clearview Sudbury School (2007-2008)
Austin Discovery School (2008-2009)
Education Transformation Alliance (2012 - present)
Conscious Garden (2014 - 2016)
Natural Learning Foundation (2015 - present)
I hold an EC-4 teaching certificate from the State of Texas as well as a B.A. from UT-Austin in History/Applied Learning & Development and a M.Ed. from Texas State University-San Marcos in bilingual/bicultural education. I am currently working on my PhD. in Educational Administration at Texas State University-San Marcos. Some of my related volunteer work includes teaching ESL in Mexico and Guatemala at: Colegio Cuernavaca, Casa Xelaju, Colegio Alonzo Morelio, and La Pedrera. Additionally I was the Community Wellness Program developer and manager of Ruta Maya Coffee House for over 12 years.