Cambridge Montessori School’s Strategic Plan 2025

EXCELLENCE

BELONGING

STEWARDSHIP

CAMBRIDGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN 2025

Dear Members of the Cambridge Montessori School Community, We are proud to share with you the Cambridge Montessori School Strategic Plan 2025 —a plan that reaffirms our mission, reflects our core values, and presents an ambitious and comprehensive vision for the future of our school.

This Strategic Plan calls all of us to ensure that a Cambridge Montessori education will continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and families. It is organized around three core pillars: Excellence, Belonging, Stewardship.

For more than six decades Cambridge Montessori School has grounded its work in the essential principles of Montessori education. This Strategic Plan guides us forward with clarity and purpose, building on our core strengths and honoring our legacy while ensuring that our focus remains on what matters most: preparing students to thrive and to make a meaningful difference in an everchanging world.

We are excited to begin this work, together.

Sue Angelides - Head of School Mike Flannery - Chair of the Board of Trustees

Our Planning Process Spring 2024 CMS Board of Trustees votes to contract with Mission & Data to assist with Strategic Planning Summer 2024 Strategic Planning Steering Committee formed 2024-2025 School Year Workshops with Board of Trustees and Steering Committee Comprehensive Survey sent out to CMS faculty, staff, parents, alumni, alumni parents, and Trustees 9 Strategic Planning Steering Committee meetings Student Focus Groups Staff Focus Groups Parent Focus Groups 5 Steering Committee Writing Subcommittee meetings Data aggregation from all sources Updates to the Board of Trustees at every Board meeting May 2025 Board of Trustees Unanimously Approves CMS Strategic Plan

Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Sue Angelides - Head of School

Abe Gore - Trustee, Current Parent

Alison Boreko - Upper Elementary Lead Teacher

Nikki Jacobs - Chief Financial Officer

Alfred Ding - Trustee, Current Parent

Allison Lynch Assistant Head of School

Mike Flannery - Chair of the Board of Trustees, Current Parent, Alumni Parent

Katrin Peterson Music Teacher, Alumni Parent

Bailey Turner - Director of Toddler and Primary Programs, Current Parent

Insights that Shaped our Strategic Priorities Gounded in our mission and informed by a changing world

Enrollment patterns, declining birth rates, family expectations, population shifts, Demographic economic shifts, Outlook independent school trends

Teacher Shortage & Workforce Staff recruitment, retention, training pipeline

Enrollment trends, tuition models, financial sustainability metrics, tuition models staffing structures, leadership development, governance alignment

Mission Institutional Capacity Driven

Strategic Inputs

Future of Learning

Data-Driven Future readiness, rise of AI Digital and adaptive technologies, Transformation digital citizenship

Macro Forces

Our Story The story of Cambridge Montessori School is one of vision, dedication, and community. It began in 1963, when a group of pioneering parents, inspired by the promise of Montessori education, founded and incorporated CMS with the dream of creating something lasting for their children and for the future.

Through the hard work and unwavering commitment of parents, faculty, staff, and friends, CMS has grown into a thriving community. Today, our programs span three buildings on a campus nestled alongside the 50-acre Danehy Park, offering children a place to learn, grow, and discover their potential.

As a nonprofit institution, CMS is guided by a dedicated Board of Trustees—made up of parents, alumni parents, community members, and the Head of School— ensuring that the school remains true to its mission and values. We are accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), and are proud members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and Montessori Schools of Massachusetts (MSM).

“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

Mission At Cambridge Montessori School, we partner with our diverse community, using authentic Montessori principles, to reveal each child’s innate love of learning and prepare our children to thrive in a complex world.

What’s Our Why? A Montessori education, at its heart, is a pedagogy of peace, respect, and human compassion. Dr. Maria Montessori designed her curriculum to nurture understanding among people of all backgrounds and to cultivate empathy and cooperation from an early age. Her vision of peace education emphasizes the study of both the similarities and the differences among communities and cultures around the world—helping children develop an awareness of their shared humanity and a deep respect for the interconnectedness of all people.

"An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

“The needs of humankind are universal. Our means of meeting them create the richness and diversity of the planet. The Montessori child should come to relish the texture of that diversity.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the earth.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

Cambridge Montessori School Strategic Plan 2025

PILLAR 1 Establish CMS as a Recognized Center of Montessori Excellence Enrich the student experience at every program level and deepen the shared understanding of our approach across the CMS community through collaboration and continuous improvement - guided by a deep commitment to Montessori pedagogy.

e c n e l l e c x E

To support an integrated and highquality Montessori experience across all program levels, we will: Strengthen the recruitment, preparation, and retention of dedicated faculty, staff, and trustees who reflect a deep understanding of Montessori philosophy and are responsive to the needs of our diverse learners.

Nurture a culture of collaboration, trust, and professional growth among educators—centered on Montessori pedagogy, observation, and reflective practice—to ensure continuity and cohesion across all classrooms and age levels.

Continue to build shared knowledge and appreciation of Montessori principles among current and prospective families, ensuring a common language and clear understanding of the long-term value of a CMS education.

