named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Athletics
Offers interscholastic sports and physical education programs promoting health and teamwork
Center for Inclusive Excellence
Advances equity, belonging, and ethical leadership across the school community through programming and support
College Counseling
Guides students through college selection and application process with personalized advising and application support
Learning Support
Provides academic accommodations and learning strategies for students through dedicated learning specialists
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Teacher Professional Development 2 activities
- Conduct faculty professional development programsRuns required on-campus professional development days and supports off-campus learning through graduate courses, conferences, and workshops. Offers funding for curriculum innovation and new course design.
- Support new and early-career faculty through structured onboardingOperates the New Faculty Institute, a one-week onboarding program covering pedagogy, school culture, and policies. Provides division-specific mentoring, pre-year communication, formal observations, and peer cohorts to support first- and second-year teachers.
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Student Housing and Residential Services 1 activity
- Administer boarding and residential life programsHosts approximately 200 boarding students and provides community-building activities such as movie nights and community dinners. The boarding program includes structured support systems and traditions that enhance belonging and student engagement.
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Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
- Advance institutional excellence through strategic centers and alignmentDevelops and sustains the Center for Inclusive Excellence to advance inclusion, wellness, ethical leadership, and service learning. Forges strong academic and experiential alignment across grades 5–12 and regularly assesses and revises curriculum to ensure college and career readiness.
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Youth and Student Entrepreneurship Competitions 1 activity
- Host academic and entrepreneurial competitionsHosts external academic events such as the Entrepreneurial "Diamond Challenge" competition, providing students with opportunities to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Structured Critical Thinking Curriculum 1 activity
- Implement student-centered pedagogical approachesUses the Harkness method—teaching and learning around an oval table—to promote collaborative discourse and student engagement. Faculty design lessons that foster active intellectual exploration, deep understanding, and shared inquiry across academic disciplines.
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College Preparatory Secondary Education 1 activity
- Operate a private educational institution with college preparatory curriculumProvides rigorous academic instruction for nearly 700 students, preparing them for matriculation to a wide range of colleges and universities, including highly selective national and international institutions. The school maintains compliance with New York State Board of Regents requirements through NYSAIS accreditation.
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Interscholastic and Inclusive School Sports Programs 1 activity
- Operate competitive athletic programsFields varsity sports teams including boys track and field, girls lacrosse, and relays, competing in the Fairchester Athletic Association and Penn Relays. The school has won championships in multiple events, including first place in the boys 4x400 relay at the Penn Relays.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Provide student leadership and ethical development programsOffers Purposeful Engagement and Ethical Leadership initiatives, wellness classes in Middle School, and a yearlong ninth-grade seminar focused on health, identity, belonging, and ethical leadership. Students also lead school events through organizations like the Dobbs Athletic Association.
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Student Club and Organization Support 1 activity
- Support student clubs and affinity groupsSupports more than 15 student-led groups that promote connection, advocacy, and service, including Mental Health at Masters, Latinos Unidos, Q+, Onyx, Jewish Culture Club, and MISH.
