Board of Trustees
Dear Princeton Montessori School Community,
Our motto to nurture the potential and ignite the passion in every student is more than words; it is a promise we see fulfilled daily through the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff, families, and trustees. Over the past year, the PMonts community has come together in remarkable ways to serve our students and strengthen our shared mission.
It is an honor to be part of a community so deeply committed to advancing Dr. Maria Montessori’s vision, values, and cosmic education. Andrea O’Brian, our Head of School, leads exceptional educators who embody Montessori principles, and with families, parents, and students fostering collaborative relationships, our school continues to grow stronger as a place of learning, belonging, and purpose.
We present this Annual Report as both a reflection and a commitment: to provide insight into our strategic progress, to affirm our mission, and to demonstrate responsible financial stewardship of our nonprofit organization. As a school, we remain devoted to delivering the highest quality education grounded in Montessori philosophy, while upholding the best practices of independent school governance. Through open communication, transparency, and partnership with families, we support the academic, social, and emotional journey of every student entrusted to us.
This shared endeavor, led by outstanding professionals and supported by the tireless generosity of our families, makes a profound difference each day. Your gifts of time, talent, and treasure ensure that we do not merely meet our goals but exceed them, advancing the future of our community in lasting ways.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend our deepest gratitude. Princeton Montessori School will continue to flourish for generations to come, shaped by the curiosity and promise of our students, guided by passionate and dedicated faculty and staff, supported by engaged families, and stewarded by strong and thoughtful governance. Together, we ensure that the Montessori mission endures and inspires.
With Gratitude,
James Chambers Jr., Chairperson, Princeton Montessori School Board of Trustees
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2024-25
Chair James Chambers
Scott Eckstein
Peter Egbert
Rehana Farrell
Jennifer Ni
Andrea O’Brian
Caroline Scriven
Chance Van Sciver
Beverly Smith
Ankit Vahia
Justin Yi
Rita Zetterberg
Congratulations Class of 2025! Accepted: Blair Academy, George School, The Hill School, The Hun School, The Lawrenceville School, The Peddie School, The Pennington School, Princeton Day School, PRISMS - Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science, Ranney School, Solebury School, The Thacher School
The 8th-grade class of 2025 gifted the school with six water bottle filling stations.
Parent Association
Dear Parents,
The Parent Association of Princeton Montessori School is a vibrant, dedicated, and diverse organization of parent volunteers with a mission to build upon and celebrate our strong partnerships with parents, faculty, and school administration. We are inspired to nurture this incredible community by both creating opportunities to connect with other Princeton Montessori families as well as inviting families to participate in activities at the school. Parents or legal guardians of students currently attending Princeton Montessori School are automatically considered members and are welcome to actively participate.
At its core, the four pillars of the Princeton Montessori School Parent Association are:
WELCOME ~ GATHER ~ APPRECIATE ~ VOLUNTEER.
We WELCOME families to our community, We create opportunities to GATHER,
We APPRECIATE our teachers and staff, and We VOLUNTEER to help with school functions and initiatives.
Last year, we continued to benefit from the steady leadership of Andrea O’Brian as the Head of School. She continues to build upon on the incredible legacy of Michelle Morrison, while forging her own, and supports our community by meeting families at program coffee socials, Back to School Night, and during the Fall Festival. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated room parents, who continue to volunteer their time to foster a strong community throughout the school year. Through ongoing WhatsApp groups, they facilitated easy and efficient communication among families and organized a variety of activities, from Holiday gatherings to spontaneous meetups and seasonal play-dates, while also supporting the PA chairs and their initiatives. Their enthusiasm and dedication played a vital role in bringing families together and enriching the school experience. ParentSquare continues to be the primary school communication and information tool, where families can find the school calendar, student directory, and important announcements. Similarly, the PMonts Community Facebook Group page is a place to share local events, seek recommendations, and promote local, family-friendly activities.
In 2024-25, the Parent Association, led by Catherine Hilton as Community Service Coordinator, organized and supported a number of events to benefit child-focused charitable organizations in the greater Princeton area. Such events included The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) Food Drive and the Holiday Giving Drive. Each of these efforts gave students the opportunity to learn about the needs of others and empowered them to make a difference in their own communities.
