The Board of Trustees
The GTMS Board of Trustees are the stewards of the school’s future, responsible for ensuring the school’s, students’ and parents’ best interests are continually met as the school grows and evolves.
Kernika Gupta President
Alexander Feldman Vice-President
Adam Stiefel Treasurer
Maria Kaminstein Secretary
Dennis Boylan
Anne Douglas
Rose Hagan
Adrian Ironside
Nahla Khalek
Edward Lawless
Kristen Love
Christopher Major
Anna Matsukevich
Daniel Rainer
Mazvita Rankin
Stacey Storm
Get to know our Trustees!
Kernika Gupta, President
Current Parent
As a mom of two young girls, I understand the importance of a well grounded early childhood education program. That is why we chose to send our girls to GTMS, and serving on the Board allows me the opportunity to channel my passion and commitment for the school into action, and help create an even more dynamic, diverse, and authentic experience for current and future students and families.
Alexander Feldman, Vice President
Current Parent
As a student of Montessori through 6th grade and former board member at another Montessori School, I’m excited to help Greene Towne continue its tradition of excellence in Montessori education.
Maria Kaminstein, Secretary
Parent of Alumni, former GTMS Teacher and Administrator
I serve on the board because I want to support the ongoing quality and longevity of this valuable and well-loved Center City institution with which I have been associated – in one way or another – for over 40 years. As a newly minted Montessori teacher at Greene Towne in 1976, I had no idea how much I would learn and grow – as a person and as a professional. Parents’ support of the school (in both time and treasure), the children’s joyful response to the Montessori curriculum, and the teachers’ skill and creativity have been the bedrock of Greene Towne’s success, has remained solid through many changes. Helping to maintain Greene Towne Montessori School as a resource and guide for families in the future is both an honor and a privilege.
Adam Stiefel, Treasurer
Current Parent
Throughout my career I have worked in finance and accounting. Joining the Greene Towne board is a way I could use those skills to support the amazing school where both my sons will be attending this fall and my nieces are alum. The board’s leadership helped guide the school through numerous crises over the past few years (flood, covid, new building) and I am excited for the opportunity to help guide the school as we look to the future.
Dennis Boylan
Board Trustee
Dennis Boylan joined the GTMS Board in 2022, and serves on its Finance Committee. For the majority of his career, Mr. Boylan was an officer with Wallace Securities Corporation, a privately-owned company providing brokerage services on the options trading floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Mr. Boylan also served as President of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association from 2020-2023 (where he is still a board member), an all-volunteer community organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the Logan Square neighborhood for the enjoyment of all who come here to live, work and visit. A tremendous resource for GTMS, Mr. Boylan was instrumental in helping navigate challenges following the flood caused by Hurricane Ida as well as the pandemic. We are deeply grateful for his commitment to the Greene Towne and greater Logan Square community.
Annie Douglas K ’96
Alum, Current Parent
I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the Greene Towne community as an alumna and current parent. I remember fondly beginning my morning with a firm handshake and a trek upstairs to the classrooms at the old church building, and I now watch proudly as my child greets teachers and administrators entering the beautiful building on 22nd Street, trusting that he will grow as a friend, scholar, and citizen. I am honored to contribute and ensure that many others can have these opportunities for years to come.
Rose Hagan
Former Head of School at Friends Select School, GTMS neighborhood resident I choose to continue my participation on the board because trustees are grounded in solid principles of institutional governance and they work appropriately and respectfully with the head of school.
Adrian Ironside
Parent of Alumni
As a parent of two successful GTMS graduates, I am committed to giving back to the community that provided my children with a strong foundation in learning and curiosity. Living just two blocks from the school, I have seen GTMS’ positive impact on our neighborhood and its legacy of educational excellence. With my background in Finance and Strategic Management, I leverage my expertise to support GTMS’s sustainability and growth. As a Board member, I aim to help shape the future of this vital institution for generations to come.
Nahla Khalek
Current Parent
I have always held a deep reverence for my teachers, and education in general. I discovered Greene Towne at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when my daughter was 18 months of age and recognized the same reverence for education across the spectrum of teachers and staff there. What was most impressive was the real-world child centered educational methods employed by a diverse group of individuals coming together under one shared mission: to guide and optimize the development of a young child’s mind while in a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. The GTMS Board is an extension of that same diversity and mission. My service on the Board has been an enlightening experience that has further deepened my reverence for our community. I look forward to witnessing and being a part of bringing out the best that GTMS has to offer in these upcoming years.
Ed Lawless
Current Parent, Parent of Alum
Being part of the GTMS community has been a wonderful experience for our family. Our children have grown and developed in so many positive ways. The GTMS environment nurtures a love of learning that builds confidence and independence. Serving as a board member gives me the opportunity to give back to a community that my family has taken so much from.
Kristen Love
Board Trustee
With fond memories of my own early education, which included commuting into the city with my mom from age 6 months through 6-years old, I joined the GTMS Board to make a positive impact on the experience of others’ formative years. I hope that my background in strategic communications will help highlight all of the amazing things that the school and its community has to offer.
Christopher Major
Current Parent
As a parent and advocate for early childhood education, I serve to ensure access to exceptional learning opportunities for all children. GTMS was founded in 1966 by a group of parents with the goal to grow a “racially, religiously, and economically integrated school.” I am proud to contribute to a school that continues to embody this commitment and fosters a nurturing environment for growth and development. As a member of the Greene Towne Montessori School board, I chair the Development Committee and volunteer with GTMS Parent Association’s Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging initiatives.
Anna Matsukevich
Former Primary Lead Teacher, Current Substitute Teacher
As a Primary Lead teacher at Greene Towne Montessori School for over 11 years and now as a Board member, I look forward to continuing my commitment to the Montessori philosophy and to the Greene Towne community that I hold so dear. I am excited to see Greene Towne in a vibrant new home and to see the same dedication, warmth and energy reflected in the work of the faculty, staff and administration which has always been at the heart of our school.
Daniel Rainer K ’89
Alum, Parent of Alumni, former Board President
I serve on Greene Towne’s board as a way to give back to a school that gave me a strong foundation as a young child to continue into elementary school and beyond. Greene Towne is an important educational institution in Philadelphia with a strong tradition, and serving on the board allows me to play a small part in ensuring that the tradition continues for years to come.
Mazvita Rankin
Board Trustee
I am proud to be a part of the Green Towne village. A few of my friends are parents of Greene Towne students, and through them, I have developed a strong connection to the school. I have chosen to be a member of the Greene Towne Board because I deeply believe in Montessori philosophy. This philosophy acknowledges and fosters each child’s unique abilities, nurturing their natural curiosity and promoting confidence in their ability to take charge of their own learning, all with the guidance and support of caring teachers.
Stacey Storm
Current Parent, Parent of Alumna
It is a privilege to serve on the Board of Greene Towne Montessori School. Our work on the board materially strengthens and furthers the mission of our beautiful school. My time on the board is in honor of our students – in honor of the learning and hard work that they do each day – and to honor the heartfelt commitment from our incredible staff and educators.
Our Strategic Plan
We’re deeply committed to making Greene Towne Montessori the first choice for early childhood education for educators and parents in Philadelphia, to meet the needs of the families and children in our care, and to continually grow and develop the school in line with Montessori principles