Narottama Tester

(He/Him)
Farm & Facilities Director

I serve as the Farm & Facilities Director at Catskill Montessori School in Catskill, New York, working closely with my partner and head of school, Gaura. My educational journey was unconventional; I was unschooled until I was ten, and following that, I attended public school in England. I later focused on early childhood education in college. My interest in Montessori education began when my child attended a Montessori preschool. That experience felt like a perfect fit for my values and goals.

Over the last 15 years, Gaura and I have pursued our interests in natural building, outdoor education, and earth stewardship. These passions led us to a partnership with Rob Kalin and the founding of Catskill Montessori School. One of my most significant contributions to the school has been co-creating the Earth Stewards program.

In my current role, I'm responsible for shaping the long-term vision of our land, maintaining our buildings and infrastructure, taking care of animals, and designing playscapes for our students. What I find most rewarding is creating and maintaining beautiful, productive spaces that serve the children and our community.

Outside of work, I enjoy natural building, gardening, meditation, biking, hiking, and swimming. I live by the quote, "Better a broken bone than a broken spirit," by Lady Allen of Hurtwood. I envision the future of Catskill Montessori School as a place where the classroom extends beyond four walls, communities come together, and every individual's uniqueness is celebrated.