By Emilie De Angelis, Board of Trustees Chair
Escuela del Sol Montessori’s 57th school year is off to an amazing start! We’re thrilled to share this installment of our donor impact series to keep you informed and connected.
Whether you’re a currently enrolled family, school alumnus or alumni family, a grandparent, or former faculty — we’re so grateful that you believe in what we do. Your support ensures that Escuela continues to grow, thrive, and inspire. Thank you!
As alumni parent Laura Freed reminded us during our Escuela Alumni Impact Award community celebration, choosing the Escuela experience for your child is giving them a solid foundation and a touchstone for the rest of their lives.
We asked two of our alumni families to reflect on what Escuela has meant to their children — and now, to their grandchildren.
Sally: From Writing Workshops to Watching Grandkids Grow
When Sally Davis enrolled her three children at Escuela del Sol Montessori in 1984, she was drawn to the creative spirit and collaborative approach of the guides — including her friend Gay Waterbury and founding director Friedje van Gils.
“It was just the sort of school I wanted: a place where trained educators were excited about using Montessori practices, but also applying the principles creatively and collaboratively,” she says. “That made me a loyal Escuela parent.”
Today, her grandchildren walk the same campus, nurtured by the same core values.
“I couldn’t believe it when I accompanied my grandkids on their first days at Escuela and saw people I knew 30 years ago still teaching there! This is something rare and wonderful — a remarkable achievement.”
Renee: From Newcomer to Lifelong Advocate
Renee Ornelas first discovered Escuela del Sol Montessori in 1989 after she and her husband moved to Albuquerque for new roles at the University of New Mexico. They needed a school for their daughter Rita, and Renee remembered how much she’d appreciated Montessori education in San Francisco.
“Escuela was so welcoming and kind,” Renee recalls. “That little yellow house on Mountain, the warmth of the guides — it all felt right.”
Over time, both of her daughters attended Escuela. “It just kept getting better and better,” she says.
“They added more classes, the music program was incredible, and it was so clear the school was preparing them to be confident, compassionate people.”
Now, decades later, her grandchildren are thriving, too. Her granddaughter attended Escuela while Rita took a sabbatical from her job with the United Nations refugee program. Rita has returned to Escuela for this school year with both her young daughters, after a brief relocation with her family to Aruba.
“I can see the Escuela side coming out — the independence, the curiosity, the way she listens and learns,” Renee says. “She’s not even two yet!”
Lifelong Lessons: Confidence, Kindness, + Creativity
Both mothers credit Escuela with instilling a deep foundation of self-direction, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility in their adult children — and now in their grandchildren.
“My kids learned to follow their hearts at Escuela,” says Sally. “Now they’re creative, engaged parents.”
“Escuela didn’t just prepare my girls academically,” Renee adds. “It taught them how to be in the world. They’re generous, confident, and grounded.”
Even when her daughters moved on to more conventional schools, the Escuela experience stood out.
“They were so far ahead — in math, reading, even music,” Renee says. “But the hardest part was adjusting to environments that didn’t value kindness and cooperation in the same way.”
Dreams for Escuela’s Future
As it moves into its next chapter, both grandmothers have the same wish for their grandchildren’s school: continued growth, strong support, and unwavering values.
“I hope Escuela continues to thrive and build a growing community,” says Sally.
“It’s worth every penny,” Renee adds. “They invest in kids, classrooms, and programs. I’d love to see even more support for guides.”
Thank You for Making These Stories Possible
Because of your support for Escuela, families like Sally’s and Renee’s are experiencing the joy of watching their grandchildren grow in the same nurturing, visionary community that shaped their own children.
The Sunflower Circle: A New Way to Leave a Legacy
You can join a community of thoughtful supporters planting seeds for generations to come by planning an estate gift to Escuela or Harwood. Contact Executive Director Kate Chavez at executivedirector@edelsol.org for information.
Annual Escuela Alumni Impact Award
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the annual Escuela Alumni Impact Award community celebration on October 2nd! It was an amazing evening celebrating our Alumni Impact Award honorees, environmental educator Nicholas Bachand and astrophysicist Janosz Dewberry. Our honorees reminded us that community, connection, nurturing curiosity, and an interest in lifelong learning are the foundation and the north star of our mission and vision for Escuela.
Nominations are open for the 2026 Escuela Alumni Impact Award! Nominate alumni who are impacting their communities today!
Meet the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees helps guide strategic decisions for Escuela del Sol Montessori and Harwood Art Center. We provide the fiduciary review required by our 501c3 status, serve as thought partners, and advocate to ensure sustainability, mission alignment, and success of the organization. Our Escuela + Harwood Board is Emilie De Angelis, Board Chair; Douglas Carver, Secretary; Maria Garcia Geer, Treasurer; Allison Chavez; Ann Edenfield Sweet; Linh Nguyen; and Kersen Witkin.
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