The Parent Association also celebrated the phenomenal Princeton Montessori faculty and staff with a holiday party and an end-of-year faculty luncheon. Led by Rachel Pereira and Desirée Reitknecht, Faculty and Staff Appreciation co-chairs, our parent community generously contributed meals, desserts and decorations.
One of the highlights of the year was launching the parent book club, spearheaded by Social Lead, Jess Vamvas, with support from myself, Kelly Hoyes, and Tori Pinciotti. The club created a welcoming space for thoughtful conversation, connection, and community-building. It’s been a wonderful way to bring parents together around shared interests and meaningful dialogue. We will continue to build on its success and provide more parent-only events in the coming year.
We also thank Zoey Ye and Allegra Asplundh-Smith who served as our Common Ground Representative and acted as liaisons between us and other Princeton-area independent schools.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as your Parent Association Chair this past year. As I step into my second year in the role, I remain committed to supporting our vibrant school community and continuing the
meaningful work we’ve begun together. I plan to continue to be the bridge between the parent community and administration at Princeton Montessori, and to support our parents to make sure we have the best year ahead.
On behalf of the Parent Association, we look forward to another year of connecting with families, faculty and staff, and our larger community. We encourage all families to get involved!
Warmest Regards,
Riya Smith
2024-Current, Parent Association Chair
The faculty and staff are treated each year to an appreciation lunch organized by the Parent Association with generous donations provided by parents!
The Parent Association organizes several Community Service projects throughout the year. They include a Food Drive for TASK, a winter drive for toys, hats and mittens, and assembling Valentine’s Day dinner bags for families in need.
PARENT ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 2024-25
Chairs
Kelly Hoyes (Admin Lead)
Riya Smith (Parent Lead)
Faculty & Staff Appreciation
Desiree Reitknecht
Rachel Pereira
Community Service Coordinator
Catherine Hilton
Social
Jess Vamvas
Princeton Common Ground Rep Zoey Ye, Allegra Asplundh-Smith
Room Parents
Infant - Marina Myer
Toddler
• Robin - Savreet Chawla
• Hummingbird - Elese Turok
• Cardinal - Jordanna Geltzer
• Goldfinch - Tejasvi Mudunuri
Primary
• Rose - Monika Friedman, Emily Singer
• Pansy - Neha Raval
• Tulip - Catherine Connelly
• Sunflower - Danielle Perlman
LE - Tamara de Ghellinck, Binaisha Rebello
UE - Rachel Pereira
MS - Maria Wimmers
2023-26 Strategic Plan
MONTESSORI Makes a Difference
Our three-year strategic plan is simple – to ensure that Montessori education continues to make a difference in the lives of children through three pillars: our Programs, our People, and our Prosperity.
As we look to the future of the school, we envision a thriving institution that offers an exceptional student experience through our PROGRAMS, which offer strong academics, student-centered learning, best practices in education, and firmly based on the principles of Montessori education.
We believe that our PEOPLE - parents, students, faculty, staff, and alumni - are at the heart of our community. We strive to foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming environment that celebrates the uniqueness of each individual and promotes a sense of respect, inclusion, and belonging for all students, staff, and families.
Finally, we want to secure our PROSPERITY for the future by applying our mission, vision, and values to ensure PMonts continues to serve the needs of children and adult learners for generations to come.
The strategic work we do in the coming years will be to this end. The following outcomes support our three pillars of our 2023-26 strategic plan.
Programs
Princeton Montessori School strives to provide an exceptional student experience through strong academics, student-centered learning, best practices in education and firmly-based on the principles of Montessori education.
Outcome: Communicate a clearly defined curriculum aligned with the Montessori philosophy and International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) framework that prioritizes curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and clearly-defined learner outcomes.
Year Two Progress: We launched a comprehensive curriculum guidebook for parents that outlined the alignment between Montessori and IB, making our program more transparent and accessible.
We hosted a second Upper School Curriculum Night with a focus on learner outcomes and interdisciplinary connections, helping families see how different subject areas wove together to support whole-child learning.
We gathered parent feedback from these initiatives to ensure the guidebook and curriculum night were meaningful and met the community’s needs.
Outcome: Create classroom environments that respect and honor our shared values and individual identities, fostering inclusion and belonging.
