Letter to TMS Parents
from Board Chair
October 2021

To The Montessori School Families, Faculty, Staff and Community Partners,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to formally congratulate Laurie Stulb, who has announced her intention to retire at the end of her contract, July 2022. We are incredibly grateful for her consistent and heartfelt support of the mission of TMS, with emphasis on the students, love of learning, and community and global citizenship. Laurie’s invaluable imprint on our school community over the past 14 years will have lasting, positive effects for generations of families, students and faculty. 

Under Laurie’s steadfast leadership and guidance, we would like to recognize the following major accomplishments during her tenure:

  • Inclusion of TMS to the wider world of the Montessori and Independent School communities through active participation in Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and American Montessori Society (AMS).

  • Major remodeling of the school’s physical site with improvements to classrooms, support such as HVAC, office space, playgrounds, outdoor entry, and overall aesthetic.

  • Development of the outdoor play scape for Toddler and Children’s House, inclusion of a GaGa pit, a mural for Elementary, outdoor education and garden through Sustainable Science.

  • Development of technology programs to enhance student learning.

  • Seamless transitioning and succession planning as veteran Guides retire ensuring TMS support for the education, training and mentoring of our now established next generation of excellent Guides.

  • Demonstration of resilient COVID pandemic protocols which allowed TMS to remain open and free of in-school transmission for the 2020-2021 school year.

  • Efficient collaboration with me and the Board of Trustees, as well as community partners in Upper Dublin Township to move the school forward.

  • TMS has been sustaining healthy levels of enrollment and fiscally sound financial strength for every year under her disciplined management.

The TMS Board of Trustees is confident that we will ensure a seamless transition to our new leadership. The Administrative Transition Team will actively work with a professional search firm in this process, and the school community will receive communications at key junctures along the way.

In conversation with Laurie, I know that her drive and focus remains firmly on TMS and the continued work of safe, in-person learning. Thank you to Laurie for her continued passionate support of our school and community during this time of transition.  

Sincerely,
Ngoc Tran
Chair, The Montessori School Board of Trustees
Administrative Transition Team Members
Dareus Conover
Current and alumni parent, TMS alumnus '86, Systems Architect for University of Pennsylvania College of Arts & Sciences

Marj Horton
Trustee, Director of Montessori Teacher Education Program at Chestnut Hill College

Keri Kelly
Former TMS Children’s House Guide, Reading Specialist, Alumni parent

Amy Robinson
Current TMS Lower Elementary Guide, TMS alumna '96

Brittany Shearon
Trustee, Former educator and director of literacy program within Philadelphia School District

Karen Walsh
Former Board Chair, Trustee, Alumni parent, Senior Executive Bank of America

Sue Zaharchuk
Trustee, Former leader of TMS capital campaign, Alumni parent
The TMS Board of Trustees has begun the process for finding the next Head of School to begin as soon as the 2022-2023 school year. The search process will be led by an Administrative Transition Team of members who are named above in partnership with an education search and consulting firm. The search process will involve communication and feedback from the entire TMS community.

The transition of leadership in administration will reinforce and strengthen the mission of TMS as an institution. We are committed to hiring a leader who recognizes and values our unparalleled program and is committed to furthering the success of our gem of a school.  

We are excited for the future of TMS and thank you in advance for your participation in this process.
The Montessori School
1701 Jarrettown Road, Dresher, PA 19025
215-542-0740