A Note from Beth
“AtMontessori,you’velearnedtotreatotherslikeyourfamily,and yourclassroomsasahome.Thosearetheseedsforbuilding community.”
MorganSmartt,‘21,RMSalumand2025graduationspeaker
As our alumni and graduation speaker alluded to above, community and citizenship are inherent to the Montessori pedagogy. These “grace and courtesy” lessons (as they are known in Montessori) foster students who know who they are, know how to respectfully advocate for themselves and others, and know how to make a difference.
In my first visit to RMS, I met with a group of teachers, board members, parents, and employees. Afterward, I wondered if the impressive level of authenticity and compassion I experienced was representative of the school as a whole. As I have come to know RMS, I can attest that there is a deep kindness and unmatched intentionality that define our community, making it incredibly special. Thank you for being an integral part of the RMS magic!
We are grateful that our students also learn how to make a difference by watching the adults in our community. RMS parents and friends model how they make our school better, and we are exceptionally grateful! Whether you volunteer in a classroom, help or attend an event, narrate a play, or are making a ndividuals who munity that is e of it and look gether!
I Appreciate What You’ve Made Happen!
Our Lynn C. Humphrey’s Performing Arts Center renovation, made possible by your gifts, created a comfortable experience for our students, families, and visitors, as one of our most utilized community gathering spots on campus.
Families showed up for our staculty in a big way, dropping off thoughtful notes of appreciation, providing lunch on Staculty Work Days, and stocking us up on break room treats.
The South Campus break room was transformed into a beautiful and peaceful space where our teachers and assistants can step away and enjoy a few quiet moments in the midst of busy school days.
I am proud and grateful to share that 90% of our staculty made a financial gift to RMS this year; a powerful testament to the belief in the work we can do together.
ChairmanoftheBoardMessage
The 2024-2025 academic year at Richmond Montessori School was a busy one. The Head of School Search Committee had already begun its work the previous school year and continued in earnest with Educational Directions who assisted with a nationwide search. While it was always known that this year was going to be a transitional one with an Interim Head of School, the selection of the three finalists made it clear that RMS would be ushered into a new era with a Head of School coming to us from outside our school community.
During this transition, Dr. Kimberly Waite, our Interim Head of School, was a tireless professional. She led her excellent administrative team, helping them to keep focused on the school’s mission despite the uncertainty inherent in a leadership change. Their steadfastness is a testament to Dr. Waite’s strong leadership.
This leadership was put to the test later in the year when the school experienced a safety crisis – the first one like it in our school’s sixty-year history.
ThokoLipato,left,andalumMorganSmartt,right,atRMS2025graduation.
While the situation prompted a temporary change in our licensing status, the swift response by Dr. Waite and her administrative team quickly restored our license to permanent status. In partnership with Cosecure, a nationally recognized school safety and security consulting firm, a comprehensive assessment of our school was conducted, and within the Board of Trustees, a Safety and Security Advisory Committee was formed to help implement lasting improvements and recommended changes that ensure the safety of our school community.
The first recommendation that was approved by the Board was the installation of a fence along Parham Road, with construction set to completed by the end of August 2025, and further safety and security changes will be announced in the new academic year. Meanwhile, the Head of School Search Committee selected a candidate in November 2024.
In March 2025, Beth Suitor, a Montessori educator and school leader with over 20 years of experience in education, visited our school and met more of our community. She began her tenure in July 2025. The committee’s successful Head of School search marks a new chapter for our school’s journey.
The second half of the school year saw things begin to move forward. We had a successful Spring Fling in March. Our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan was shared with the school-wide community and will serve as the guiding light for Beth Suitor and the Board. The capstone of our school year occurred on May 29th when I was honored to participate in our Middle School graduation.
During this past school year, as Board chair, I have had the privilege and the pleasure, and yes, sometimes the stress, of having a front-row seat to the running of Richmond Montessori School. The staculty have all persevered during this time, and I can only hope that I have carried out my duties as Board chair half as well as they have as instructors. I am humbled by their commitment to our students, and for the grace and courtesy they exhibit every day.
