Lilly in Full Bloom

For Lilly Gaven ’13, becoming a teacher wasn’t just a career choice—it was a lifelong calling. In fact, her kindergarten yearbook already had the answer written clearly in ink: “Techer.” Years later, that early instinct has come full circle, shaping a career grounded in creativity, connection, and the same sense of community she first experienced at Los Encinos School.

(above) Lilly’s kindergarten yearbook entry, answering the prompt, “When I grow up, I want to be a…”

After graduating from LES in 2013, Lilly attended Heschel Day School before transitioning to Calabasas High School. She later headed north to the University of Oregon, where she completed both her undergraduate degree and a master’s in education.

(above) Lilly and another LES alum, Max Birch ’13, celebrate on Graduation Day at the University of Oregon.

Today, she teaches fifth grade at Portola Elementary School near San Francisco. She moved to the Bay Area in August 2024 and has been eagerly exploring the City ever since. Between yoga classes, cooking, and spending time with friends, she’s embraced life in Northern California as both a teacher and a young professional finding her place in a new community.

(above) Lilly and friends in San Francisco (“the City”).

That idea of community—so central to her LES experience—continues to guide her daily life and teaching philosophy.

“Los Encinos impacts my daily perception of the importance of community no matter where I am in the world,” she reflects. “I always look for a pocket of people I can be close to, share the same values, and enjoy life with.”

It’s no surprise, then, that Lilly regularly brings LES-inspired traditions into her own classroom. From social-emotional learning routines to hands-on history activities like a Revolutionary War STEM project centered on the Boston Tea Party, she carries forward the spirit of experiential learning she first encountered as a student. 

(photo gallery below) Mr. Myers and Ms. Anthonyson’s “LES Tea Party” challenge that Lilly experienced in 5th grade. Seen here, the Class of 2026.

Her connection to LES runs deep—and even began professionally there. As a camp counselor and counselor-in-training at Camp Los Encinos, she experienced what she describes as a “full circle moment,” returning to the campus where her own journey started, this time as a mentor.

Click the image above to open a new window with a 2018 video interview. Lilly was a senior in high school at the time.

These days, her classroom keeps her busy in ways only teaching can.

“A typical day in the life of a teacher is honestly exhausting to list,” she jokes. “I regularly shapeshift into an educator, PE coach, tech support specialist, conflict mediator, event planner, motivational speaker, and occasional amateur detective with a concentration in handwriting detection.”

Still, it’s exactly that variety — and her sharp sense of humor — that keeps the work engaging.

Lilly always knew she wanted to teach, though she admits there was a brief moment when she considered acting. “In some ways,” she laughs, “teaching still gives me an audience every day.” More seriously, she says the classroom offers the perfect opportunity to help students grow in confidence while staying creative and connected to others.

Her strongest memories from LES center around the traditions that helped shape her sense of belonging: the Virginia Reel, the winter show, and especially Sports Day—a favorite she proudly notes is what it is today in part because of her dad’s involvement.

And the relationships she formed there still matter.

(above) Sports Day 2018 video.
(below) Virginia Reel 2012 yearbook page.

She remembers her kindergarten buddy, Riley Blanchard (pictured with Lilly above, at the Virginia Reel in 2012), and stays connected with members of the LES community to this day. In fact, those long-lasting ties are one of the things she treasures most.

(above) LES friends keep in touch long after graduation.

She even sees her former head of school, Ilene Reinfeld, regularly at Friendsgiving and Christmas Eve gatherings. Recently, she met up with Ilene and Angie Shellow (alumni parent and current President of the LES Board) in San Francisco when they were visiting for a conference. Angie, she says, is one of several “faux-moms” from her LES years who continue to celebrate milestones and support her long after graduation.

(abovef) Ilene Reinfeld (left) and Angie Shellow meet up with Lilly in San Francisco during a CAIS conference they attended for Heads/Trustees in February ’26.

That continuity across generations of educators has influenced the way Lilly supports her own students. She recalls a moment on the Wolf Camp overnight trip when she struggled with anxiety and couldn’t fall asleep. Two teachers stayed with her in the cabin until she did—an act of care she now pays forward.

“When I take my 5th graders on our nature retreat,” she says, “I always make sure to visit every cabin to say goodnight each night we’re away.”

It’s a quiet but powerful example of how the lessons teachers share with their students often echo far beyond the classroom.

Family also remains an important part of Lilly’s story. Her younger sister Willow ’16, another LES alum, is finishing her undergraduate degree at American University in Washington, D.C., after interning for Senator Alex Padilla. She plans to remain in the capital and work on upcoming midterm election campaigns.

(above) Lilly’s younger sister Willow ’16 visits her in San Francisco.

Today, Lilly continues building community wherever she goes—whether with her students, friends in San Francisco, or fellow LES alumni. When it comes to LES, she sums it up simply:

“Love all of my LES friends—they are for-lifers.”