Sunstone Alumni

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Portraits of Sunstone Alumni

“I loved my experience at Sunstone! It was through the Montessori curriculum that I developed my most valued skill–intrinsic motivation–the ability to find what is interesting to me, and go deep into it, for no other reason than the joy of learning something new about the world or developing a new skill. ”

Katy Laco

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The general responsibility and creative freedom I was given by Sunstone during my formative years had an enormous impact on who I am as an adult. Being able to interact with peers of multiple ages, along with the responsibility and trust placed in how I could learn both individually and collectively, set me up for long-term success. That environment nurtured my independence, academic discipline, and creativity—skills I carried with me well beyond Sunstone. When I transitioned into middle school, I felt very confident as a student. While homework was a new challenge, Sunstone had already given me the tools to manage my time and work independently. Even without prior experience balancing after-school obligations, the natural structure of a Montessori classroom had prepared me to take on that responsibility with confidence.

Some of my strongest memories come from the freedom I was given to explore topics deeply and creatively. I still remember researching sea sponges—learning how they evolved, how they functioned, and the environments they lived in. Rather than writing a generic paper, my research partner and I created a physical model of the ocean floor using salt dough and natural dyes. Having the choice in how to learn and present material helped solidify my understanding and showed me how my brain learns best. That ability to explore my individual learning habits at a young age became a foundation I relied on as I moved into new academic environments.

I first began exploring model-making and artistic responses in Lower Elementary, and those early experiences eventually led me to pursue architecture. I now hold both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Architecture, moved to Boston after earning my Master’s, and currently work as an Architectural Designer while volunteering at an animal shelter on the weekends. Looking back, Sunstone taught me more than academics—it taught me how to be curious, capable, and confident. Lean into your curiosities; Montessori is the perfect place to explore anything and everything that inspires you.

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The education and growth that Sunstone provides allows young students to flourish and really develop an understanding that many other school programs do not match. I wouldn’t be where I am without Sunstone and how they taught me to learn and experience the world with my own hands. The project that stands out to me the most was when Zach Swafford and I created (well tried) to create a hologram. This project was so fun, because we truly did every part of this experiment on our own. We planned what we were going to do, we ordered the supplies, we conducted the experiment, we wrote reports, and then finally cleaned it all up. It was a once in an education opportunity that I don’t think would ever happen without Sunstone.

During my first year at Sunstone my guide tasked everyone with writing a report and mine was on Aztecs. I procrastinated and didn’t make any progress and when it was finally time to turn it in, I hadn’t started. My guide sat me down at a table and told me that I needed to finish this before I could do other projects. I was ashamed of hiding my progress and my guide was disappointed, but didn’t scold me. My guide taught me accountability in that moment. It’s something I will never forget because she gave me the support and guidance I needed. I made a mistake and privileges were taken away for a time, but she gave me the chance to earn it all back and helped me grow as a student and a person.

Stepping into middle school was a daunting idea after being in Montessori schools my entire education, but after the first week I realized how ahead I was in nearly all subjects. I was able to step into the advance classes with ease and, even still, some of the lessons were already things I learned from my time at Sunstone.

My advice to current students is to enjoy your time in this program. Go research that topic, go build that idea, and enjoy the time you have. I was able to learn and experience so much, so quickly, and my time there will always be cherished.

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My favorite memory from Sunstone is the gathering time built into each class. It created a close-knit community and made sure everyone felt connected to each other’s daily experiences. That sense of shared awareness helped me learn to value everyone around me, rather than staying within one group.

Reading was another major part of my experience at Sunstone and something I truly loved. I wanted to explore every story I could find, and it helped me understand different perspectives while also learning about metaphors and how people grow through experience.

Academically, I felt well prepared going into middle school and high school. While it took time to learn how to apply what I had learned in new settings, I was a strong problem solver and gained the ability to transfer my thinking across different situations.

One of my biggest concerns after leaving Montessori was the fear that teachers might be strict or unkind compared to the warm environment at Sunstone. Over time, I learned that supportive teachers exist in many places, and that effort and care from students are often met with the same in return.

The advice I would give to current students is to not be afraid to try new things, even if you are not immediately good at them. Montessori learning is built on exploration and curiosity, and growth comes through practice. Some of the things I struggled with the most at first became the activities I enjoyed the most.

Now, I have just graduated high school and am committed to rowing for the men’s crew team at Temple University in Philadelphia. I plan to study Biology with a focus on Teaching and ultimately become a high school biology teacher.

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I remember a great many things from Sunstone. It taught me about life, friendships, and community, and also that not all of those things are always stable. More than anything, Sunstone taught me to treat others the way I want to be treated, a lesson that has stayed with me long after I left the classroom.