ThokozeniLipato, BoardofTrusteesChair
GUIDEDBYPURPOSE,UNITEDINMISSION
Lead Assistant
Jill Floyd Becky Aydelotte, Morgan Steele
Jim Astrove, School Counselor
Nimila Banerjee, Registrar
Grace Belcher, South Administrative Assistant
Amanda Berdeen, IT Director
Chris Campbell, Director of Operations & Facilities
Chris Carlisle, Director of Admissions and Enrollment
Emily Charreun, Director of Marketing and Communications
Kristin Giacco, Director of Early Childhood Education
Joey Graziano, Facilities Services Technician
Carolyn Holhouser, South Administrative Assistant
Cassidy Houston, Director of Middle School
Meg Johnson, Director of Finance
Bree Linton, Director of Elementary Education
Kwabena McGaney-Osei, Development Associate
Mykaella Rhame, Human Resources and Admissions Associate
Josh Rinaldi, North Administrative Assistant
Lesley Stanley, Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Cathleen Stepp, Director of Development
Kimberly Sutton, Director of Montessori Enrichment
Nilay Patel, Director of Athletics
Kimberly Waite, Interim Head of School
Englishe White, School Nurse
Jessica Richards Margarita Gutierrez, Jenessa Hackney
Anna Simpson
Kathleen Williams
Madalyn Nuckols
Theresa Mayo, Aves McKnight
Lead Assistant
Ali Condon
Kasey Johnson
Mita Gupta Sally Lan
Debra Hess Meagan Shawron
Emily Smart
Jaime Terranova
Lilly Sutton
Lakshmi Suresh
Lead Assistant
Marshie Boswell Pamela Jacob
Shannon Ciucci Molly Nolan
Sudipa Mitra Eliza Taft
Stacy O’Shea Catie Beard
2024-2025 Adminstration & Teaching Teams
Assistant
Kinsey Buhrman Weezie McInnis
Kalyn Gerrity Jordan Repoli
Meghan Pearce Jeff Hughes
Lead
Cassidy Houston Director of Middle School and Math
Karen Ashworth Humanities
Jake Rhoads Spanish
Peter Turkaly STEM
Jackie DeNisco
Genesis Garcia Portilla
Claire Leake
Molly Nolan
Pooja Sinha
Andres Sinisterra Quinones
Morgan Steele
Lilly Sutton
Brigid Bartels Art
Page Brookshier
Keagan Cross
Jennifer Dendtler Library
Janet Deyo Technology
Madison Lloyd
Claire Leake Permanent Substitute Permanent Substitute Permanent Substitute
Alison McCabe Upper Elementary Spanish
Nelly Tapia
Tamara Nicely Early Childhood & Lower Elementary Spanish Health and Physical Education Music
Richmond Montessori School is a premier Montessori community, inspiring academic excellence and nurturing human potential.
With purpose and gratitude, I serve on the Board of Trustees to give back to a school community that positively shaped my child’s education and supported our family with care from P3 to 8 grade.
I’m committed to helping support RMS’s continued growth and success, ensuring it remains a thriving environment for future generations of students and families. Supporting our community is at the heart of my service, as I believe every child deserves a nurturing and inclusive place to learn and grow. th
Kari-LouFrank Trustee,AlumniParent,Donor
WHY I SERVE
213 Volunteers supported RMS student life in 2024-2025.
of our RMS Board Trustees supported the RMS Annual Fund in 2024-2025.
42
100% 90% of our RMS staculty supported the RMS Annual Fund in 20242025. Legacy Donors have supported RMS for ten years or more.
Guiding Our Path Forward
Thank you to our leadership committees who ensure the school’s long-term strategy and mission alignment.
Martha Callaghan, Chair
Joyce Callaghan
Emily Charreun
Dara Gocheski
Matt Johnson
Gabriella Kaszala
Claire Leake
Kwabena McGaney-Osei
Daniel Meekins
Clayton Navarre
Cathleen Stepp
Ryan Browning, Chair
Kari-Lou Frank, Chair
Kinsey Buhrman
Chris Carlisle
Keagan Cross
Kwabena McGaney-Osei
Weezie McInnis
Mykaella Rhame
Lisa Rowh
Eliza Taft
Allison Talibi
Gabriella Kaszala, Chair
Chris Campbell
Kalyn Gerrity
Cherice Jackson
Thoko Lipato
Sudipa Mitra
Michele Mulloy
Mykaella Rhame
Rocco Tricarico
Jasmine Turner
Thoko Lipato, Chair
Rocco Tricarico, Vice Chair
P2 Sandhu, Treasurer
Allison Talibi, Secretary
Jessica Berdichevsky
Ryan Browning
Martha Callaghan
Kari-Lou Frank
Cherice Jackson
Chris Campbell
Rocco Tricarico, Chair
Kyle Hoffman
Kari Lou Frank
Gabriella Kaszala
Thoko Lipato
Daniil Kleyman
Cathleen Stepp
Chloe Rice
Alison Talibi
Kim Waite C
P2 Sandhu, Chair
Cherice Jackson
Meg Johnson
Paavan Kotini
Ed Trageser
Kim Waite
Thoko Lipato, Chair
Sonny Gupta
Peter Henderer
Billy Peebles
Kim Waite
Chidi Jenkins
Matt Johnson
Gabriella Kaszala
Daniel Meekins
Amber Smirnow
Jasmine Turner
Jessica Berdichevsky, Co-Chair
Amber Smirnow, Co-Chair
Amanda Berdeen
Chris Campbell
Jill Floyd
Safety & Security Advisory Committee
Establishing a Lasting Commitment to Community Well-being
At the May 2025 meeting, the RMS Board of Trustees unanimously voted to recognize and elevate the work of the Safety & Security Advisory Committee.
