named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Montessori Early Childhood Program
Comprehensive preschool program for toddlers through kindergarten-aged children, emphasizing independence, practical life skills, and individualized learning within a Montessori framework.
Movement Program
Specialized program led by a movement instructor, culminating in an annual performance, integrating physical development and creative expression into the curriculum.
Music Instruction
Visiting music teacher provides Orff-based music education, enhancing the curriculum with structured musical learning and performance opportunities.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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School Governance & Strategic Oversight 1 activity
- Administer school operations and planningConducts strategic planning, budget oversight, and policy formation to support the ongoing operation of the school, including managing a permanent location at 237 Park Place since 2010 and transitioning from a prior drop-in model under the YWCA (1977–2003).
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Deliver teacher professional developmentDevelops and delivers a professional development program for educators called The Circle Time Project, aimed at building capacity in early childhood teaching practices.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Offer extended and vacation programsOperates February and April vacation camps and a summer camp program running from early July to mid-August, daily from 8am to 4pm. The summer program serves current students, rising first graders, and non-enrolled children, with full-week attendance required and staffed by Montessori teachers, interns, and specialists. Activities include gardening, soccer, nature visits, park trips, and rest time in air-conditioned classrooms.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Organize educational outings and special activitiesProvides daily special activities including gardening, music, movement, art, and zoology, and organizes regular educational trips to locations such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park, and the Brooklyn Public Library to enrich the curriculum.
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Montessori Education Programs 1 activity
- Provide Montessori-based early childhood educationOperates a preschool for children ages 2 to 5 years, offering mixed-age classrooms grounded in Montessori pedagogy. The program includes seven classrooms each staffed by three teachers, at least one of whom is Montessori certified, and serves children through individualized, self-directed learning in literacy, numeracy, and life skills using materials such as sandpaper letters and the binomial cube.
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Early Childhood Education Financial Assistance 1 activity
- Provide tuition assistance to increase accessOperates a tuition assistance program to support families in accessing Montessori-based early childhood education, promoting inclusivity and equitable enrollment.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.92M
Contributions & grants$77K2%
Program service revenue$3.81M97%
Investment income$28K1%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$3.82M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.61M
Grants paid out$157K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.49M
Cash$1.78M
Investments$1.07M
Liabilities$2.04M
Net assets$1.45M
Liquid reserves9.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +1.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LATISHA COOK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $193K |
| ASHLEY EVANS | ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | 40 | $168K |
board members · 14
- ALICIA NEPTUNE — DIRECTOR
- ATTE ENYENIHI — SECRETARY
- BRANDY CRAWFORD — DIRECTOR
- DAVIS HERRON — VICE PRESIDENT
- ERIC MARTINEZ — DIRECTOR
- GEOFFREY LEWIS — DIRECTOR
- GREG BLAIR — TREASURER
- JENNY TOLAN — PRESIDENT
- JIZELLE ANDREWS — DIRECTOR
- LIZ CEDER — DIRECTOR
- NNEKA THEN — DIRECTOR
- PUJA KENIA — DIRECTOR
- TARA GILSON — DIRECTOR
- TEMI OMOJOLA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Brooklyn Early Childhood Directors Association Network — Latisha Cook serves as co-chair of BECDA, indicating organizational affiliation and leadership within the association.
- Grace Church Partner — Provided space for school operations in Park Slope prior to the 2010 move to 237 Park Place.
- Latisha Cook Partner — Point of contact for parent involvement with the board and board committees.
- Nature Company Partner — Provides visits and programming as part of the summer camp curriculum.
- The Nature Company Partner — Provides zoology programming as part of the school's enrichment activities.
- Turtle Bay Music School Partner — Collaborated with Turtle Bay Music School as their primary Outreach Program provider, leading to a specialist role at MDS.
- YWCA Partner — Hosted the Montessori Day School of Brooklyn as a drop-in program for working families from 1977 to 2003.
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.
- Concrete-to-Abstract Learning Progressionmethodology: concrete-to-abstract learningBy grounding abstract concepts in concrete, real-world experiences, we support deeper understanding and retention, because children develop cognitive skills most effectively when learning progresses from tangible interactions to symbolic thinking.
- Mixed-Age Peer Learning Cyclemethodology: mixed-age_peer_learningBy organizing classrooms with mixed-age groups, we enable younger children to learn through observation and older children to reinforce mastery through mentorship, because peer modeling and collaborative development create a self-reinforcing cycle of cognitive and social growth.
- Montessori-Based Child-Centered Developmentmethodology: montessori-educationBy applying Montessori principles—such as self-directed learning, individualized pacing, and hands-on exploration—we foster holistic child development and independence, because children naturally build cognitive, social, and emotional skills through active engagement with a prepared environment.
- Practical Life Skills as Foundational Learningmethodology: practical-life-skillsBy integrating practical life activities—such as pouring and scooping—into daily routines, we build motor skills, social understanding, and peer connections, because these concrete tasks serve as the developmental foundation for academic and interpersonal growth.
- Uninterrupted Work Cycles for Deep Engagementmethodology: uninterrupted_work_cyclesBy providing extended, uninterrupted work periods, we cultivate concentration, independence, and self-regulation, because sustained engagement with self-chosen tasks in a structured environment enables children to develop executive functioning and intrinsic motivation.