named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Apprentice Learning
Informal, student-driven skill development through mentorship and hands-on experience
Gardening Co-op
Student-initiated gardening group that raises funds for seeds through activities like milkshake sales
School Meeting
Democratic governance body where students and staff make school rules, manage conflicts, and decide on policies
Theater Co-op
Student-led theater group that produces and performs musicals such as "Spamalot"
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
- Delivers project-based and interest-led programming for studentsOffers a range of student-driven programs including art workshops, music and theater productions (e.g., "Spamalot" through the Theater Co-op), river science field trips, live-action role playing workshops, and interest-based co-ops. Programming emphasizes hands-on learning and student leadership in creative and academic domains.
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School Governance & Strategic Oversight 1 activity
- Engages in strategic planning for institutional developmentEstablished a Strategic Planning Committee to assess the school’s current condition and guide future growth and programming improvements.
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Campus Facility Operations and Management 1 activity
- Maintains and develops campus facilities for educational and community useOperates a 5,000 square foot main building with 16 rooms (constructed in 2004), a secondary building with 1,000 square feet for group activities, and outdoor facilities including a blacktop, playing field, picnic areas, and a nearly one-acre wooded natural playscape. The school also organized a community-led build day to construct a new playground.
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Admissions Outreach and Enrollment Support 1 activity
- Manages admissions and outreach for prospective familiesConducts interviews, hosts open houses, and offers a Visiting Week program to introduce prospective students and families to the school’s philosophy and practices. Admissions are non-discriminatory and open to all regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Organizes field trips and experiential learning opportunitiesPlans and conducts field trips such as an overnight visit to Vanderkamp Center and river science excursions to provide experiential learning and community-building experiences for students and staff.
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Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provides specialized mentorship and support in creative and practical domainsOffers staff-supported mentorship in areas such as art, music, cooking, and building, helping students develop projects and skills in these domains. Staff also serve as cultural leaders and mentors within the school community.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Implements school governance and community structures to support student autonomy and conflict resolutionOperates democratic school structures including School Meeting and Judicial Committee; experimented with alternative conflict-resolution models by temporarily canceling the Judicial Committee. Also implemented new roles and policies such as Programming Clerk, Resolution Committee, screen time limits, Supplemental Staff, and an Advisor Program to enhance community functioning and student support.
- Provides K-12 democratic education through student self-governance and self-directed learningOffers a K-12 educational program grounded in democratic principles and Sudbury model practices, where students direct their own learning and participate in school governance through mechanisms such as School Meeting and Judicial Committee. The school transitioned from Hudson Valley Sudbury School to Zena Democratic School in 2023, maintaining continuity of mission and history.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$736K
Contributions & grants$40K5%
Program service revenue$695K94%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$811
expenses
Total expenses$615K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$383K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.48M
Cash$559K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.20M
Net assets$280K
Liquid reserves10.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +16.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 9
- Charles Morse — President
- Chisti Dryden — Director
- Cynthia Bushey — Director
- Katie Rose Hillegass — Director
- Lynn Bondar — Director
- Marina Lopez — Treasurer
- Matthew Gioia — Secretary
- Samuel Spitzberg — Director
- Vanessa Van Burek-Viruso — Director
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- Association of International Schools of India Partner — A student from Hudson Valley Sudbury School was invited to speak at an education conference hosted by TAISI in India.
- Bluestone Wild Forest Partner — Adjacent public land used for recreation and exploration by students.
- Brightwheel Partner — Uses Brightwheel to manage enrollment forms and payments.
- Onteora Lake recreation areas Partner — Adjacent public recreation areas providing access to thousands of acres of public land for student use.
- Sudbury Valley School Network — Expresses gratitude and maintains commitment to Sudbury values, indicating affiliation with or inspiration from the Sudbury model.
- Sudbury Valley School Network — Follows the Sudbury model of education pioneered by Sudbury Valley School and references its publications and philosophy as foundational to its approach.
- Sudbury Valley School Network — Historically affiliated with and deeply grateful to Sudbury Valley School; maintains commitment to core Sudbury values.
- Sudbury Valley School Network — References Sudbury Valley School as the foundational model for its educational approach and philosophy.
- Vanderkamp Center Partner — Hosted an overnight field trip for Hudson Valley Sudbury School students, staff, and parents.
- mybrightwheel.com Partner — Uses the mybrightwheel.com parent portal for submission of enrollment and visiting week packets.
strategies · 4
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 Democratic Culture Balances Autonomy with Belongingmethodology: community-centered_educationBy intentionally cultivating a caring, vibrant community alongside individual freedom, the school produces stronger student engagement and social connection, because a supportive, resource-rich community enhances the sustainability and depth of self-direction and democratic practice.
- Democratic Governance Cultivates Shared Responsibility and Social Developmentmethodology: democratic_governanceBy involving students and staff equally in rule-making, conflict resolution, and resource decisions through participatory governance, the school produces personal accountability, communal responsibility, and social competence, because shared power in a real democratic community teaches civic engagement and ethical interdependence.
- Self-Directed Learning Fosters Internal Motivation and Executive Functionmethodology: self_directed_educationBy granting students full autonomy over their time, learning, and goals, the school produces internal motivation, executive function, and self-regulation, because self-directed choices in a supportive environment enable organic development of responsibility and identity.
- Student-Initiated Programming and Experiential Pathways Expand Learning Freedommethodology: experiential_learningBy funding and supporting student-driven classes, projects, internships, and community-based experiences, the school produces deeper engagement and real-world skill development, because experiential learning rooted in personal interest and agency enables broader access to "positive freedoms" beyond mere absence of structure.