Originally formed in response to the November Parham Road incident, the committee demonstrated the importance of having a sustained, mission-aligned approach to safeguarding our community.
As a result, the board approved the creation of a new, standing Safety & Security Advisory Committee. This permanent board committee will focus on fostering a safe and supportive environment for students, families, and staculty by:
Identifying school safety considerations from the perspectives of parents, employees, and the broader community
Assessing risks and maintaining an evolving risk management backlog
Sharing prioritized concerns and recommended strategies with the RMS Board of Trustees
This marks an important step in our ongoing commitment to transparency, preparedness, and the collective well-being of everyone at Richmond Montessori School.
CELEBRATING OUR RMPA
As this school year draws to a close, so does my four-year journey serving on the RMPA Executive Committee - two years as Vice President, followed by serving as the RMPA President for the 20232024 and 2024-2025 school years. When I first stepped into the RMPA in 2021, the school was just beginning to bring back inperson events after the challenges of COVID. It’s been incredible to witness how far we’ve come since then.
This year was a shining example of what’s possible when a community comes together with heart and purpose. Throughout the school year, each RMPA event was a celebration of the dedication and creativity of our committed parent volunteers. These moments not only enriched our children’s experiences but also strengthened the fabric of our school community. As I pass the torch to a new group of RMPA leaders, I do so with deep gratitude and pride in all that we’ve accomplished together. It has been an honor to serve alongside so many thoughtful, generous, and committed families. I’m excited to see where the next chapter takes the RMPA and confident that the spirit of collaboration and community will only continue to grow. Thank you for the opportunity to serve; it’s been one of the great joys of my time at RMS.
Michele Mulloy - President
Misha Mason - Vice President
Julia Dye - Treasurer
Melissa Watson - Secretary
Alina Hussain
Dave Inman
Whitney O’Connor
Jessica Proffitt
Jodie Strum
Sara Roan
Amara Doukas & Devon Tooley
Whitney O’Connor
Dave Inman
Don Pearce
Catherine Turlington
Michele Mulloy
Misha Mason & Michele Mulloy
Lynsey Bates, Danny Fragale, Jodie
Strum, Victoria Solderitch, Catherine
Turlington, and Shannon VanStratenSundlass
VolunteerCoordinationChair
HarvestFest
ParentSocials
FallBookFair
FamilyJumpNight
SpringPicnic
HolidayGiftsforStaculty
CommunityService
StacultyAppreciation
RMSisaliteralfamily.Whenitcomestofamily, onetypicallydoeswhattheycantohelpthem grow,excel,andsimplyfeelloved.ThatiswhyI volunteeryearafteryear:outofloveandfor thegrowthofourfamily,RMS.
MishaMason
RMSParent,Donor
WHY I VOLUNTEER
2024-2025 RMPA ROOM PARENTS
Lynsey Bates
Jinah Dacanay
Tom & Renee Donnelly
Julia Dye
Danny Fragale
Margaret Hodges
Alina Hussain
Amber Imboden
Dave & Meghan Inman
Abby Kocher
Misha Mason
Emily Mayer
Alison McCabe
Michele Mulloy
Andrea Nikolov
Whitney O’Connor
Sheri Rodman
Morgan Stroud
Samantha Wood
Angela Zanders
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered in the 2024-2025 school year. Your efforts provided a sense of community for our families, staculty, and students alike.
AYearofGrowth,Grit,andTeamwork
This year was a memorable one for RMS athletics! Our athletes competed at a high level, developed new skills, and welcomed new players, families, and coaches into our program, building momentum and growing as an athletic community.
