Our Story
The CoMethod began as a dream that educators could extend social-emotional understanding beyond individual classrooms, improving people’s connections with themselves and one another.
In 2019, Cait Kamins began building this dream with CoMethod Program Strategist Mara Garcia. Cait got a master’s degree from Wharton and the School of Education at The University of Pennsylvania, focusing her two years of study on creating The CoMethod, and extending the organization’s community by partnering with like-minded educators and experts in their fields. Each has their own ventures, and when opportunity calls, they come to The CoMethod to do consulting work, facilitate events, or connect groups of people. From their work within institutions, they know the value of external community members providing support.
Each member of our team is a social-emotional educator with K-12 experience and deep dedication to strengthening communities. We have spent the majority of our careers within schools and are passionate about expanding our impact. As teachers, administrators, and parents, we know the power of intentional human work. We all deserve to move authentically through our lives.
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Cait Kamins is a Town and Gown scholar at The University of Southern California, graduate of Columbia University’s Klingenstein program, and holds a master’s in education and business from The University of Pennsylvania. She is concluding a certificate in leadership coaching through Harvard’s Professional and Executive Development program. Cait has been a teacher and administrator for sixteen years, working in three independent schools and collaborating with many others.
Before beginning The CoMethod, Cait spent seven years as the Director of Human Development and Advisory at an independent school in California, where she created two UC-approved classes and an advisory program, constructed school-wide curricula, led faculty, and taught social-emotional courses at regular and honors levels. She currently serves on the board of directors for Everlasting Elementary, an outdoor school on the east side of Los Angeles.
Cait co-created and facilitates Full Circle, a professional development group for LA-based independent schools. She has presented at the National Association of Independent Schools’ annual conference and served on an accreditation team with the California Association of Independent Schools. She is certified in Trauma-Informed School Leadership and Clinical Trauma, and regularly partners with a team of neuropsychologists to facilitate best pedagogical practice. Cait is a Bay Area native in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and children.
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Mara Pavich Garcia is the Director of Community Engagement and Wellness at The Lili‘uokalani Trust in Hawai'i. She previously served at K-12 Director of Wellness and Professional Programs at St. Andrew's Schools. Over the past 18 years, she has worked in independent schools as a school counselor, program director, learning specialist, and culture leader.
She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Redlands and a master’s in community counseling from Gonzaga University.
She has helped develop Nalukai Academy, an entrepreneurial institute for adolescents, as well as helping to lead The Shanti Alliance and working with the Domestic Violence Action Center. She was recently awarded membership to the Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance and served as a faculty member for SDLC through NAIS.
She lives on O’ahu and is deeply involved in her community.
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Sarah Huss teaches Human Development courses and leads parent talks to students and families at several Los Angeles area schools and provides consultation to schools developing their own human development programs. She has been a faculty member at Campbell Hall School in Studio City for 23 years, serving as the Director of Parent Education and Human Development and the Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice. Among the many courses she has developed and taught are K-12 human sexuality, drug education, peer mentoring, healthy relationships and consent, and responding to microaggressions and bias. In addition to Human Development, Sarah directs a robust Parent Education program that links school communities to innovative thinkers and steadfast veterans in the fields of parenting, mental health, social justice and spiritual development. She was the co-creator of the Sexuality Education Symposium as part of the National Association of Independent Schools’ Annual Conference in 2017. She also developed the Sexuality Education Summit for California independent school teachers with the California Teacher Development Collaborative. She is an experienced facilitator of Council Circles with both students and adults.
Sarah received her Bachelor of Science at Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy. She earned her Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Los Angeles. She lives in Los Angeles with her 17-year old son.
Find Sarah at www.sarahhussconsulting.com.
We are honored to have worked with the following institutions, and others.
Consulting and Presentations
Albert M. Greenfield School
Chartwell School
Crane Country Day School
Drexel University
Everlasting Elementary
International School Counselor Association
National Association of Independent Schools
The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning
The Brain Learning Center
University of Pennsylvania
Conferences and Events
Brawerman School
Brentwood School
Buckley School
Campbell Hall
Carey School
Crossroads School
Everlasting Education
Global Protection Corp
Harvard-Westlake
Iolani School
Laurence School
Los Encinos
Marin Country Day School
Mirman
Oak Grove School
Oakwood School
Polytechnic School
Sequoyah School
Sierra Canyon
St. Matthews
Thacher
The Center for Early Education
University School of Nashville
Viewpoint School
Waverly School
Wildwood
Experiences with The CoMethod