About

The CoMethod began with the dream of helping each school realize its potential: through insight and relational skills, every community member can feel seen, supported, and thrive.

Our Story

In 2019, Cait Kamins began shaping The CoMethod with Program Strategist Mara Garcia. Drawing on a master’s degree from Wharton and the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Cait spent two years developing a model for connection—then widened the circle, partnering with educators and experts who share the same commitment to authentic relationships and healthy communities. Each team member brings their own professional ventures and joins The CoMethod when opportunities call, consulting with schools, facilitating events, and leading groups that strengthen culture. From their work within institutions, they know the value of external community members providing support.

As years have passed and the world has grown more complex, our need for the connection method is clearer than ever. Amid complex social-political landscapes, community connection is both strained and more important than ever. Our team is honored to help schools and organizations deepen that togetherness—creating spaces where people can learn, grow, and deepen connection with one another. Six years since its inception, The CoMethod is a testament to the beauty of partnership and importance of ethical work. Our focus, always, is human connection.

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.

 
 
 

  • Cait Kamins is an educator and administrator with sixteen years of experience across three independent schools and in collaboration with dozens more. She brings expertise in leadership development, social-emotional learning, and faculty culture, bridging pedagogical knowledge and organizational insight.

    Cait is a Town and Gown Scholar and two-time directed researcher at the University of Southern California, a participant in Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center, and holds a master’s from University of Pennsylvania in education and business. She is completing a certificate of Leadership Excellence in Leading Teams through Harvard’s Professional and Executive Development program.

    Prior to founding The CoMethod, Cait served as Director of Human Development and Advisory at an independent school in California, where she designed two UC-approved courses, led the creation of a comprehensive advisory program, developed school-wide curricula, guided faculty growth, and taught social-emotional learning courses at both standard and honors levels. Her path toward cultivating emotionally intelligent school communities began during her years as an English teacher, as well as through volunteer work with child survivors of trafficking.

    Cait has presented at the annual conferences of the International School Counselor Association (ISCA) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and served on an accreditation team with the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). She co-created and facilitates Full Circle, a professional development group for independent schools in Los Angeles, and served briefly on the board of an elementary school in East Los Angeles. Cait holds certifications in Trauma-Informed School Leadership and Clinical Trauma, and is an Official Certified Wellness Coach of California. She partners regularly with a team of neuropsychologists to integrate research-based strategies into pedagogy and professional learning.

    A Bay Area native now based in Los Angeles, Cait lives with her husband, children, and the animals who have made their garden a home.

 
 

  • 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.

 
 
 

  • 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 24 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 18-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

Brawerman West

Chartwell School

Crane Country Day School

Drexel University

Everlasting Elementary

Geffen Academy at UCLA

Harvard-Westlake

International School Counselor Association

National Association of Independent Schools

Sierra Canyon School

The Brain Learning Center

The Empathy Center

The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning

University of Pennsylvania

Viewpoint School

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

  • "The CoMethod facilitated team building for our summer staff training, and we had a wonderful time. The planned activities brought staff together in a meaningful way while also providing space for self reflection and valuable goal setting. The day was fun, emotional, and packed with intentional, thoughtful care for our staff relationships. We are excited to continue these staff development workshops on an ongoing basis throughout the school year! Thank you to The CoMethod for helping bring our staff together and build a strong, purpose-driven foundation for our school."

    Founder and Executive Director of Everlasting Elementary School

  • "I am not even kidding when I say everything about the conference was meaningful. I found each piece so meaningful and useful—the key note speakers, the breakout sessions were incredible—the size of the conference was perfect— not too big so it wasn't overwhelming and not too small that you could have actual conversations with a variety of people including the speakers."

    Participant at The Sex in Context Conference

  • “Our advisory lesson on grit had a great mixture of discussion and student movement and problem solving. The discussion got students talking quickly about how they related to grit and what they do in their personal lives that they love. I think grit and growth mindset will be important pieces to reflect on as we go through the ups and downs of the years.”

    Upper School Science Teacher at Crane Country Day

  • “This group really works. I was in the Guys’ Circle for two months and made friends that will last the rest of my life. I’ve told friends on my lacrosse team and school that they should do it. I think I’m more ready for college now. I know myself better and feel more confident. I’m more hopeful too.”

    Student from The Guys’ Circle

  • “These sessions have helped me see how I can be more real with all three of my kids, and how I can help them with the decisions they make. Right now, we don't talk often about their personal lives but I started trying after my first session. It has been four weeks and I see a difference in their openness.”

    Parent with The Brain Learning Center

  • "Cait has contributed to our school greatly over the past six months of working together. First, we sorted through our school's mission to develop our sense of school identity and purpose. Through this work, Cait helped us synthesize several disconnected facets of our program into a comprehensive, overarching philosophy that embodies my vision for the school."

    Founder and Executive Director of Everlasting Elementary School

  • "Masterful presentation."

    Participant at NAIS’ annual conference, Thrive 2025

  • “This class shows me more than I thought it would about opening up to people. I don’t usually talk about my feelings or open up to people so it was a new experience for me. I feel like I have more friends after this though and I think I can tell more people in my life how I feel about things because I know everyone is going through similar things and wants to be there for each other.”

    Student from The Guys’ Circle

  • “I have been working on getting closer to my son, and the work we did in this class has really helped us get closer. I understand him more than I did before, his motivations and difficulties especially, and am able to put my own neuroses aside to be a more effective parent. I would recommend this CoMethod class to anyone.“

    Parent with The Brain Learning Center

  • "I have what I need to take the next steps at my school to develop a comprehensive K-12 healthy relationships program—the information, people to contact, etc. Once I get the ball moving, I am sure that I will have more questions and things to ponder, but for now, I feel ready to have the conversations with my colleagues."

    Participant at The Sex in Context Conference

  • "I walked away with a ton of notes about how to improve my school's sexuality and gender education program. I have not enjoyed teaching the program for the past few years, but my interest has been renewed because of all the learning and takeaways from this conference."

    Participant from the Sex in Context Conference

  • "The session was very engaging and helpful. In a short amount of time, the group was exposed to several strategies such as first recognizing how our own internal reaction to stimuli, using the the framework feel, think, act, and different styles and modes to address something that we feel, or someone else could feel, uncomfortable with."

    Teacher at Chartwell School

  • "I will take away so many new and fun ways to engage my kids in our discussions of human development. I will also take with me a feeling of awe for every person in attendance. I was inspired to be a better educator just by being a part of this conference."

    Participant at the Sex in Context Conference