This year, we hosted Richmond Montessori School’s first-ever Annual Sports Banquet, a major highlight of the year. The evening celebration drew over 100 attendees, including athletes and their families. The event featured guest speakers who shared about the challenges and triumphs of their athletic journeys, while our 2024-2025 student-athletes were honored with awards. Our alumni speaker, James Woodward, Class of 2020, shared how his athletic experience at RMS shaped him into the leader, teammate, and college athlete he is today.
During the 2024–2025 school year, we offered a wide range of programs. Between our team sports and skills clinics, nearly 70 students participated. Not only did their love for the game deepen, but their technique showed tremendous growth as well.
This year also brought valuable teaching moments; lessons in how to win with humility, respond to loss with resilience, and compete with character. Alongside the growth on the field and court, we also built new relationships and expanded our coaching staculty. We welcomed new coaches to our girls’ soccer and basketball programs while benefiting from the leadership and consistency of our returning veteran coaches.
As the heart of our programs, our coaches serve as true leaders for our student-athletes. Our soccer program was led by Peter Turkalay, Kinsey Buhrman, JoJo McShane, Jaime Terranova, and Brian Callaghan. Our basketball program was guided by myself, Aaron Wood, and Gabriella Kaszala.
Their dedication, passion, and mentorship made a lasting impact on our teams throughout the year.
Nilay Patel Athletic Director
Our Special Award winners this year stood out for their leadership, communication, and consistency. They are outstanding representatives of our athletic community and embody the values we strive to instill in all our student-athletes.
Varsity Basketball - Simon Larrick
Varsity Soccer - Macee Mosely
JV Soccer- Landon Chulick
Cross Country - Adrien Katchinoff
S soccer team was a memorable into worthy adversaries. Despite s in most games, this team always of good plays...Selflessness and this team. They naturally took up ed, even if it did not always afford es.”
choolSTEM
TheRMSAnnualFundWorks!
Creating Meaningful Spaces
In the summer leading up to the 2024–2025 school year, the Lynn C. Humphreys Performing Arts Center underwent a thoughtful refurbishment—made possible by contributions to the Annual Fund—transforming it into a more welcoming and dynamic space for performances, parent education workshops, staculty gatherings, student-led presentations, and graduation ceremonies. As a vital connection point between our North and South Campuses, the PAC continues to serve as a central hub for community gatherings throughout the school year.
We choose to support the Annual Fund each year because it is a fantastic way to give back to the program that has given so much to our son. Over his 9 years at RMS, so many teachers have helped him in his educational journey, and our hope is that by giving to the Annual Fund, we can in some small way give back to those teachers and help support them in the pivotal role they play in developing such fantastic kids.”
RyanBrowning Trustee,AlumniParent,Donor
With generous support from the Annual Fund, the South Campus teacher break room was renovated to create a quiet, comfortable space where staculty can take meaningful respite during the school day. Upgraded appliances and improved electrical capacity—especially helpful for cleaning classroom dishes have been a welcome and practical enhancement for our teachers and assistants.
O D D L E R F A R M D A Y K U U M B A D A N C E C O M P A N Y P A N A M A N I A N T R A D I T I O N S
TheRMSAnnualFundWorks!
Student Enrichment and Professional Development
LisaRow
ReadingSpecialist(24-25)
CassidyH MiddleSc
I have experienced so much meaningful professional development during my 12 years at RMS. In 2026, I’ll be embarking on my upper elementary lead teacher training. This is an incredible opportunity for me to step into a new roll at the school, and I’m grateful for the support of the RMS Annual Fund for making it possible.
Professional development helps me to support the students and the middle school teaching team. The entire middle school team completed the Positive Discipline Practitioner’s class over the summer with Chip DeLorenzo. The constructivist-based model allows our team to guide students to get what they need in a way that is respectful of all community members including themselves.
MykaellaRhame, HR/AdmissionsAssociate(24-25)
Attending the American Montessori Society Conference last year was a valuable opportunity, and I’m so grateful to have been part of it. The workshops, especially focused on admissions and the classroom, helped deepen my understanding of the Montessori philosophy. I had the privilege to contribute as a speaker on a session about DEI, and it was an honor to participate.
YourGifts,OurCommunity
It always feels very special to introduce the donor roll call for the year. It is a celebration of the collective generosity of people and organizations who care so much about RMS that we are inspired to make a financial investment in the well-being of our school.
This year, over 300 people and 14 businesses and foundations came together to support the RMS Annual Fund. Thanks to each of you for your gifts and for helping to inspire generosity in others. Our Board Trustees led the way with 100% participation during 2024-2025, and our staculty showed how much they value the RMS Annual Fund with 90% of us making a contribution.
