Our Team
Katja Samati, Upper Elementary Lead
Katja Samati, Co-Founder of Austin Micro, was born and raised in Oakland, California. Her leadership in education began through Teach for America while working in her hometown's public school district. Seeking autonomy to create a more authentic learning experience for her students, Katja discovered Maria Montessori's philosophy and pedagogy.
Over the past 15 years, she has continued to iterate her practice to support students navigating the contemporary world. Katja views the classroom as a laboratory, and her students as scientists actively shaping their own learning process. Her greatest joy in working with young people is empowering their enlightened leadership to positively impact this planet.
Katja has presented professional development workshops at international education conferences on the topics of "Identity Conscious Classrooms", "Unpacking Classroom Texts with an ABAR Lens", "Garden Bed to Market Stand", and "Cultivating Student Leadership through Permaculture."