Year Two Progress: We provided professional development for teachers on strategies to help students build friendships and social connections.
We hosted parent education workshops on social dynamics in Upper Elementary, giving parents tools to support their child’s growth at this stage.
We reviewed and strengthened our practices to ensure that every student felt welcomed, included, and valued in the classroom.
Outcome: Offer extracurricular and enrichment activities that promote physical, social, and emotional development.
Year Two Progress: We expanded our after-school offerings for Elementary students, adding new activities that supported physical, social, and emotional development.
We evaluated participation and student feedback to continue growing the program in meaningful ways.
Outcome: The role of the teacher training center (PCTE) is elevated so it is known as the “gold standard” in Montessori teacher-training and is a profit center for the organization.
Year Two Progress: We established a dedicated PCTE budget that allowed us to track profitability and reinvest in program growth.
We sponsored the keynote speaker for the 2024 NJMAC Conference, raising the visibility of PCTE within the Montessori community.
We hired a new visionary leader for PCTE to guide its next stage of growth and innovation.
We strengthened partnerships with schools and adult learners to further establish PCTE as the “gold standard” in Montessori teacher training.
People
Foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming environment that celebrates the uniqueness of each individual and promotes a sense of respect, inclusion, and belonging for all students, staff, and families
Outcome: Create a culture that encourages the wellbeing of faculty and staff to retain a mission-driven, compassionate, and diverse community.
Year Two Progress: We continued “First Fridays,” monthly gatherings designed to bring faculty and staff
together socially and foster connection.
We evaluated the Society’s compensation scale to ensure our teacher salaries remained competitive and helped us retain talented educators.
We explored additional wellness initiatives that supported the balance and resilience of our staff.
Outcome: Enhance our student services program to promote the well-being of students and better serve a broader range of learning styles.
Year Two Progress: We established a new Primary position: Montessori Inclusion Specialist, dedicated to supporting students with varied learning needs.
We hosted workshops for parents to help them support neurodiverse learners at home.
We offered on-site psychological counseling services for parents’ convenience and student well-being.
We created a clear referral process and resource guide to connect families with both internal and external learning supports.
We monitored the impact of these supports to ensure they were meeting the needs of students and families.
Outcome: Establish engaged alumni and volunteer networks.
Year Two Progress: We implemented a structured timeline for alumni engagement throughout the year.
We invited alumni to participate in signature events such as the Fall Festival and Annual Picnic, strengthening ties with the school community.
Our Community Engagement Coordinator continued to reach out personally to alumni and foster lasting relationships.
Outcome: Create strong partnerships between teachers and families, built on trust and transparency.
Year Two Progress: The Head of School hosted regular coffees to encourage open dialogue with parents.
Primary-level parent coffees were also held to foster stronger connections at this stage of development.
We built closer relationships with the Parents Association, ensuring leadership and parents were in ongoing conversation.
We launched a school podcast to promote Montessori philosophy and provide valuable parent education content.
Prosperity
Apply our mission, vision, and values to ensure PMonts continues to serve the needs of children and adult learners for future generations
Outcome: Long-term plans are in place that prioritize the administrative infrastructure needs and long-term financial sustainability of the school.
Year Two Progress: We finalized a new organizational chart that distributed leadership responsibilities more clearly across the school.
We launched the PMonts Endowment Fund, creating longterm financial stability for future generations.
We explored school management platforms to streamline processes, reduce redundancy, and increase efficiency.
We restructured PCTE under new leadership to ensure its growth and sustainability.
Outcome: The community embodies a culture of community service, giving, and philanthropy.
Year Two Progress: We increased opportunities for community-wide events that supported parent engagement and strengthened our culture of giving.
We launched Annual Giving initiatives that were tied to specific projects or needs, helping parents better understand the impact of their contributions.
We shared stories of generosity within the community to inspire further involvement and support.
Outcome: Ensure our campus supports the needs of our students for future generations through building enhancements and enhanced outdoor learning spaces.
Year Two Progress: We completed plans for a new Primary outdoor classroom, giving young learners expanded opportunities for nature-based exploration.
We prepared for stormwater management improvements, scheduled for summer 2025, as part of our long-term facilities plan.
