Buckets & Barrels™
Learning Shouldn’t Leak
At 62, I turned a lifetime of “Talks Too Much”
into a framework that helps families.
My first-grade report card.
Talks Too Much
Mrs. McDonald was my first-grade teacher, and I was in the lowest “Blue Bird” reading group.
So when we were supposed to be doing seatwork, I was doing what I did best—talking.
Back then, report cards were made of cardstock and were used from August to May. Every six weeks, I would open my report card, hoping Mrs. McDonald had taken the TALKS TOO MUCH! off the top left-hand corner. But every six weeks…
T.H.E.R.E. I.T. W.A.S.
I still remember thinking—if I drew a line through it, my parents would think Mrs. McDonald had done it. So - I took a pencil and drew a line—crooked, dark, and not the least bit subtle.
My parents never said a word, and neither did Mrs. McDonald.
“Mrs. McDonald never ever realize that I talked because I could not read and was anxious to come to reading group-”
— Rhonda Austin, M.Ed.
“I was raised to always be truthful, even if it sometimes comes out a little too blunt. I throw in humor, add a touch of sarcasm, but always lead with my heart, which guides me to do what’s right for kids..”
— Rhonda Austin, M.Ed.
Get to Know Rhonda -
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I spent nearly three decades in public education—as a general ed teacher, special ed teacher, diagnostician, and assistant principal. But it was the assessment room—the testing table—where I saw the real disconnect.
Most families had no clue what those special education reports meant, and even fewer knew what to do next.
That full-picture approach—how a child learns at school, at home, in sports, at church, and even socially—is what led me to build the Buckets & Barrels™ framework. It’s grounded in CHC theory but designed to make sense to real families.
It all clicked during a grocery store run with my granddaughter Jessie. She couldn’t remember the three simple steps I gave her, and I told her, “Your memory bucket just has a little leak.” Her eyes lit up. She got it. That was the moment this whole thing came to life. ..I told her, “Your memory bucket just has a little leak.” Her eyes lit up. She got it. That was the moment this whole thing came to life. That simple concept of a 'leaky bucket' was so powerful it became the foundation for my Buckets & Barrels™ framework and my original company name.
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· Start with a Free 20-Minute Call. No Pressure. Just a real conversation about what you’re seeing and what your child might need.
· Already have testing? Just trusting your gut? Either way, I’ll help you figure out what makes sense next.
This isn’t about fixing your child. It’s about understanding them—so you and your child can move forward with confidence.
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Because I’ve seen what happens when a child starts to believe they’re broken—and their parents feel lost, blamed, and overwhelmed.
But I’ve also seen what happens when someone finally explains how that child’s brain works in a way that actually makes sense.
Everything shifts. The pressure lifts. Confusion turns into action.
I do this work because the system is hard to navigate, the paperwork is exhausting, and most families are left to figure it out alone.
I don’t think they should have to.
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Because I’ve been in the trenches.
27+ years in education
Countless ARD meetings
Completed hundreds of evaluations and explained how a child functions across school, home, church, sports, and social situations.
Families seen, heard, and helped—not just tested and dismissed
I don’t waste your time or your trust. I cut through red tape to get to what matters.
I’m not here to impress schools. I’m here for your child.
I’m here to help you speak up with confidence and finally understand what your child brain has been trying to tell you all along.
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Formal training that backs my real-world experience:
Bachelor of Science in Education – Oklahoma Baptist University
Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification – University of Texas at Tyler
Certified In:
Texas General Education (K-8)
Educational Diagnostician
Principal
Special Education
Trained by Special Education Boss
Trained by Master IEP Coach®
Bal-A-Vis-X® and Brain Gym Certified ®
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There are usually two types of parents who find me:
The ones holding a thick stack of testing reports they don’t understand
The ones with no testing—but something feels off
If you already have evaluations, I’ll walk you through what they mean—breaking down how your child’s brain works across school, home, sports, church, and more.
If you don’t have testing, I’ve created a checklist aligned with the seven cognitive processes of CHC Theory. It helps you spot patterns, make connections, and decide what comes next.
The best part? These checklists often help the entire family.
You may even discover that you and your child think very differently—and that’s why you’ve been missing each other.
The old saying “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” usually holds true…
but sometimes, that apple rolled a few feet and planted a whole new tree.
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I retired from public education in 2023 after nearly three decades in the trenches—as a teacher, assistant principal, special education teacher, and educational diagnostician. Now I do what I was always meant to do: help families find clarity through assessment, advocacy, and storytelling.
I’m a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation through my father’s side, and that legacy runs deep in how I listen, how I see, and how I serve.
I’m also the author of A Braid That Remembers: A Cherokee Child’s Journey to Knowing—a children’s book rooted in identity, intuition, and healing.
Outside of work, I’m a wife (married to Ron for 39 years), a mama to three, and Nonna to six amazing grandkids. We lost our daughter, Sarah, in 2012. Not a day goes by that she isn’t still part of everything I do.
This work is personal. Always has been. Always will be.
Let’s Talk!
Let’s Start with a Free
20-Minute Call
To ask questions, explore services, or just get unstuck. After, you’ll receive customized support tailored to your family's needs.