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DEI Work at Summit

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity and Summit Montessori School

To be a member of the Summit Montessori School community is to feel welcomed, challenged, and at ease. It is the type of place where a 10 year old feels emboldened to petition the Head of School for ice cream every day as part of the student experience and the request, while not ultimately not fulfilled, is met with curiosity, meetings with top administration, and a compromised ice cream day tied to a community service project. It is a community where families routinely report that they make lifelong friends on the playground afterschool and forge those relationships while volunteering together at the book fair or working on a math problem at curriculum night. There is a genuine sense of connection and support on staff – it’s the sort of place where standards are high, and one is supported to reach these heights with the time and resources needed to get there. 

Despite many coming out of Summit saying “it just feels like magic,” the Summit experience is no magic trick, it’s down to a lot of hard and intentional work done in collaboration at all levels. It begins with a deliberate dedication to building a diverse and inclusive community that is engaging in conversations around equity and justice. The work continues with high standards, mission driven activities, and a commitment to the Montessori method.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee of the school is composed of parents, board members, faculty, and administrative staff. The committee’s work is to broadly oversee and set the direction for the school around issues impacting DEI topics, ensuring that the work is woven into every aspect of school life.

DEI Committee Mission & Vision

DEI Committee Mission: To support and continue to foster a community where children cultivate their strengths to reach their unique potential and become active participants in the global community. We strive to maintain a learning environment where each person is treated with dignity and  respect, where we build a community that supports one another, and where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, histories, perspectives, identities,  culture, religions, and races. We imagine a community where the work of the DEI committee is woven into the fabric our our community and is  another way for our community to make our values tangible and explicit.

DEI Committee Vision: The Summit Montessori DEI committee, through its work is committed to fostering and supporting the Summit community on becoming a place where we take pride in our Diversity, believe deeply in Equity, and have a bias towards Inclusion.


Examples of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming

Just Lunch: Student-Led Justice Conversations in Upper Elementary

Just Lunch is Summit’s optional, student-driven justice group for Upper Elementary learners. Meeting weekly over lunch, the program invites students to explore justice issues that matter to them—from climate justice to queer justice to racial justice—and to consider how their voices and actions can make a positive impact.

Each session begins with topics brought forward by the students themselves. Guided by two faculty advisors, the group studies these issues, discusses real-world implications, and brainstorms meaningful ways to respond. Over the years, Just Lunch participants have:

  • Hosted guest speakers

  • Organized fundraisers

  • Created classroom materials for younger peers

  • Designed educational campaigns for the school community

  • Planned and completed small-scale service projects

Through thoughtful conversation and collaborative action, Just Lunch empowers students to deepen their understanding of justice, practice advocacy, and discover the many ways even young people can help build a more equitable world.

Letters of Belonging: Community Stories that Celebrate Who We Are

At Summit, we believe that belonging is cultivated through shared stories, open-hearted learning, and celebrations of the rich diversity within our community. Letters of Belonging is an ongoing initiative that invites families, staff, and community members to contribute personal reflections tied to the cultural and honorary months observed in our school’s Cultural Calendar.

Throughout the year, volunteers are invited to write a letter to the community in recognition of events such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Black History Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and more. Each letter is unique—some share personal experiences, others highlight why a particular month or day holds meaning, and many include resources or children’s books to help our community learn and honor these stories together. Contributors sometimes extend their participation by lending books to classrooms or offering learning materials connected to the month.

The Letters of Belonging have quickly become a cherished tradition. They help us bring the Cultural Calendar to life, deepen our understanding of one another, and celebrate the strength found in our differences. As one parent-writer shared, “the feeling of belonging here is palpable.”

These letters remind us that every voice enriches our community—and that belonging grows when we make space for one another’s stories.

Community Lit Circle: Shared Stories and Conversations

Each winter, Summit’s Community Lit Circle brings together parents, alumni, faculty, and students to share in the joy of reading and in the power of community conversation. The program has become a cherished tradition grounded in diverse storytelling and meaningful dialogue.