We continued the three-year window replacement project in the Primary wing, already incorporated into the Boardapproved five-year capital improvement plan.
We maintained and enhanced outdoor classroom spaces and gardens so they remained vibrant and well used by students.
Financials
Dear Princeton Montessori School Community,
I am pleased to share that Princeton Montessori School’s financial standing remains strong for the twelve months from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, our revenue totaled $8,226,677. Of our revenue, 92% came from tuition and fees, 3% from PCTE programs, and the remaining balance was contributed by the Annual Fund and interest income. Thanks to the generosity of our parents, staff, alums, and the Board of Trustees, the Annual Fund raised a total of $110,402.
Our fiscal year 2024-25 expenses totaled $7,619,448. Of this amount, 73% was allocated to personnel salaries, benefits, and professional development. The remaining funds covered operating expenses, debt service, premises, and supplies/class activities. Specifically, we spent $213,485 on debt service this year. The school’s mortgage was refinanced in early 2020 with favorable terms compared to current interest rates, and it has a balance of $6,004,030 as of June 30, 2025.
We continue to invest in the school, spending $321,973 on building improvements and accessories, as well as $43,024 on technology, furniture, and library resources.
We concluded the 2024-2025 fiscal year with a net surplus of $227,728, which has been added to our reserves for future building and program improvements. Thank you for your commitment to the school and your continued support.
Kind Regards,
Chance Van Sciver
Board of Trustees, Finance Committee Chair
FY 2025 Annual Report
Financials for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year
$8,238,505
$7,115,525 86.4%
$8,238,505
$444,273 5.4%
Total Revenues: $8,238,505
$7,115,525 86.4%
$271,914 3.3%
$444,273 5.4%
Accessories
n Net Tuition and Fees - $7,115,525
$110,402 1.3%
$271,914 3.3%
$296,391 3.6%
$110,402 1.3%
n SummerQuest - $444,273
$7,480,879
$296,391 3.6%
n PCTE - $271,914
$5,227,364 63.5%
$7,480,879
n Annual Fund - $110,402
$723,036 8.8%
$5,227,364 63.5%
$909,959 11.0%
n Other - $296,391
$723,036 8.8%
$394,450 4.8%
$909,959 11.0%
$226,070 2.7%
$394,450 4.8%
$226,070 2.7%
$757,626 9.2%
$757,626 9.2%
Total Expenses: $7,480,879
$321,973
$10,540
n Personnel - $5,227,364
$32,484
n Supplies and Class Activities - $723,036
n Operating - $909,959
n Premises - $394,450
n Debt Service Coverage - $226,070
Surplus Income: $757,626 = 9.2%
Capital Expenditures: $10,540 Technology Software $321,973 Building Improvements and Accessories
Furniture
Above presented figures are our unaudited financials for the 20234-25 Fiscal Year. They are sourced from the school’s financial management reports. Each year, an external auditor audits the school’s financials records and prepares an independent report on its findings by the end of November. This audit report is used for official filing purposes.
Annual Giving
Dear Princeton Montessori School Community,
On behalf of the Princeton Montessori School Board of Trustees, thank you so much to all of those who have contributed to the health and vitality of our school, including through your generous financial support of our annual fundraising efforts. Your gifts to the 2024-2025 Annual Campaign last year have already helped open doors for families through tuition assistance, sparked curiosity in our classrooms with new materials and resources purchased over the summer, provided faculty with opportunities to grow in their practice, and strengthened and beautified our campus through meaningful enhancements. These investments ensure that our children thrive in an environment that nurtures both their academic and social-emotional development.
Our community’s generosity reflects a shared belief that an exceptional education goes beyond what tuition can cover. Like many independent schools, tuition supports only about 86% of our operating budget. The rest is made possible by donors – trustees, parents, alumni, and friends – who give because they value the mission of Princeton Montessori School and the future it is building for students.
We are proud of what we accomplished together last year, and as we look to the year ahead, we invite you to continue making Princeton Montessori part of your family’s philanthropic priorities. Every gift, whether large or small, helps sustain the excellence of our programs and deepens the sense of community that defines our school.
Thank you for being such an essential part of Princeton Montessori’s story. With your support, our school will continue to be an exemplary institution where children flourish and families feel at home.
