For 25 years, Mrs. Aileen Duncan has been a cherished and influential member of the Austin Jewish Academy community. She joined AJA in 2000 after nine years of teaching at the Shalom Austin Early Childhood Center, bringing with her a deep love for early education and a gift for creating warm, nurturing learning environments where young children flourish.

Mrs. Duncan is known for her calm, supportive presence and her steadfast belief in the potential of every child. She has a remarkable ability to meet students exactly where they are—academically, emotionally, and developmentally—helping them build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Her classroom is a place where students feel valued, encouraged, and empowered to explore, question, and grow.

What Mrs. Duncan loves most about AJA is the strong sense of community, rooted in Jewish values and shared purpose. She is continually inspired by the way teachers, parents, and students work together to ensure each learner receives a well-rounded, meaningful, and enriching education. Over the years, she has played an essential role in shaping that culture—modeling patience, kindness, and deep commitment to her students and colleagues.

Mrs. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her children and fourteen grandchildren, reading, baking, and taking long walks—activities that reflect the warmth, curiosity, and gentleness she brings to her teaching every day.

AJA is incredibly fortunate to have Mrs. Duncan as part of its faculty. Her legacy is felt in the countless students whose early educational journeys she has guided with skill, compassion, and heart.

Aileen Q&A

What do you love most about teaching at AJA, and how does the school’s sense of community shape your work in the classroom?

I love the sense of community and connection that I felt from my very first day at AJA. My philosophy of how children learn best is rooted in making meaningful connections with each child to have the foundation for a classroom community where each child is seen and understood. I like to call our classroom our school family where an integral part of the teaching is to help children understand that each choice we make can have an impact on the whole learning environment.

How do Jewish values influence or inspire the way you teach and connect with your students? 

Asking important questions, helping the earth, doing mitzvot, and being kind and compassionate are values that are integrated into our curriculum on a regular basis. 

For example, one of the student jobs is to be the “kindness recorder.” That person is on the lookout for helpful and kind things that happen in the classroom.

What is something unique about your teaching style or classroom environment that helps students feel supported and excited to learn?

 I base my classroom culture on a program called Conscious Discipline which was created by Dr. Becky Bailey. It focuses on a classroom relationship model (not using rewards/punishment) instead of a traditional model based on fear- fear of losing a reward or being punished for mistakes.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at AJA that has stayed with you?

 I had a student many years ago (she is now in college), and every year on my birthday, she sends me a note or a text to wish me a Happy Birthday. I absolutely love staying in touch with former students and finding out where their lives are taking them. It truly warms my heart.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school, and how do those interests enrich your work as an educator?

 I interact with my grandchildren on a regular basis, which helps me put behaviors in the classroom into a more realistic perspective. I love to bake at home and bake with my students. I love to read and recognize how important literacy is to developing minds.