The RMS Annual Fund is key to the health of our schoolstudents, teachers, and campuses are all impacted by these contributions. A huge welcome to our first-time donors--we hope will choose to invest in RMS for many years to come. Please be sure to check out our Legacy Circle as well, as these donors have chosen to support our school for 10 or more years. What a testament to the way our school inspires long-term generosity.
As we embark on our 60th year as a school everyone’s gifts mean gratitude is a big differ
CathleenStepp, DirectorofDevelopment
2024-25AnnualReportofDonors
Todd and Dian Adams
Mustafa Ahmed
Chuck and Ali Alexander
Stephanie Allen
Craig and Lori Anderson †
Anonymous
Karen Ashworth*
Jim and Ann Astrove * †
Soumitra and Nimila Banerjee* †
Brigid Bartels*
Debbie and Gary Bartle
Catie and Patrick Beard*
Grace Belcher*
Amanda and Gary Berdeen* †
Jessica Berdichevsky
Chuck Biddle
Jeanne Bluford* †
Marshie and Brandon Boswell* †
Elizabeth and Scott Boyle
Page and Todd Brookshier* †
Ryan and Amanda Browning †
Christina Bryza and Hwan Hill
Maureen Buechner
Kinsey and Benjamin Buhrman* †
Martha and Brian Callaghan* †
Tom and Joyce Callaghan †
Kelly del Campo Merricks and Jason
Merricks †
* denotes Staculty
Chris Campbell* †
Chris and Dante Carlisle* †
Chris and Emily Carmichael †
Tara Casey and Alan Dow †
David Cecil
Emily Charreun*
Aekta and Guarav Chawla
Robert and Alison Chesson
Adrian and Shannon Ciucci* †
Robert and Jeanmarie Ciucci
David and Dorothy Clarke †
Bruce and Annie Coffey †
Ali Condon and Jared Krikorian*
Larry and Tricia Constantine †
Christen and Ryan Courville †
Peter Coutlakis and Wei-Ming Hsu †
Kelly and Shane Crockett †
Rob and Susan Davenport †
Jennifer and Kevin Dendtler*
Janet and Jeremy Deyo* †
Rob and Mary Deyo †
Sabrina Dhillon and Jonathan Bennett
Troy and Julia Dye †
Lael Edmonds* †
Gary Flake
Mosca and Andrew Flint †
Jill Floyd*
Kate Flynn
† denotes giving 3 or more consecutive years
Kari Lou Frank and Chris Grab †
Ernie and Betsy Gates †
Mary Kay and David Gates
Kalyn Gerrity*
Kristin and Tony Giacco* †
Richard Gilliam and Jackie Bradley
Dara Gocheski and Colin Warner †
Joey Graziano* †
Anne and Bill Grealis
Kara Greenfield and John Burgner
Rebecca Gregory*
Mita and Ash Gupta* †
Jenessa Hackney*
Farahnaz Hadaf*
Carrie and Ivory Harris
Katie Head and Ryan Lodata
Peter and Armistead Henderer †
Debra and Joshua Hess*
Margaret and Larry Hodges †
Allyson and Nicholas Holmsteadt*
Carolyn Holshouser* †
Cassidy Houston and Katia Hoskins* †
Katie Houston
Gretchen Huebner
Jeff Hughes and Savannah Stokes*
Cherice and Amzi Jackson †
Pam Jacob
Jerome James †
The RMS Annual Fund supports our students through tuition assistance and enriching experiences, our staculty through professional development, and our campuses. We are grateful to all of the 20242025 donors. Thank you!