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School Governance & Strategic Oversight 1 activity
- Undergo independent school accreditation and self-study processesCompletes comprehensive self-studies as part of NYSAIS accreditation, examining all aspects of the school community. Engages in continual self-improvement and external review by visiting teams of professionals to meet independent school standards.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Deliver experiential and urban studies programsOffers CITYterm, a one-semester, experience-based urban studies program launched in fall 1996, providing students with immersive learning opportunities in an urban context.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$66.09M
Contributions & grants$15.50M23%
Program service revenue$44.87M68%
Investment income$5.37M8%
Other revenue$357K
expenses
Total expenses$55.30M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$28.45M
Grants paid out$8.75M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$239.46M
Cash$32.97M
Investments$90.44M
Liabilities$41.30M
Net assets$198.16M
Liquid reserves26.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +20.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURA DANFORTH | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $1.01M |
| SETH MARX | ASSOC. HEAD OF SCHOOL, INST. ADVANCEMENT | 40 | $362K |
| ANDREW SCHNEIDER | ASSOC. HEAD FOR FINAC. & OPERAT. | 40 | $361K |
| SAM SAVAGE | ASSOC. HEAD FOR FACULTY & ACADEMICS | 40 | $252K |
| TASHA ELSBACH | HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL | 40 | $231K |
| DANIEL PEREIRA | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $225K |
| EMMA KATZNELSON | ASSOC. HEAD FOR ENROLL. & STRAT. | 40 | $214K |
board members · 18
- ALLISON MOORE — VICE CHAIR
- ASEMA AHMED — TRUSTEE
- BETH NOLAN — CHAIR
- CHRISTINA MASTERS JONES — TRUSTEE
- DANA W OLIVER — SECRETARY
- EDGAR M MASTERS — TRUSTEE
- JODI BINNERFIELD — TRUSTEE
- JONATHAN RESNICK — TRUSTEE
- KARA DIOGUARDI — TRUSTEE
- KATHERINE A HENRY — TREASURER
- LYNN PILZER SOBEL — TRUSTEE
- MICHAEL GREENE — TRUSTEE
- MIRNA A VALERIO — TRUSTEE (OUTGOING)
- NATASHA BANSGOPAUL — TRUSTEE
- PHILIP KASSEN — TRUSTEE
- RAJAY BAGARIA — TRUSTEE
- RAJIV RATAN — TRUSTEE (OUTGOING)
- RONEN ISRAEL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Board of Trustees Government — School’s leadership team and Board of Trustees are committed to ongoing work in core institutional excellence areas.
- Board of Trustees Partner — Approved coeducational transition and implementation of the Harkness method in 1996.
- Dobbs Athletic Association Partner — Student-led organization at The Masters School that plans athletic events and school traditions.
- Fairchester Athletic Association Partner — Competes in athletic events organized by the Fairchester Athletic Association.
- Jewish Culture Club Partner — Student group supported by the Center for Inclusive Excellence that celebrates Jewish identity and promotes cultural understanding.
- Latinos Unidos Partner — Student group supported by the Center for Inclusive Excellence that fosters connection, advocacy, and cultural belonging for Latino students.
- MISH Partner — Student group supported by the Center for Inclusive Excellence that provides community and cultural engagement for Jewish students.
- Mental Health at Masters Partner — Student group supported by the Center for Inclusive Excellence that provides peer connection, advocacy, and service around mental health.
- NYSAIS Government — Accredited member school undergoing periodic review to meet state and independent school standards.
- Onyx Partner — Student group supported by the Center for Inclusive Excellence that supports Black and African American students through connection and advocacy.
- Q+ Partner — Student group supported by the Center for Inclusive Excellence that promotes inclusion, advocacy, and support for LGBTQ+ students.
- RG175 Partner — Search partner engaged in the Head of School search process.
- Westchester Angels Partner — Partnered with Masters School to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
- independent schools in New York City Partner — Second-year faculty visit these schools for professional development, observation, and networking.
- independent schools in Westchester County Partner — Second-year faculty visit these schools for professional development, observation, and networking.
strategies · 3
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.
- Belonging as Foundational to Learning and Developmentmethodology: belonging-before-performanceBy prioritizing a strong sense of community and belonging — aligned with a Maslow-based developmental framework — we enable student engagement, well-being, and academic achievement because psychological safety precedes higher-order growth like self-esteem and self-actualization.
- Experiential Learning for Real-World Problem Solvingmethodology: experiential_learningBy engaging students in experiential learning — applying knowledge to real-world problems, internships, service, and entrepreneurship — we develop dynamic problem solvers because authentic contexts deepen relevance, motivation, and skill integration.
- Harkness Method as Collaborative Knowledge-Buildingmethodology: harkness_methodBy using the Harkness method — where students and teachers co-construct knowledge through discussion at a shared table — we foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and communication skills because dialogue promotes active engagement and intellectual ownership.