Welcome from the Head
A defining education for the 21st century
What makes Inly such a remarkable school? So many things: Our family-like atmosphere, our culture of creativity, our commitment to arts education, our grounding in Montessori philosophy...
Why Montessori?
I’ve spent a lot of time over the years looking at different educational models and best practices, and I continue to be struck by just how progressive—and effective—Montessori education really is.
One hundred years ago, Maria Montessori got it right. She had the foresight to see what wasn't working with traditional education. She challenged the “factory style” model of teaching students in batches—all 7-year-olds together, all 8-year-olds together, all 9-year-olds together—and said,
"This is not the way we should be educating children. We should really look at them developmentally. So let’s throw out that model and try a new one."
That’s how multi-age classes began and why they remain a mainstay of Montessori education—and Inly—today. And that’s just one advantage of being an independent Montessori school.
At Inly, it’s not just about doing what’s most efficient; it’s about doing what's best for children. It's about responding proactively to how educators and child development experts say children learn best.
We hope you'll schedule a time to visit our classrooms, meet our students, and see our innovative learning environment in action. Visit the Inly Admissions portal to see our open house schedule and arrange a campus tour. We'd love to show you around!
—Donna Milani Luther, Head of School
Donna Milani Luther,
Head of School
Donna has been the visionary force of the School since 1996 as it has grown from a student population of 160 to 250. During that time she has expanded the Toddler, Preschool, Elementary and Middle School programs; received dual accreditation from AISNE and AMS; increased professional development opportunities for faculty and staff; and built the Meehan Family Artsbarn.
Donna also teaches seminars on the integration of creativity, leadership, and team building to educators and business professionals worldwide. She is an adjunct faculty member at Suffolk University and at Lesley University in the national and international M.Ed. program for Creative Arts in Learning.
Visit the Faculty and Staff page for a full bio of Donna and other members of our learning community.