Troy and Chidi Jenkins
Matt Johnson
Meg and Robert Johnson*
Nick and Daya Johnson †
Pam Johnson
Joshua and Brittany Judge
Steven Kanjo and Kieu Hoang †
Sandra Karison †
Gabriella and Karoly Kaszala
Norma Keeping †
Twyla Kitts
Daniil and Dinah Kleyman †
Abby and Craig Kocher
Dennis and Cassandra Lacey
Sally Lan and CJ Arms* †
Claire Leake* †
Rachel and Andy Liao
Bree and Christopher Linton* †
Thoko Lipato and Jori Carter †
Madison Lloyd*
Craig and Sky Massey †
Denise and Mammen Mathew †
Theresa and Scott Mayo*
Alison and Chris McCabe* †
Kwabena McGaney-Osei*
Daniel Meekins
Sudipa and Deb Mitra* †
Eric and Amanda Morales †
Michele and Daniel Mulloy
Debra and John Murphy
Maureen Nay †
Maureen Neal †
Tamara and Elvin Nicely* †
Molly Nolan*
Madalyn Nuckols*
Rob and Whitney O'Connor †
William Oliver and Kate Jennings †
Stacy and Tom O'Shea* †
Nilay Patel and Sarah Baber-Patel*
Shinik Patel and Morgan Stroud
Sunny and Bijal Patel †
Meghan and Donald Pearce*
Connie Phillips-Jones †
Camille Pompeii
Vasco Pontinha and Teresa Mealha Salgado
Kay and Peter Quagliano †
Sujatha Ramamurthy †
Falcon and Nicole Rankins †
Jordan Repoli*
Mykaella Rhame*
Becca and Anthony Rhoads
Jake Rhoads*
Jessica Richards and Jeremy Wustner-Brown*
Joshua Rinaldi*
Lisa Rowh and Aaron Graham * †
Maryangela and Alan Rubin †
Laurie and Richard Russell
P2 and Henna Sandhu †
Debra and Chris Saneda †
Larry and Emily Scarborough
Arlene Schuchner †
Saumil and Ami Shah
Sonam Shah and Rajan Trivedi
Jessica Shelton
Anna Simpson and Justin Harris*
Pooja Sinha and Arpan Srivastava*
Emily Smart*
Amber Smirnow †
Victoria Solderitch and Megan Richardson
Steve and Ann Spalding
Rob and Lee Sprague †
Leslie and Chris Stanley *
Cathleen and Eric Stepp*
Danny and Julia Sterling
Brian and Jen Strife
Jodie Strum †
Wyatt Strum
Lakshmi Suresh and Suresh Subramanian*
Kim Sutton* †
Lilly Sutton* †
Allison and Azi Talibi
Nelly Tapia* †
Sandy Titus
Rocco Tricarico and Megan Kehoe Tricarico †
Peter Turkaly and Kim Panzarella* †
Catherine and Scott Turlington
Jasmine Turner and Marcelus Perry
Kim and Jon Waite* †
Englishe White*
Bryan Whitfield
Christopher Wieder
Tracy Wilburn* †
Kathleen and Bill Williams* †
David Williamson and Lee Scott
Mary Ann Wright †
* denotes Staculty
† denotes giving 3 or more consecutive years
Massey Foundation
McKesson Foundation
The Micawber Foundation
Thank you for making your first gift to the RMS Annual Fund this year.
We’re so grateful you’ve chosen to invest in Richmond Montessori School and we’re happy to welcome you to our donor community!
Mustafa Ahmed
Stephanie Allen
Karen Ashworth
Grace Belcher
Chuck Biddle
Maureen Buechner
Emily Charreun
David and Mary Kay Gates
Richard Gilliam and Jackie Bradley
Anne and Bill Grealis
Rebecca Gregory
Farahnaz Hadaf
Kwabena McGaney-Osei
Daniel Meekins
Molly Nolan
Madalyn Nuckols
Shinik Patel and Morgan Stroud
Meghan and Donald Pearce
Jordan Repoli
Jake Rhoads
Joshua Rinaldi
Meagan Shawron
Anna Simpson and Justin Harris
Emily Smart
Danny and Julia Sterling
Jodie Strum
Englishe White
Christopher Wieder
[The RMS Annual Fund] really helps the school. If people understand that participation is important, then it makes a difference. The more we contribute, the more the students will get.”
MitaGupta, Teachersince‘88,AlumniParent,Donor
In-Kind Gifts
In-kind gifts provide meaningful experiences for both students and teachers, helping us cultivate a rich and engaging learning environment.
Jim and Ann Astrove
Tom and Joyce Callaghan
Eryn Cook
Mary Driebe
Brenda Ellis Creamer
Bri Spotts
Carreras Jewelers
Children's Museum of Richmond
Edgar Allen Poe Museum
Gates Interiors
itel
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Mid-Atlantic Controls Corp.
Modlin Center for the Arts
Publix
Richmond Ballet
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Richmond Kickers
RMPA
WHY I GIVE
VMFA
Legacy Circle donors have supported Richmond Montessori School for at least a decade, demonstrating an enduring commitment to our mission and community.