The Community Lit Circle invites attendees to read one of the selected books over the course of several weeks from the copies available to borrow (many are also accessible as audiobooks). These titles are carefully curated by the Upper Elementary teaching team, who choose works connected to themes in the cultural curriculum that promote discussion around diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. Examples of themes from previous years include:

  • Indigenous Own Voice selections, offering authentic narratives and rich perspectives on Indigenous Native American life.
  • Stories of neurodiversity where each book featured a neurodiverse protagonist that offered readers windows and mirrors to reflect on their own lives.
  • Titles on topics such as racial and queer justice that sparked thoughtful conversations about fairness, dignity, and allyship within and beyond our community.

On the evening of the event, participants gather for discussions facilitated by Upper Elementary students who have studied the books as part of their classwork. These young leaders guide conversations with thoughtfulness, curiosity, and enthusiasm—creating an inclusive space where every voice is welcome.

The Community Lit Circle is more than a book discussion—it’s a chance to connect across ages and experiences, deepen our understanding of the stories we read, and celebrate the shared values that make Summit a vibrant community of learners.

DEI Committee

Danielle Rousseau

Chair, Board of Trustees Recorder, Parent

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Danielle Rousseau

Chair, Board of Trustees Recorder, Parent

Dr. Danielle Rousseau, PhD, LMHC, RYT-500, is a professor at Boston University with appointments in Applied Social Sciences and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She serves as Director of Education and Research at Yoga 4 Change. A licensed trauma clinician and certified trauma-informed yoga instructor, Dr. Rousseau integrates criminology, psychology, and embodied healing practices. Dr. Rousseau is a dedicated social justice educator, researcher, practitioner, and advocate. Her professional expertise lies in trauma response, rape crisis, and victim/survivor advocacy, serving individuals in carceral settings and the community. Her research and advocacy focus on trauma-informed interventions, resilience, and justice reform. Widely published and nationally recognized, she empowers survivors and justice-involved individuals through mindfulness, movement, and radical self-care. Her work bridges scholarship and practice to promote healing-centered, socially just approaches to wellbeing.

Hannah Army

Elementary Coordinator and Upper Elementary Lead Teacher

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Hannah Army

Elementary Coordinator and Upper Elementary Lead Teacher

Hannah Army joined summit in the Fall of 2021 after teaching for the past eight years as Co-Lead (and then Lead) Upper Elementary teacher at the Oak Grove Montessori School in Mansfield, CT. Prior to her experience at Oak Grove, Hannah was a Math, Art, and History teacher at The Rectory School in Pomfret, CT for seven years. Hannah, who completed her Montessori UE training through the Center for Montessori Teacher Education, NY in 2014, shared that when she discovered Montessori education, she had already envisioned that this was the way she wanted to teach. She held the paradigm in her mind, and then discovered the way to deliver it when she discovered Montessori. Hannah earned an MA in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University and BA in Studio Art and Art History at Wheaton College. She recently completed the American Montessori Society’s ELF (Emerging Leaders’ Fellowship) program, which identifies and supports emerging leaders in the Montessori community. Hannah is passionate about DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) work, having supported her current school in moving this essential work forward in their school community.

John Bower

Board of Trustees Member and Parent

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John Bower

Board of Trustees Member and Parent

John Bower serves as the Head of Middle School at The Rivers School in Weston, Massachusetts, where he has been an educator for the past 18 years. With deep experience in teaching, learning, curriculum design, and school leadership, he has contributed to the Summit community as a member of the DEI Committee, the Head of School Search Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee for the “Summit Together” strategic plan, among other initiatives, since joining the board in 2019.

John and his wife, Samantha, are the proud parents of three boys who have all benefited greatly from their time as students at Summit.

