We adults must see the real humanity in children, the humanity which will take our place one day, if we are to have social progress. Social progress means that the next generation is better than the one before.”
— Maria Montessori, The London Lectures
Introduction
As we complete the first year of progress on our Strategic Plan 2030, Chiaravalle celebrates a meaningful cycle of growth and renewal. This inaugural year has given us the opportunity to put our vision into action, establishing roots that will flourish in the years to come.
For nearly 60 years, Chiaravalle has been a place where children are empowered to grow into resilient, compassionate, and capable human beings. In August 2024, we began this new strategic plan, reaffirming our commitment to developing global citizens who possess an awareness and understanding of their place in the wider world. Chiaravalle students are not just academically accomplished; they also possess the knowledge and skills to take an active role in helping to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable, and just.
We have spent this year cultivating the next generation of curious, confident, and independent thinkers, guided by our four strategic pillars:
- Empower Humans Who Thrive in an Evolving World
- Innovate Education through Modern Montessori
- Nurture a Culture of Community, Dignity and Belonging
- Invest in Operational Resilience and Sustainability
As you read through this State of the School update, you'll see examples of how these pillars have shaped our community's experience and growth throughout 2024-2025.
The ideas and actions highlighted here represent more than individual accomplishments — they reflect our collective journey toward realizing our vision of a modern Montessori approach designed to prepare students for the evolving needs of the world they live in and will inherit.
Empower
Our Strategic Plan calls us to cultivate agile thinkers who can navigate complexity, maintain their moral compass, and act as catalysts for positive change. This year, we've deepened our commitment to developing students who have the confidence and sense of purpose necessary to thrive in environments full of risk and uncertainty.
Making a Difference Through Service
When our Lower Elementary 302 students learned that Oak Knoll Montessori School had lost its campus to the Los Angeles wildfires, they exemplified what empowerment truly means. Rather than simply expressing sympathy, these young change-makers took decisive action.
After thoughtful analysis, they calculated that a restaurant partnership would raise more funds than a traditional bake sale. The students organized Dine for Dollars at Noodles & Company, mobilizing our community to support fellow Montessori students across the country. Their initiative provided essential supplies for Oak Knoll and delivered a powerful lesson: even small hands can make a big difference when guided by compassion and purpose.
Their response illustrates how a current event, a spark of curiosity, and a single nugget of knowledge can ignite a rich, student-driven learning journey—one made possible by our incredible teachers and supported by a community that truly believes in the power of childhood.
Service learning flourished throughout our community this year:
Building Social-Emotional Foundations
To strengthen our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative, 15 faculty and staff members attended RULER training this year. RULER is an evidence-based approach to SEL developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, which builds skills across all ages to create positive, compassionate learning environments. This important first step focuses on adult growth to create the optimal environment for our students. By equipping our educators with these tools, we‘re creating a more emotionally intelligent community where students can develop the self-awareness and relationship skills essential for future leadership.
What you witness at Chiaravalle is the kind of engaged, interdisciplinary learning that happens here every day — where questions lead to more questions, and students are encouraged to go deeper in their understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Innovate
At Chiaravalle, innovation is not a departure from tradition — it’s an evolution of it. Guided by the enduring principles of Montessori education and enriched by evidence-based research, we design learning experiences that spark creativity, foster critical thinking, and build collaboration. Whether in the classroom or through faculty growth, innovation is about responding to the changing world while holding fast to what matters most: the development of capable, curious, and compassionate young people.
Elevating Learning Through Curriculum and Collaboration
This year, our faculty engaged in a comprehensive and ongoing review of our math curriculum to ensure it is aligned across program levels and inclusive of all learners. Through our Modern Montessori Math Project, educators from Early Childhood through Middle School expanded multisensory strategies that strengthen student understanding. These practices — especially in complex topics like fractions — were incorporated alongside our traditional Montessori materials to better support diverse learning profiles and close gaps in unfinished learning or stretch learners in need of greater challenge.
Our updated approach includes alignment with tools like IXL and YouCubed, helping students build fluency and problem-solving skills through engaging, differentiated instruction.
This kind of responsive, inclusive planning reflects our growing emphasis on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), where teachers design from the start with the full range of learners in mind. Teachers are not only identifying areas where students need more support or to stretch — they’re collaborating across grade levels to build coherence and consistency in how core skills are introduced, practiced, and assessed.
Investing in Teachers as Leader and Learners
Innovation begins with our educators. This year, we deepened our investment in professional learning that supports instructional creativity and coherence. One example was the yearlong coaching series focused on writing instruction.
Teachers from Kindergarten through Upper Elementary engaged in a three-part coaching cycle, reflecting on their practices and calibrating expectations across grade levels. These sessions helped ensure students develop writing fluency and voice through consistent, vertically aligned instruction.
This collaborative model — where teachers are supported as reflective practitioners — is central to our evolving approach to professional growth. It mirrors the learning we ask of our students: to stay curious, to adapt with purpose, and to share what they know with others.
Cultivating Leadership Through Practice
We also recognize that sustaining innovation means cultivating the next generation of Montessori leaders. This year, five teachers advanced their journey toward Montessori certification — part of our intentional effort to “grow our own” and ensure Chiaravalle’s future is shaped by educators who understand and live the values of Montessori education.
This investment in leadership is already strengthening our classrooms. These aspiring teacher-leaders bring fresh insights, share new practices with colleagues, and contribute to a culture where learning is ongoing. Their work supports both individual student growth and our broader vision of program excellence.