Jim and Ann Astrove
Soumitra and Nimila Banerjee
Jeanne Bluford
Page and Todd Brookshier
Chris Campbell
Tara Casey and Alan Dow
Larry and Tricia Constantine
Christen and Ryan Courville
Peter Coutlakis and Wei-Ming Hsu
Rob and Susan Davenport
Kelly del Campo Merricks and Jason Merricks
Lael Edmonds
Hugh and Lucy Boyd Edmunds
Gary Flake
Kristin and Tony Giacco
Mita and Ash Gupta
Peter and Armistead Henderer
Gabriella and Karoly Kaszala
Norma Keeping
Bill and Kristi Lane
Claire Leake
Bree and Christopher Linton
Deb and Sudipa Mitra
Maureen and Mark Nay
Maureen Neal
Stacy and Tom O'Shea
Kay and Peter Quagliano
Falcon and Nicole Rankins
Lisa Rowh and Aaron Graham
Chris and Debra Saneda
Lee Scott and David Williamson
Kim Sutton
Nelly Tapia
Ed Trageser and Sudha Jayaraman
Kim and Jon Waite
Tracy Wilburn
Kathleen and Bill Williams
Mary Ann Wright
MaryAnnWright
AlumniParent,FormerTrustee, Donor I give to RMS because of the impact it has made on my girls and family. Beyond the expected reading, writing, and math, it taught critical thinking, compassion and resilience. I believe this foundational school influenced my girls to be who they are today decades later! Thank you!“
I GIVE
Lauren RMSAlumna‘02
Made in Honor of...
Mita Gupta
Debbie and Gary Bartle
Larry and Tricia Constantine
Christen and Ryan Courville
Mary Kay and David Gates
Maureen Neal
Rob and Whitney O'Connor
Jodie Strum
Wyatt Strum
Mary Ann Wright
William Henderer, '22
Peter and Armistead Henderer
Aspen Inman
Sandra Karison
Callie and Murray Johnson
Pam Johnson
Nik and Miya Kabadi
Mathew and Denise Mammen
Gráinne Murray
Maureen Neal
Uma Raju
Sujatha Ramamurthy
Johanna Schneck
Christen and Ryan Courville
Lena Steidel
David and Dorothy Clarke
Tracy Wilburn
Mary Ann Wright
Made in Memory of...
Kenna Bartle
Debbie and Gary Bartle
Gretchen Huebner
Millie S. James
Jerome James
Logan Judge
Brittany Judge
SpringFling
This year, RMS hosted a new ‘Happy Hour’ version of Spring Fling at Atlas 42. Many thanks to all of the parents, former parents, staculty, and community members who joined us for this adults-only party in support of RMS as well as those who made donations and purchased raffle tickets. It was the funnest FUNdraising -- great food, music, dancing, all kinds of games, and lively conversation.
Jim and Ann Astrove
Nimila and Soumitra Banerjee*
Amanda Berdeen
Jessica Berdichevsky*
Elizabeth Boyle*
Evan Branosky
Christina Bryza*
Kinsey Buhrman
Martha Callaghan*
Chris Campbell*
Chris and Dante Carlisle
Chris and Emily Carmichael
Thoko Lipato and Jori Carter*
Emily Charreun
Aekta Chawla*
Alison and Rob Chesson
Kelly and Shane Crockett*
Sabrina Dhillon*
Kristin and Anthony Giacco*
Dara Gocheski*
Kara Greenfield and John Burgner*
Harry Gregori
Rowan Gryder
Mita and Ash Gupta
Meg Johnson
Kari Harris*
Hwan Hill
Larry and Margaret Hodges*
Allyson Holmstedt*
Cassidy Houston*
Chidi Jenkins*
Kate Jennings*
Matt Johnson
Meg Johnson*
Gabriella and Karoly Kaszala*
Dinah and Daniil Kleyman
Lynda Leake and Augusto Silva
Emma Levin
Andy and Rachel Liao*
Bree and Christopher Linton*
Misha Mason
Kwabena McGaney-Osei
Weezie McInnis
Michele and Daniel Mulloy*
Maureen Nay
Freddie Nicholas
Camille Pompei*
Vasco Pontinha and Teresa
Salgado*
Sascha Qian
Mykaella Rhame
Rebecca Rhoads
Meghan Richardson
Josh Rinaldi
Pinki Shah
Sonam Shah*
Jessica Shelton*
Amber Smirnow*
Victoria Solderitch*
Leslie and Chris Stanley
Daniel Sterling
Julia Sterling
Linda Stewart
Brian and Jen Strife
Kim Sutton
Allison Talibi
Rocco Tricarico and Meghan Kehoe Tricarico*
Peter Turkaly and Kim Panzarella
Catherine Turlington*
Scott Turlington
Kim Waite
Richmond Montessori School has made every effort to ensure the a information contained in this Donor Report We apologize for any misrepresentations Ifyoubelievewehavemadeanerror,pleasecon McGaney-Osei, Development Associate, at kmosei@richmontorg, so updateourdigitalversion
* denotes participation in Chidi’s Challenge
Chidi’s Challenge
During Spring Fling, one of our Board members led an impromptu giving challenge. Chidi Jenkins shared the importance of the RMS Annual Fund’s work in offering tuition assistance to families, professional development for staculty, enriching student experiences, and creating campus improvements. As the DJ spun two tunes, our RMS parents raised over $12,000 in under 10 minutes. Thank you to those who rose to the challenge!
