Antonia Calabrese, LPC
As someone who has worked with children since the 8th grade, I’ve always been passionate about understanding what the world is like from the eyes of a child and helping adults understand a child’s world.
It It is my mission to team up with children, teens and adults to improve confidence, positivity and emotional regulation. As children, we are taught math, science and reading, but not how to feel or to express our feelings.
The Bloom Room has long been a passion of mine, and I’m beyond excited to share it with the world! I started The Bloom due to what I’ve learned working as a therapist. I’ve seen the shortcomings of the current school system (not the teachers, they are saints!) in fostering social and emotional learning among children and the internal messages that teaches many children. Many struggle to thrive in the classroom because they haven't learned to understand or express their emotions, impacting their overall development in areas such as learning, friendships, self-control, and even extending into adulthood.
Erin Givarz, MSSW
Erin Givarz, MSSW embodies a dedication to nurturing children's well-being and empowering families. As a parent, childcare provider, children’s yoga instructor, former play therapist, and parenting coach, Erin has fostered emotional and physical wellness in children and families across diverse settings, including preschools, elementary schools, and outpatient mental health centers. Her love for the work has grown through her time with The Phoenix Center & Camp Phoenix where for five years, she served as a child centered play therapist, facilitated yoga, art, nature/adventure & parenting groups.
Her mission is to equip children with the necessary resources to cultivate emotional intelligence and foster strong, confident attachments with their young children. As a mom to a toddler herself, Erin believes that every child should be safe to express themself and given tools early in life to manage and communicate their feelings in healthy ways.
Maria Cavazos, BSW, M.Ed.
Maria Cavazos is an Austin native with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a minor in Child Development from TCU. She went on to earn her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Texas State. After years of experience in the classroom, Maria is excited to bring her love of teaching, music, and social-emotional learning to The Bloom Room. She also extends her passion for education through her tutoring business, where she empowers young learners to thrive beyond the classroom.
Kendall Stoever
Kendall Stoever joins The Bloom Room team as an aid/ substitute teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Baylor University. After teaching in Houston, she is completing her Masters in Counseling at Texas State University. She is passionate about helping children thrive in an engaging, creative, and inclusive learning environment.
Annie Gunn
Annie Gunn joins The Bloom Room as a substitute teacher. She has spent over a decade teaching in a variety of classrooms, guided by a deep care for children’s hearts, minds, and sense of belonging. She first discovered her love of spending time with young children as a lead teacher of 2 and 3 year olds in a Waldorf preschool setting. Annie later supported the SPED team at Austin Discovery School as a paraprofessional, and then led a hybrid classroom for 8–10 year olds at Austin Home Base Community School. Alongside her teaching, Annie has also worked as a filmmaker and commercial director working with children and babies. She is also a mom to a wonderful 6 year old. No matter the environment, she is committed to creating spaces where children feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow.
Ryan Knight
Ryan recently stepped back from a full-time career in Education, seven years of which he spent as a SEL Interventionist and Specialist at Austin Discovery School. He has been a Pre-K and K-1 teacher, a music teacher at School of Rock with 3 to 8 year olds, and has taught music privately. Now he does an eclectic mix of handywork, bookkeeping and scheduling for the HandyBand Collective, as well as music production and songwriting, and he cherishes the occasional day subbing and supporting at the Bloom Room.