Position CMS as a recognized local and national leader in Montessori education by cultivating strategic partnerships, demonstrating program excellence, and advancing thought leadership within the broader educational landscape.

e c n e l l e c x E We will build on our strong foundation of excellence in Montessori education, drawing on the timeless wisdom of Montessori in a rapidly changing world.

We will provide a Montessori education that equips our students not only with academic mastery but also with the character, agency, compassion, and adaptability needed to thrive.

PILLAR 2 Deepen CMS’ Commitment to Diversity and Belonging

Grow a more diverse and inclusive community that champions belonging, strengthens relationships, and promotes a shared understanding of what it means to be engaged in our CMS community.

g n i g n o l e B

To create a more inclusive and connected school community, we will: Attract and support a diverse and missionaligned community of educators, families, and trustees who are committed to equity and Montessori values.

Integrate diverse voices, identities, and perspectives into our curriculum and classrooms through intentional materials and curricular choices, inclusive practices, and ongoing reflection, supported by professional development.

Provide differentiated support that honors a range of learning styles and needs within a Montessori framework, nurturing our students according to their unique developmental paths.

Build a culture of respect, compassion, and care where students, families, trustees, faculty, and staff live our shared values every day—even during challenging moments.

Strengthen connections across our buildings by creating shared experiences and traditions for students, families, and staff—fostering continuity, belonging, and a strong campuswide identity.

g n i g n o l e B

We will uphold a community that recognizes and values each individual. The principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging are not separate from our mission—they define how we live it each day.

As we look ahead, we will design classrooms and community spaces where every student, family, and staff member is respected, supported, and empowered to participate fully. Our programs and curriculum will reflect these same values.

Through our daily actions, as well as our annual celebrations, the CMS community will put its values into practice—building trust, deepening connection, and ensuring that all members of our school have the opportunity to learn, contribute, and thrive with a shared sense of purpose and togetherness.

PILLAR 3 Shape CMS’ Future through Thoughtful and Adaptive Stewardship

Advance our mission by embracing an adaptive approach to stewardship that ensures financial strength while remaining steadfast in our commitment to Montessori excellence.

p i h s d r a w e t S

To ensure the long-term health, relevance, and vitality of CMS, we will: Engage our board of trustees in strategic, values-based governance in close partnership with the Head of School, guided by an understanding of Montessori philosophy/pedagogy.

Sustain the financial well-being of the school through sound fiscal management, equitable tuition modeling, and clear financial planning practices.

Expand the reach of our auxiliary programs— including after-school offerings, summer camps, and community partnerships—as robust, mission-aligned revenue sources that support the school’s financial sustainability and drive interest in our core programs.

Define and support our optimal enrollment, ensuring that class sizes and program structures align with Montessori best practices and the needs of our students and families.

Develop a long-range Campus Master Plan that aligns facilities with future enrollment targets, auxiliary programs, and Montessori learning environments—while recognizing that our location in Cambridge is core to our identity.

Cultivate a community-wide understanding of the role of philanthropy in supporting the growth and sustainability of CMS, inviting all members of the community to take part in shaping our future.

p i h s d r a w e t S We will ensure the long-term future of our school by being responsible stewards.

As we advance our vision, we do so with a clear understanding that financial strength and intentional and responsible planning are essential to delivering on our educational promise.

By grounding our strategic thinking in a deeper understanding of Montessori philosophy and a renewed commitment to intentional long term planning, we will protect the integrity of our programs but strengthen CMS as a dynamic, resilient, and future-ready institution.

What Comes Next?

Following the completion of the new Strategic Plan, CMS has moved swiftly into implementation.

Three steering committees—one for each pillar of the plan—have been established and are meeting regularly.

Each committee is focusing on the language and the message within its pillar, establishing a shared understanding of key terms, and developing measurable indicators for every strategic priority. The teams are identifying resources needed to achieve their goals, designing evidence-based metrics to track progress, and ensuring accountability throughout the process. By year’s end, each committee will articulate one to three concrete “This year we plan to…” statements that outline their specific objectives for the year ahead, translating the plan from vision to action.

Each committee will report out to the Board of Trustees at board meetings.

We will continue to work with Mission & Data through this year.

PILLAR STEERING COMMITTEES PILLAR ONE

PILLAR THREE

Excellence

Stewardship

Sue Angelides and Bailey Turner - Co-Chairs Kari Frentzel Zlatka Bascandzieva Hannah Seekins Allison Lynch Shannon Maclone

Nikki Jacobs and Allison Lynch - Co-Chairs Sue Angelides Mackenzie Skeens Mike Moran Mike Flannery Sophia Emperador Abe Gore Shayan Zaheer

PILLAR TWO Belonging Sue Angelides and Nikki Jacobs - Co-Chairs Kiki Mellor Henry Frentzel Amanda DeSousa Emma Storbeck Maggie Moyers

“The greatest gift we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

This Strategic Plan guides us forward with clarity and purpose, building on our core strengths and honoring our legacy while ensuring that our focus remains on what matters most: preparing students to thrive and to make a meaningful difference in an ever-changing world.

We are excited to begin this work - together.

THANK YOU 617-492-3410 www.cambridgemontessori.com info@cambridgemontessori.org 161 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02140