SpringFlingCorporateSponsors
Wishing Woods|$1,000.00 sponsorship
Friends of RMS|$500.00 sponsorship
OurBestofRVARaffleprizesweremade possiblebythegeneroussupportofour sponsors.Thankyouforhelpingusto createanincrediiblerafflethatfeatures someofRichmond’smostfunand uniqueexperiences.
Operating Revenue
Operating Expenses
ContributedRevenue
Annual Fund Allocations
2024-2025
AnnualGiving Allocations
Individual gifts to the RMS Annual Fund ranged from $1 to $30,000 during the 2024-2025 school year. These gifts along with the draws on our specified endowments bring a wealth of resources and opportunities to our students and staculty. Thank you!
A total of $188,100 was allocated to benefit our students through tuition assistance and enriching experiences, our staculty through professional development and our campuses by making intentional improvements. Our collective generosity is already in action and we look forward to sharing the specifics as the year progresses.
Tuition Assistance: 52%
Campus Improvements: 17%
Student Enrichment: 16%
Professional Development: 15%
EndowmentFunds
STUDENT SUPPORT
Della Mae Reese Jefferson Scholarship Fund
Founded in 2003 in honor of Della Mae Reese
Jefferson, mother of former RMS teacher Felecia Jefferson, this fund supports RMS students with financial need. Inspired by Della Mae's advice to "care about others," Felecia and her siblings made the founding gift.
The
Wise Family Endowment
Established in 2015 through a major gift from RMS parents Marc and Laurel Wise, this endowment supports financial aid for students.
CAMPUS AND STACULTY SUPPORT
Capital Facilities Endowment
Established in 2012 with the help of a gift from RMS grandparent Ben Humphreys, Sr., this fund is utilized to support the overall well-being of RMS with am emphasis on capital facilities maintenance.
Training
Educators and More (TEAM) Endowment
Established in 2004 through a major gift from RMS parents Jim and Estelle Brodeur, this endowment creates professional development opportunities for RMS staculty.
Martha Mabey Endowment for the Art
Established in 1996 to honor Dr. Martha Mabey, former three-time Head of School, this endowment supports arts programs for all RMS students. It includes a $500.00 scholarship for a graduating Middle School student pursuing the arts and allocates about 5% annually to RMS Student Enrichment programs with an arts focus.
Macee Moseley
2024-2025 Martha Mabey Award Recipient
As a member of the RMS community for three years, Macee has demonstrated remarkable talent across the arts. As an accomplished violinist, vocalist, World Drumming student, and actress, Macee has performed on stage at RMS countless times. In addition, her gift for writing has earned praise within her poetry and creative narratives. Macee has always been a class leader and role model.
This fall, Macee will be attending Trinity Epsicopal School, and will continue to explore her gift for writing, creativity, and leadership.
CelebratingOur2025Graduates
Where Real-World Learning Meets Real-World Skills
TheRMSMiddleSchoolexperienceis theculminataionoftheMontessori journeyatRMS.
Scienceinvestigationsthatinclude HighSchoollevellabreports Fourovernightfieldstudies, includingtheMontessoriModel UnitedNationsinNewYorkCity
TangibleFinancialLiteracy
Curriculumthatbringsreal-world financestolife
HighSchoolcreditscaninclude: SpanishI,LatinI,AlgebraI, Geometry,andAlgebraII
Left to Right: Macee Moseley, Trinity Episcopal School, Aleeya Rassiwalla, J.R. Tucker International Baccalaureate Program, Leah Frank, Steward School, Uma Raju, Maggie L Walker Governor’s School, Simon Larrick, Trinity Episcopal School, Ryan Rothermel, Douglas S. Freeman High School.
“The children of today will make all the discoveries of tomorrow. All the discoveries of mankind will be known to them and they will improve what has been done and make fresh discoveries. They must make all the improvements in houses, cities, communication, and methods of production that are to be made. The future generation must not only know how to do what we can teach them, they must be able to go a step further.”
Richmond Montessori School
499 North Parham Road
Henrico, VA, 23229