By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

The International School of Texas, a private school located nearby off RM 620 and Hudson Bend Road, is celebrating its first year with the addition of middle school students for the 2014-2015 school year. Several local families have had a part in creating the school.

“We’re proud to be celebrating the first successful year of the International School of Texas, an excellent choice for families looking to provide their children a true international education,” said Monique Threadgill, chair of the board of trustees for the International School of Texas. “We’re looking forward to the coming school year when we’ll welcome even more students to our family and continue to improve our beautiful campus and available resources.”

The nonprofit, non-faith based school opened in September 2013 and completed its first year of classes to more than 70 students. In April, 10 families with children at the school formed a Limited Liability Company and purchased the campus land to ensure a continued legacy of international education for their families and the larger community.

One of those families was Cross and Susan Moceri of nearby Marshall Ford. They first got involved with the school late last year as they sought a school for their daughter, Natalia, 3.

Students learning at the nearby International School of Texas.

“We met with the headmistress and staff, toured the facilities, and got to know some of the parents and children,” said Cross Moceri. “The welcoming environment, strong value system and experienced staff made it an easy choice to become involved.”

He said he most appreciates the talented and caring educators and the leadership of headmistress Gráinne O’Reilly.

“We’ve seen tremendous personal growth in our young child since we enrolled her at IST, as well as a genuine excitement about the learning environment at school,” Moceri said.

Headmistress O’Reilly has more than three decades of experience in education, 20 of which have been at the headship level in the U.K., the U.S. and overseas. For the last 14 years, O’Reilly has specialized in international startups, managing 11 startups as headmistress or in an executive position.

Kyle and Charlotte Lawson of Westlake said their decision to become founding members of the school was a very easy one. Charlotte Lawson credited the school’s small class sizes and the leadership of O’Reilly as its greatest assets.

“She is absolutely amazing with not just our child but all the children,” Lawson said. “She knows them all and makes a connection with each and every one of them. In return, they work very hard for her and their teachers. It is my belief that a school is only as good as the person in charge.”

As part of the school’s continued growth plan, admissions is including middle school students. The school is currently accepting applications for the upcoming school year for children ages 3 to 13.

“We are so thankful for all of the wonderful people who helped make this first school year a successful one, and especially to the families who came together to make this dream a reality,” said O’Reilly. “We aspire to provide our students with the best educational experience possible to support their individual growth and accomplishment. It is an honor to teach such bright and talented children, and we are looking forward to another fantastic school year with an even greater range of students to serve.”

The private school’s multicultural faculty—spanning the globe from China to the United Kingdom—consists of experienced professionals with proven capabilities in team building, mentoring, training and inspiring children. With limited class sizes, teachers are able to provide more individual attention to students and address their specific needs. Students are recognized for their individual abilities, intelligences and learning styles in order to help them become future leaders.

The International School of Texas is located on the edge of Four Points at 4105 Eck Lane on an 11-acre campus overlooking the shore of Lake Travis. For more information, visit www.internationalschooloftexas.com.