Rebecca Crawford

Director of Advancement

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Rebecca Crawford

Director of Advancement

Rebecca Crawford (she/her) has served in the education non-profit sector since 2003 as a teacher, administrator, and fundraiser. She first joined the Summit community in 2013 as a parent and later served on the Board of Trustees as Secretary and on the Development Committee. This work has inspired her tenure at Summit and she enjoys watching her children flourish in a Montessori environment as well as inspiring families, friends, and alumni of the school to support Summit. Rebecca’s work here includes directing the Admissions and Development departments of the school in service of Summit’s mission. Before Summit, Rebecca worked at the USS Constitution Museum as the Manager of Academic and Family Programs, at First Parish in Framingham Unitarian Universalist as the Director of Religious Education, and at Citizen Schools as an Americorps Teaching Fellow and Campus Director.

B.A. in Art History, Smith College
Master in Arts in Education, Rhode Island School of Design

Elbert Hardeman

Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Parent

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Elbert Hardeman

Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Parent

Elbert Hardeman is the proud parent of Sophia (Class of 2026) and Noura (Class of 2029). They reside in Southborough, MA with his wife Nicole.

Elbert is Principal Cybersecurity Advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Elbert has had a 15 year career at the Federal Reserve working for both the Boston Fed. as well as the Richmond Fed. Prior to his current role, Elbert served as an Assistant Vice President of Information Technology and Resilience for the T2C program. Prior to that role, he served as the Deputy Information Security Officer (ISO) in the Federal Reserve National IT Information Security Office.

Prior to joining the Federal Reserve, Elbert worked as an IT consultant with Deloitte in New York City. Elbert also served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Morocco, where he met Nicole who was also a volunteer. Elbert currently serves on the board of the Boston Debate League, an after-school debate program in Boston.

Elbert has earned Bachelor’s Degree in Business – Management Information Systems from California Polytechnic State University, a Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Masters in Cybersecurity from Boston College. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), an Assistant Professor at Boston College and is a proud Eagle Scout.

Kira Troilo

Parent, Summit Montessori School | Founder, Art & Soul Consulting

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Kira Troilo

Parent, Summit Montessori School | Founder, Art & Soul Consulting

Kira Troilo is an organizational consultant, arts leader, and founder of Art & Soul Consulting — a practice dedicated to fostering creative, human-centered cultures where every individual feels a profound sense of belonging and purpose. With deep expertise in organizational culture, psychological safety, and creative leadership, Kira partners with diverse teams and communities to build environments rooted in care, equity, and inclusion. Her consulting and facilitation work is guided by the belief that brave, bold growth only happens when well-being and inclusion are at the center.

As both a parent and professional, Kira is committed to helping every child and adult at Summit thrive as their unique selves, carrying forward the school’s vision of a community where diversity is celebrated, equity is pursued, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of daily life. She’s honored to support the DEI Committee’s mission, ensuring that all members of the Summit community are treated with dignity and respect, and that every voice is welcomed and valued.

Kira Donnelly

Head of School

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Kira Donnelly

Head of School

After an extensive search, Kira Donnelly was unanimously chosen as Summit’s next Head of School. Among the many strengths in Kira’s rich background of educational and Montessori leadership, several that felt particularly notable are Kira’s child-centered and collaborative leadership style, her deep understanding of child development and Montessori pedagogy, her skill and fluency with the budgeting process and financial management, her understanding that strategic vision must be grounded in and preceded by relationship-building and immersion in the Summit community, and her demonstrated commitment to staff development and retention.
Kira is passionate about growing and supporting Montessori education. A Montessori child herself, she chose Montessori for her own children and eventually found a way to incorporate Montessori in her professional journey too. She has presented at Montessori conferences around the world and actively participates in the work of the Montessori movement. Kira has more than 10 years of leadership experience in Montessori schools, both public and private, as well as 4 years of experience as Head of Montessori Schools with >100 students.
Kira enjoys spending time with family and scrapbooking. She also reads a lot including both fiction and nonfiction about a variety of topics including Montessori, climate change, and social justice. She likes to explore new cities and nature.
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