Nurture
Montessori education recognizes that meaningful learning begins with a deep sense of safety and connection. At Chiaravalle, we nurture a school culture where students feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow — not only academically but as whole human beings. Through traditions, new initiatives, and intentional dialogue, we’ve strengthened the relationships and values that make this possible.
Building a Culture of Belonging
Our year began, as it always does, with a focus on building community. The first six weeks of school were dedicated to creating environments where each child feels competent, connected, and cared for — laying the foundation for academic risk-taking and social-emotional development.
From gym nights in Early Childhood to movie nights in Lower Elementary and game nights in Upper Elementary, joyful gatherings brought students and families together across age groups. These informal moments of connection built the kind of trust and belonging that carries into everyday classroom life.
We also introduced new ways for families to support one another. A series of Early Childhood Parent Education events — designed by popular vote — offered insight into topics like co-regulation and children’s nervous systems. These hybrid sessions blended presentation with peer discussion, giving parents tools to navigate developmental challenges and deepen their connection to the Chiaravalle community. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the need for spaces where parenting can be shared, not siloed.
Honoring Dignity Across Our Community
This year, we took the next step in our school-wide focus on dignity — a concept that resonates deeply with both Montessori philosophy and our strategic vision. Inspired by Donna Hicks’ Leading with Dignity, Head of School Robyn McCloud-Springer led conversations with the Board and administrative team to explore how dignity shapes leadership and learning.
Our faculty and Middle School students were also introduced to this framework, laying the groundwork for practices that affirm each person’s worth and foster inclusion across classrooms. As Head of School Robyn McCloud-Springer reminds us, “Everyone wants to be treated as if they matter.”
To support this shared commitment, members of our staff, parent, and administrative teams attended the “Advancing DEI: Pathways to Belonging” conference, gaining new tools for dialogue, storytelling, and inclusion. They returned energized and ready to further our mission.
Throughout the year, our Community SEED group continued its reflective work, bringing together parents, alumni, and educators to engage in meaningful conversations across lines of difference. A shared visit to Northwestern’s “Woven Being” exhibit capped the season—a tangible reminder that art, dialogue, and cultural understanding can unite generations in a shared sense of humanity.
Invest
Chiaravalle’s long-term vitality rests on thoughtful, forward-looking investment — in people, in place, and in the experiences we provide for children. As we carry out our Strategic Plan, we are building a foundation that ensures our mission will thrive for years to come.
Investing in Educators
Chiaravalle continues to support teachers toward their multi-year journey of earning their Montessori credentials, supported professionally and financially by the school. In a field where Montessori educators are often “grown” rather than hired, this strategic approach not only strengthens classroom instruction today but also builds leadership capacity for tomorrow. These future head teachers bring energy and insight into our programs and will serve as mentors to their colleagues and role models for their students.
Strengthening Our Foundation
At a time when many schools are navigating enrollment challenges, Chiaravalle exceeded expectations. We launched a targeted spring marketing campaign to engage prospective families during the peak months for Toddler and Early Childhood decision-making. Through storytelling, social media, and a renewed focus on our community's strengths, we reached new families while reconnecting with alumni and grandparents. The results were encouraging: applications rose, and engagement across our digital channels brought out joyful reflections from Chiaravalle alumni, including favorite field trips and memories that have stood the test of time.
Each year, Chiaravalle sets a budgeted goal for the Annual Fund, an investment that families make in Chiaravalle above and beyond tuition. We are thrilled to share that we have achieved our budgeted goal of $300,000, raising a total of $308,000.
Behind the scenes, we also made several operational improvements that reflect our commitment to responsible school management and long-term sustainability. We welcomed new advisors to our leadership team, including a new school attorney and investment group, ensuring Chiaravalle's legal and financial decisions are guided by expertise aligned with our mission and values. Additionally, we implemented a comprehensive new HR system that streamlines processes and enhances our ability to support faculty and staff effectively.
These visible and invisible investments, from engaging prospective families to strengthening our operational backbone, create the stable foundation that allows our educational mission to flourish.
Prioritizing Safety and Sustainability
To keep our campus welcoming and secure, we modernized key safety systems this year. We introduced a visitor management system, balancing warmth with well-being in every detail of our daily operations. We also added additional security surveillance cameras at key public entrances, exits, and interior hallways. Thanks to a generous donor, we installed anti-ballistic film on the first floor and interior classroom windows. This practical and sobering upgrade aligns with today’s safety standards.
Looking Ahead
At the heart of Chiaravalle is a belief in growth — not just academic, but human. This year, we empowered students to lead with confidence, invested in the practices that sustain joyful learning and nurtured the relationships that make our community strong. We honored the dignity of every learner and leaned into the kind of thoughtful innovation that prepares our children for a world in motion.
As we close out the first year of our Strategic Plan, we feel the momentum of growth and renewal. Our roots run deeper, and our vision feels more vibrant than ever. The seeds planted this year—in classrooms, in community, and in the hearts of our students—are already taking hold. They will continue to flourish in the years to come.
Thank you for partnering with us in this essential work. Your trust, presence, and participation help make Chiaravalle the dynamic place it is — a school where children are not only well-prepared for the world they will inherit, but inspired to make it more just, more peaceful, and more beautiful.
With gratitude,
Robyn McCloud-Springer, Head of School & Sara O’Mara, President, Chiaravalle Board of Trustees