named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Nursery Program
Program for children aged 2 years 8 months to 3 years 8 months with class size of 14 children and 2-3 teachers
Pre-K Program
Program for children aged 3 years 8 months to 4 years 8 months with class size of 14 children and 2-3 teachers
Studio Program
Art and creative expression program led by an atelierista who also serves as a classroom teacher
Toddler Program
Program for children aged 19 months to 2 years 7 months with class size of 11 children and 2-4 teachers
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 2 activities
- Operate an early childhood education program based on the Reggio Emilia philosophyProvides year-round early childhood education for children ages 19 months to 4 years 8 months through toddler, nursery, and pre-K classes grounded in an adapted Reggio Emilia approach that emphasizes child-led inquiry, collaborative research projects, and documentation of learning processes. The program operates on an 11-month calendar with daily hours from 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM and maintains a high teacher-to-child ratio.
- Prepare and maintain learning environments to support child developmentCurates and prepares classroom spaces, including a Studio and backyard area, as well as a toddler classroom in the basement of an Upper West Side brownstone, to support play, inquiry, and learning activities aligned with the Reggio Emilia philosophy.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Deliver specialized art and music enrichment programs for childrenProvides biweekly art sessions in a dedicated Studio led by an atelierista, where small groups of children explore materials and engage in collaborative art-making using specific techniques, and conducts weekly music and movement sessions with a professional music teacher to support creative development.
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Family-School Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Facilitate parent engagement and family participation in classroom activitiesOperates as a parent cooperative, integrating families into the school’s functioning by inviting parents to join classroom activities every Friday, participate in birthday celebrations, and attend special events such as Harvest Feast, Parent-Child Evening, and Special Person’s Day to strengthen family-school connections.
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Charter School Admissions Lottery Management 1 activity
- Manage admissions and enrollment for early childhood programConducts a structured admissions process with early notification decisions on December 9th for applications completed by November 16th, general notifications on February 25th at 8 AM for applications completed by January 8, 2027, and considers late applications on a rolling basis or for waitlist placement based on availability.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Participate in professional educational networks for admissions and best practicesEngages with the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY) to support equitable admissions practices, share resources, and access professional development opportunities.
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Early Childhood Education Financial Assistance 1 activity
- Provide financial assistance to enrolled familiesOffers limited financial assistance to families enrolled in the nursery school to support access and affordability.
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Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
- Support children's literacy and communication development through guided instructionTeaches reading and supports literacy development through shared reading activities and book-based instruction, while also fostering communication and play skills in toddlers through guided classroom activities and responsive care during moments of injury or distress.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Document and communicate student learning through structured assessment and reportingProduces daily journals, monthly progress portfolios, biannual progress reports, and holds parent-teacher conferences to document and communicate student learning. Classroom documentation panels are created and displayed to highlight ongoing projects and the learning process.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.14M
Contributions & grants$43K4%
Program service revenue$1.04M91%
Investment income$56K5%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.17M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.06M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.85M
Cash$733K
Investments$1.11M
Liabilities$777K
Net assets$1.08M
Liquid reserves18.9 mo
4 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -6.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY DRESCHER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $97K |
| LAUREN SOBEL | CO-DIRECTOR | 40 | $79K |
board members · 3
- DAVID DECLERQ — BOARD CHAIR
- JESSICA FREEDMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- KATY BREWSTER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Alexa Capanna Partner — Pre-K teacher at Family Annex Nursery School
- Blackbaud Partner — Partner organization used to process financial aid applications for the nursery school.
- Columbia University Partner — Provides additional resources and oversight through an affiliation with Family Annex.
- Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York Network — Member of ISAAGNY, adhering to shared admissions timelines and participating in professional development and resource exchange.
- Keiko Tanaka Partner — Pre-K teacher at Family Annex Nursery School
- Lauren Partner — Leadership staff member involved in school operations and parent communication.
- Nancy Partner — School director providing leadership and long-term developmental guidance for children and families.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children Network — Holds prestigious certification from NAEYC, indicating adherence to high early childhood education standards.
- New York City Department of Education Government — Aligns school calendar with NYC DOE public schools for holidays and breaks, with adjustments.
- Suzanne Pant Partner — Pre-K teacher at Family Annex Nursery School
- Teachers College, Columbia University Partner — Multiple faculty members have obtained degrees from Teachers College, indicating a strong educational affiliation.
- Upper West Side brownstone Partner — Hosts the Toddler Room classroom in the basement of a private building.
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.
- Atelierista-Led Studio Approach to Artistic Developmentmethodology: atelieristaBy employing a dedicated atelierista to guide long-term, process-oriented art projects, we deepen children’s capacity for symbolic thinking and collaboration, because sustained artistic inquiry supports cognitive, emotional, and social growth.
- Environment as the Third Teachermethodology: environment_as_third_teacherBy intentionally designing the physical space to be responsive and rich in materials, we enhance children’s autonomy and learning, because the environment acts as an active participant that invites exploration, communication, and choice.
- Family-Engaged Learning Modelmethodology: family-engaged_learningBy integrating families directly into classroom experiences and learning processes, we strengthen child outcomes and school-family trust, because shared participation fosters continuity between home and school and empowers parents as co-educators.
- Provocation-Based Inquiry to Stimulate Collaborative Explorationmethodology: provocation-based_learningBy presenting open-ended, aesthetically rich materials (provocations), we spark children’s curiosity and hypothesis-testing, because these stimuli naturally invite collaboration, sustained project work, and deep cognitive engagement.
- Reggio Emilia-Inspired Child-Led Learningmethodology: reggio_emiliaBy co-creating an emergent curriculum around children's interests and questions, we foster deeper engagement and a sustained love of learning, because children are more motivated and invest more when they direct their own exploration.