With gratitude,
The Princeton Montessori School Advancement Committee
Caroline Scriven, Trustee and Advancement Committee Chair
Montessori Moments
Special thanks to Tamara Gillon, professional photographer and Princeton Montessori School parent, who visited the school throughout the year to capture some of the magical moments that happen in the classrooms. Her donation of time and talent have helped us to illustrate the benefits of a Princeton Montessori School education.
2024-25 Campaign Donors
2024-25 Donors
Adam Schnitzer
Alexandra “Xan” Nowakowski
Alexis & Matthew Lazarus
Allegra Asplundh and Evan McGarvey
Amy Gerstacker
Amy Krupa
Anila Parmar
Ankit & Pinki Bhatt
Anna Suh
Anne Wright Wilson
Anonymous (8)
Augusta Powell & Harrison Silver
B. Chin
Banu Eser
Barbara Houze
Beverly Smith
Bob Ryan
Bridget Manley
Caroline & Thomas Scriven
Caroline Orford
Chance Van Sciver
Christopher O’Brian
Colin and Marina Britton
Connelly Family
Danielle and Jeremy Perlman
Deborah C. Peters
Deepti Nandakumar and Ashok Subramanian
Derry Light Wills
Desirée Reitknecht
Elena Kurnov
Elizabeth Clarke
Ellie O’Brian
Gery Juleff
James Chambers
James Schnitzer
Jaskamal & Savreet Chawla
Jennifer Christiano-Boyle
Jennifer Y. Ni and Wei Sun
John and Morgan Flannery
Joseph & Lisa Wolfe
Judy Greener & Jim Fink
Justin Yi ‘02
Katie Sullivan
Kelly Glenfield
Kristina Gudelis
Laura Berness
Leslie Magliaro
Lisa Meisenbacher
Lisa Stolzer
Livingston and Maria Johnson
Louis & Amal Barrood
Luciano and Alona Procaccini
Margaret Thompson
Mark Johnston
Marsha & Joe Stencel
Mary Ellen O’Boyle
Mary Reuter-May
Masha Kurbatova
Meier Family
Melissa and Lee Davis
Mrs. Michelle Morrison
Milan and Hina Patel
Missy Bowman-Leonard
Monteiro Family
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick G. Perkins III
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan O’Brian
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Baer
Mr. and Mrs. Justine and Jonathan Hopkins
Mr. Veerag Mehta and Meera Mehta
Mrs. Lynn Crow
Nancy D’Andrea
Nelson & Mary Lee Thompson
Nili Schnitzer
Olga Soto
Patel Family
Patricia Hlafter
Pengqi Cheng and Zi Ye
Peter & Mary Ellen Egbert
Peter and Alice Yi
Rachel Pereira
Ralph Andujar
Ram & Rupa Mohan
Raphaelle Gelineau
Rehana Farrell
Rita Brenner
Rita Zetterberg
Rob & Kathy Marmion
Robyn Elkholy
Sajjad Ladiwala and Anjum Khan
Sarah Yang Mumma
Scott Eckstein
Srujan and Sparsha Linga
Steven, Kathleen, Amelia and Colin Spinner
Tali Schnitzer
Tamara Gillon
Tatiana Sivak Perez
Teresa Gray-Piper
The Baskin Family
The Betz Family
The Dsouza Family
The Hart Family
The Hoyes Family
The Strome Family
The Wang Family
The Wimmers Family
The Young Family
Tom & Rowan Watson
Tom and Ginny Cusack
Tori Pinciotti
Vicky Chen
Vikas and Sphurthi Goela
Weber/Lin
Wolfe Family
Yangyang Chen
Zheng and Yang Family
We are grateful to all of those who have supported the 2024-25 Annual Campaign. We have worked diligently to properly attribute all donations to the proper donor name(s). Please let us know of any misspellings or omissions.
Our Mission
Princeton Montessori School is dedicated to developing passion and nurturing the potential in each child, through the values and principles of the Montessori philosophy. We promote intrinsic motivation, independence, social responsibility, and a love of learning so that as global citizens, our students can lead fulfilling lives and work to better the world.
Princeton Montessori School 487
609-924-4594
www.princetonmontessori.org