Ithaca Montessori School

Our Community
For 40 years, IMS has been fostering a love of learning and a sense of community. As we watch our children learn and grow together, we try to create opportunities for the families to get to know each other. Annual school-wide events such as our Fall Festival, the Thanksgiving Friendship Luncheon, as well as celebrations in each classroom are great opportunities to get to know your child's friends. For many of the families, especially those new to the Ithaca area, these friendships extend well beyond the school's walls.
Kid Picture
A diverse group of people
Our community benefits from being an incredibly diverse mix of people from near and far. Local Ithacans, Americans and international families from all over the world come together at IMS. Your child will make friends from far away places -- Russia, Korea, Poland, France, Israel, India and many more. Our children hear the sounds of many languages, and enjoy being exposed to a myriad of cultural customs.

Cooperative structure
Ithaca Montessori School is a parent cooperative; parents become members when their children are enrolled. The families, the board of Trustees, the faculty, and the administration, are all members of the co-op. This organizational model has fostered the strong sense of community that is so much of the IMS experience. All community members elect the Board of Trustees and are encouraged to participate in the educational experience of the children. Family members are invited to join monthly Board of Trustees meetings, community meetings, and take part in the planning and decision-making process. Being a part of the IMS community means that you can have a lot of influence on the educational experience of your child.

Parent Hours
One of the most valuable contributions family members can make to the school is sharing their time and expertise. As a part of the Co-op, each family is responsible for 20 volunteer hours during the academic year. Parents can help produce community events, or participate in the classroom: read stories, show a cultural custom, or teach a craft. Others do work from home: making play-dough for the classroom, or use relevant expertise to help prepare a grant proposal or write a newsletter article. Periodically, site workdays are scheduled for specific projects such as planting in the gardens or painting the play structures. All of these activities provide opportunities for involvement in the organization, which is an excellent way to get to know the school and other families. Every moment you spend participating makes our school stronger and more special for our children.

Teachers
IMS is fortunate to have a dedicated faculty of Head Teachers. These teachers who are experienced in the Montessori method of instruction provide the secure foundation on which the school's curriculum is based. Ongoing Montessori training opportunities and in-house staff development keep the ideas flowing and classrooms stimulating. We are continually looking to recruit Montessori trained teachers from within and without our community to further enhance the educational experience of our students. The proximity of many institutions of high learning provides IMS with a substantial pool of qualified candidates from which to choose our assistant teachers and support staff.

Administration
Executive Director
Kristin Campagnolo
Kristin joined the IMS community in 2004 as a parent and was elected as the parents' representative member on the IMS Board of Trustees. While at IMS, she has served as Executive Panel Representative, President of the Board of Trustees, Business Manager and Interim Executive Director before becoming Executive Director in 2007. Her passion for Montessori education was sparked by her daughter's enrollment at IMS as a toddler. Kristin plans to return to school to add Montessori credentials to her BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

Program Director
Pam Weatherby - Primary

Business Manager
Lani McConnell
Lani McConnell graduated with honors from TC-3 in the spring of 1998 with an A.A.S. in Accounting. She spent the last 7 years working as a member of the accounting team for The CBORD Group, Inc. Her responsibilities included billing, monthly financial statement preparations and implementing efficiencies. Lani loves being at IMS because she enjoys the opportunity to share in an educational experience that encourages the love of learning, the respect for people despite their differences, and a belief that all are gifted individuals in their own way.

Administrative Assistant
Mary Ann Wold
Mary Ann's past includes working for the US Marshal in Denver, State Patrol in Nebraska, Children's home in Kentucky and caring for foster children in Memphis. She moved to Ithaca 6 years ago and is very happy to be apart of this lively community. Her present is full of children who adore her and can't bring themselves to leave the building without stopping at her desk to chose a sticker and play with her delightful toy collection. They are all convinced that she runs the school and they are not entirely wrong, as she manages to takes care of so much and still know every single child in the school by name. With her warmth and cheerful smile, Mary Ann exemplifies the sense of love and nurturing that are at the core of the IMS experience and we are all fully aware of how lucky we are to have her.

Our Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is comprised of current parents, alumni, and local community members. The board members are elected by the IMS community, serving staggered terms of 3 years. The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the financial management of the school and all large scale fiscal and policy decisions. All decisions related to the educational programs, faculty and school management are made by the Executive director in concert with the Board.

What parents are saying abount IMS
IMS was the only place where I felt comfortable leaving my 2 year old son for 6 hours a day. I searched through many different schools and found that the respect for others, the emphasis on peace, and the multi-ethnic population that IMS has and emphasizes are the values and atmosphere that I want to expose my son to both at home and at school.
-- Amy, Alex's mom,

When my 19-month old daughter Nikol started the toddler program at IMS, separation anxiety struck us really hard; many tears have fallen down Nikol's cheeks, each one causing me angst. The skilled help and love that Nikol has received from the teachers in the classroom and the attentiveness of the administrators in easing my worries have been beyond any expectation. Nikol is now very happy to be at IMS.
-- Renata, Nikol's mom.

My son, who is a rather reserved and quiet two year old, has flourished in the toddler program at Ithaca Montessori School. The teachers have been very open to our feedback and have worked with us to encourage in particular his social growth. He has blossomed in the warm nurturing environment and can't wait to see his teachers and friends each day. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us!
-- Charles, Finn's dad

My son has an impressive sense of purpose as he walks into his class room each morning, to his "work". His classmates' echoes of the teachers' warm greetings set the right tone for the day. Yoko's room has just the right combination of discipline and fun.
-- Renu, Theo's mom

Ithaca Montessori School has been a second home for my family for the past seven years. The teachers have instilled a model of education for my children that includes a warm and nurturing environment that is challenging and rewarding. The school is blessed with dedicated people who truly understand the value of quality education in a warm and nurturing environment.
-- Laura, Gabriel's and Jackson's mom

We have been a part of the IMS family for quite a few years now and would highly recommend IMS to other parents, especially those who may be new to the Ithaca community. IMS is a unique place that fosters creativity and independence by providing a warm, peaceful learning environment. With both a dedicated group of teachers and a diverse student body combined, IMS provides a learning environment of the highest quality. In addition, the doors are always open and welcoming to parents wanting to stop by, assist in the classroom or observe.
Speaking from our own experience, we feel as though IMS has allowed our child to be effective at learning by becoming responsible for her own work and feeling great pride in her success. IMS has provided our child with a great sense of accomplishment from directing her own learning and the result is that we now have a child who is secure in her ability to achieve to the highest level of potential now and in any future academic endeavors.
-- Lisa, Alicia's mom

Our two children, Andrew and Christopher, attended Ithaca Montessori School collectively over an eight year period. We believe IMS built a foundation for our children to enjoy a lifetime of learning. They learned, they grew and they developed respect and care for others which is an integral part of the Montessori educational philosophy. IMS always felt like our second home, a warm and caring place.
-- Joyce, Andrew's and Christopher's mom.