Ironically, my favorite memory of Sunstone happened after I had already graduated. I came back to visit one year, and stepping into a classroom I had once been part of was both amazing and fascinating. It felt meaningful to return just to say hi one more time and to see the space that had shaped me from a new perspective. Sunstone was a place where I could follow my interests in a supportive environment, with a variety of spaces to inhabit, and that sense of belonging and curiosity is something I still carry with me today.

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Montessori isn’t just about learning. Montessori makes learning engaging. It teaches us to be academically curious and ask questions. I think a peak example of this is the 6th Grade trip. All of the 6th Grade students took on different roles. I remember I was in charge of transportation and money. That meant I designed the trip route and learned to plan around a budget and, like in all of Montessori, my actions had direct consequences. But we still had the best trip to Treesort! The Shakespeare productions were always memorable, and running Bingo night was super exhilarating. Both of these took a lot of planning and we made good money from them which helped us pay for our trip.

After graduating from Sunstone my greatest fear going into Middle School was the homework, but it turned out to not be that difficult. I felt very academically prepared going into 7th grade. Despite not having a traditional education, the transition to homework was not that bad because I saw it as a challenge—an intellectual puzzle. My teachers at Sunstone pushed me to improve the things I thought I was bad at, like handwriting and art, and they really helped me slow down and realize that I could be good at things even if I didn’t think so at first glance.

Overall I credit Montessori and Sunstone for cultivating a love for learning. School isn’t burdensome. It’s an exciting place!

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I loved my experience at Sunstone! It was through the Montessori curriculum that I developed my most valued skill–intrinsic motivation–the ability to find what is interesting to me, and go deep into it, for no other reason than the joy of learning something new about the world or developing a new skill. Being intrinsically motivated, rather than externally motivated, allowed me to build the skills that were meaningful to me. One particular example was when a classmate and I sped through the entire math curriculum. After we exhausted all the math that was available to us in the classroom, the school had a professor come in and teach us upper-level math concepts (and cool math stuff like different ways of visualizing the fourth dimension). These were concepts well beyond the usual scope of our age group. Instead of leaving me stagnating, Sunstone provided an opportunity that propelled my excitement for math and set me on track to become a math major and, as of recently, published! If it weren’t for the way Montessori allowed me to go deep in one particular area, and the school going above and beyond to support my development there, I don’t know if I’d have gone so far in my math career. I’m very grateful for that experience.

Currently I’m a lead product manager at Redfin. I manage a team of product managers whose job it is to decide what software should exist on our website and our app, and how that software should work. I also work with a team of software engineers to build it. I love the job because it uses so many different skills simultaneously, including analytics, visual design, strategic thinking, interpersonal skills, and writing. I can stretch my brain in different ways every day! I also love the company because the culture and the people are fantastic; everyone is smart and cares deeply about our values.

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I finished my Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science specializing in Artificial Intelligence from Stanford in 2017 and went to work at a startup near San Francisco called Plenty. We worked on controlled environment agriculture for leafy greens, strawberries, and tomatoes–growing healthier food at lower cost with less land and water. I built out a software engineering and data science team there. I wrapped up my work at Plenty and have since been working to found a company of my own!

At Sunstone—wow! I have so many great memories. I remember at the St. Barnabas location we would put on little plays and performances in the upstairs ballroom area. Tetherball and foursquare were the outdoor games of choice. When we moved to the Shattuck location we had to do a bunch of construction to get the site ready, including building new paths and lots of cleanup. It’s very fun to reminisce about the many awesome things that we did with the Sunstone community!

As for hobbies and free time, I don’t have much these days. I spend most of my waking hours working on my startup. When I do have free time I lift weights, go on hikes and backpacking trips, and read a lot of books. A few months ago I was in six different book clubs!

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My years in Montessori helped me develop into, above all, an excellent learner. I really believe that the balanced and holistic approach to child development present in Montessori education equips children and young adults very well for transitions into college, higher education, and the workforce. We don’t live in a world where being good at one thing is enough anymore—people need to be able to use their creativity, logic, compassion, and communication in concert. Montessori is excellent at teaching these skills.

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Update from Ben’s mom, Margaret:

Here is Ben’s team photo for school. That’s the happy face of a kid who didn’t have to sit down in school from age 3 through 6th grade! I always tell people we picked Montessori for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one at the time was that I knew Ben well; he was a 3-year-old who wouldn’t last in a standard classroom because he needed movement to think. Not ADHD, just a true kinetic learner. He can sit, he just thinks better when he’s moving.

I remember in preschool we came to Sunstone an hour early so he could ride his bike on the covered area to be ready for quieter activities. In 1st Grade he spent three hours every morning digging, then lunch, then recess and then serious MATH! After Sunstone, he went to Arbor, and spent 7th Grade sitting in a tree much of the day. I saw nothing wrong with that because I KNEW Ben, and he ended up finishing high school with academic honors and then off to be a Division 1 athlete and STEM scholar!

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Are you a former Sunstone student? We would love to know what you’re doing these days.

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