named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Art Program
Visual arts curriculum taught by professional artists, including ceramics, drawing, painting, and jewelry-making, tailored to junior, upper, and middle school levels.
Extended Day and After School Program
Supervised care and enrichment activities beyond regular school hours, including outdoor movement, games, and community-building for students at various levels.
Middle School
Program for older students focusing on philosophical and multidisciplinary approaches to learning, including literature, history, science, and math, within a Montessori context.
Music Program
General music, chorus, and instrumental instruction for students across age groups, integrating performance, cultural exposure, and creative expression.
Physical Education and Outdoor Movement
Program promoting physical health, outdoor exploration, and group activities led by PE instructors with backgrounds in recreation and outdoor education.
Primary Program (Ages 3-6)
Montessori-based classroom environment fostering independence, language development, math, cultural studies, and practical life skills for young children.
Spanish Language and Cultural Instruction
Language program introducing Spanish to students, taught by fluent speakers with experience in multicultural education and community engagement.
Upper Level (Elementary)
Integrated academic and social curriculum for elementary students emphasizing critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and personal responsibility within a Montessori framework.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Montessori Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver Montessori-based education for children ages 3 through adolescenceProvides continuous Montessori education from age three through Middle School, progressing through developmental stages with a curriculum that integrates academic disciplines and fosters individual potential, community connection, and a mindful, just society. The program emphasizes hands-on, personalized, project-based learning and interdisciplinary studies in geography, biology, botany, history, and physical sciences.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Facilitate cross-age mentorship and leadership programsRuns a structured Buddy Program that pairs younger and older students for regular mentorship and connection, and provides leadership opportunities for Middle School students, including leading all-school assemblies and guiding younger peers through multi-age classroom interactions.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Operate after-school and extended-day programs with enrichment activitiesOffers daily after-school and extended-day programming for students in Primary, Junior Level, and Upper Level programs, including child-initiated art, music, and movement activities, teacher-led clubs, outdoor play, structured homework time, and recess. The Extended Day program also includes formal instruction in Spanish, art, music, wellness, and physical education.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Operate short-term day programs during school breaksProvides day programs during school breaks for enrolled students in Primary, Extended Day, and Junior Levels to support continuity of care and enrichment outside the regular academic calendar.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Organize hands-on, experiential learning and school tripsConducts school trips and hands-on learning activities such as fossil excavation, gardening, experiments, and presentations to deepen understanding through first-hand community experiences and active knowledge construction.
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Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide specialized subject instruction in music, Spanish, wellness, and physical educationDelivers dedicated instruction in music, Spanish, wellness, and physical education as part of the Extended Day and Junior Level curricula. These programs are integrated into the school day and after-school offerings, with certified staff leading each discipline.
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Organizational Sustainability Management 1 activity
- Support student health and operational managementProvides on-site nursing services and oversees financial, business, and transportation operations for the school, including coordinating student transportation with local school districts.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Integrate media literacy and digital skills into the curriculumTeaches students to analyze and deconstruct media messages as part of a 21st-century Practical Life curriculum, while also developing skills in word processing and digital presentations to support critical thinking and communication.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.10M
Contributions & grants$101K2%
Program service revenue$3.86M94%
Investment income$111K3%
Other revenue$26K
expenses
Total expenses$3.94M
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.03M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.86M
Cash$2.10M
Investments$949K
Liabilities$733K
Net assets$6.13M
Liquid reserves9.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAWN GROVER | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 55 | $126K |
| LISA SMITH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $115K |
| ELIZABETH ALLEN | DEAN OF STUDENTS | 40 | $114K |
board members · 10
- ANDREW LESSER — BOARD MEMBER
- CELIA BIGONESS — SECRETARY/BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID STERN — BOARD MEMBER
- LAURA BORDONI — SECRETARY
- LIEBE MEIER-SWAIN — VICE PRESIDENT
- PETER LITTMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- RAUL PALMA — BOARD MEMBER
- STEPHEN BRADSHAW — BOARD MEMBER
- TONY SIMIONE — PRESIDENT
- VIVIAN ZAYAS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Andrea Partner — Founding teacher and co-founder of the school who implemented Montessori methods with a child with Down syndrome, contributing to the school's inclusive philosophy.
- Cornell Outdoor Education Partner — Danni Ford brings experience from and continues to teach with Cornell Outdoor Education during summer months.
- Dryden Central School District Partner — Provides transportation services for EACMSI students via district-specific request forms.
- Ithaca City School District Partner — Coordinates student transportation with EACMSI through shared forms and registration processes.
- Lansing Central School District Partner — Provides transportation services for EACMSI students via district-specific request forms.
- New York State Department of Health Government — Receives and complies with state health department requirements to distribute flu vaccination information.
- Newfield Central School District Partner — Provides transportation services for EACMSI students via district-specific request forms.
- Trumansburg Central School District Partner — Provides transportation services for EACMSI students via district-specific request forms.
- greater Ithaca community Partner — Provides hands-on learning experiences for middle school students within local community settings.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Centered Development with Peer Mentorshipmethodology: peer_mentorship_cultureBy organizing multi-age classrooms and embedding student mentorship into school culture, the school creates leadership and peer engagement opportunities, because vertical relationships across age groups foster shared responsibility, collaboration, and deeper social-emotional growth within a community-centered environment.
- Cosmic Education for Global Citizenshipmethodology: cosmic-educationBy using imaginative, story-based, and interdisciplinary cosmic lessons, the school helps students understand universal interdependence and their role in the whole, because fostering a sense of connection and responsibility through narrative and experiential learning cultivates globally conscious and harmonious world citizens.
- Education as a Lever for Social Changemethodology: education-for-social-changeBy grounding early childhood education in Montessori and relational principles, the school aims to transform society toward equity, justice, and peace, because foundational experiences in independence, self-advocacy, and respect for diverse perspectives during childhood produce responsible, engaged citizens who can drive systemic change.
- Experiential and Purpose-Driven Learning for Identity Formationmethodology: experiential_educationBy combining academic rigor with hands-on, purposeful work and mentorship, the school supports adolescents in shaping their identities, because real responsibility and guided experiential learning within a prepared environment foster independence, ethical reflection, and a sense of agency.
- Montessori-Based Individualized Developmentmethodology: montessori-educationBy using the Montessori approach to create child-centered, developmentally appropriate environments, the school fosters full individual potential and guides children toward independence and active citizenship, because individualized development within a structured, prepared environment enables intrinsic motivation and social responsibility.