A YEAR OF PERSEVERANCE

A Letter from the Board of Trustees

“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.”

— Maya Angelou

2020-2021 Board of Trustees

Terri Adler, Chair
(pictured above, top)
Ellen Jacobson, Vice-chair
Tushar Shah, Treasurer
(pictured above, bottom)
Jane Byrne, Secretary
Kevin Grant ’04
Paul Graves
Margaret Metz
Alexandra Spadea
Robert Strent

Trustees Emeriti
Valdemar Bertelsen III
Robert Buxbaum
Lucy Schneider
Robert Strent

The 2020-2021 school year was one of struggle and loss but ultimately also one of perseverance and advancement. The pandemic forced us all to adapt in countless ways while holding true to our values. At Steiner, we are proud of efforts made by our families, faculty, and staff to not only endure but thrive in the past year—especially as we prioritized the arts, movement, and the meaningful human encounters that are at the core of Waldorf pedagogy.

With great care and flexibility, the school provided simultaneous in-person and remote learning programs; this was no small feat. Faculty also adapted the school’s in-person program to meet the demands and restrictions of the pandemic in countless creative ways, several of which you will read about in this annual report. From lessons in Central Park to re-imagining curriculum staples like class plays, Steiner showed its ingenuity in the face of the pandemic’s many challenges.

The school also persevered and adapted in 2020-2021 from a financial perspective. Through prudent cost savings, the help of a second Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP Loan), and the crucial support and generosity of our donors, we ended the year with a much smaller than expected deficit. We luckily did not have to dip into our endowment beyond our standard annual draw. 

We are grateful for the many donors who have supported the cafeteria project and are hopeful that many of you will consider additional support as we look to further build the endowment to provide growth and sustainability for the future of our school.  

With optimism,

Terri Adler & Tushar Shah