Our Founder’s Story
Words from Gaurapriya Tester
A Vision Takes Root
When we first set out to lay the foundation for Catskill Montessori School ahead of our momentous opening in the fall of 2020, Narottama, Rob Kalin, and I shared an urgent realization: the world our children are stepping into is moving at an extraordinarily rapid pace, and standard educational models are no longer keeping up. From two initial years of preparation through six years serving as Head of School, my primary focus was keeping that founding spark alive to meet this challenge.
We looked at Greene County and saw a profound need for a choice—a refuge of intentional, land-based learning. Nestled between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, the land itself demanded something deeper than classrooms with four walls. We wanted to offer children something ancient and essential: a way of seeing the world that honors both traditional wisdom and practical modern capability. An education built on reciprocity with the soil, real life skills, and an authentic Montessori ethos that teaches children how to listen, adapt, and stay rooted—no matter how fast the world changes around them.
The early years were pure, unvarnished grit, and for seven years, this land was where my family lived and breathed every step of the journey. My now adult children worked right alongside us, and my youngest grew up as a student here, making the birth of this school a deeply personal, family-led effort. Rob brought the land to the mission and served as our initial board chair to anchor the non-profit foundation. On the ground, Narottama led our farm and facilities, building out the gardens and playgrounds alongside me while we renovated spaces and set up classrooms from scratch.
Built From the Ground Up
It was a massive endeavor to open on time for our community; at our very first open house, the transformation was so fresh that the paint was literally still drying and tables were chairless. Alongside a devoted founding crew of educators and a core group of inaugural families, who entrusted us with thirty-one children, when we were still just a hopeful promise, we brought a living, breathing vision to life from the soil up.
Together, we built a thriving home for our youngest learners, growing from a bold idea into a vibrant toddler, early childhood, and elementary community where children truly learn how to live, work, and steward the world around them.
Growing Today
Today, as the school matures under the thoughtful care of its current dedicated administrative team and teachers, its core mission remains unchanged: equipping young people with the resilience, practical capability, and grounded humanity they need to navigate an ever-changing world.
Moments Along the Way
