It's Our 20th Anniversary!

July 1, 2025

Dear IDEAL Community: 

Today is a very special day. It marks the official beginning of IDEAL’s 20th anniversary year! I am filled with deep gratitude for the privilege of being part of a community that truly expands the horizons of its students and honors every learner.

Thanks to you, IDEAL’s annual fund achieved a remarkable milestone last year, raising $923,800 – well over our $800,000 goal – with participation from 92% of our families and 95% of our faculty and staff. These contributions, of every size, make a profound difference. They directly support the school’s operations, including vital programs, scholarships, and professional development for our exceptional faculty and staff. Your generosity and commitment demonstrate the strength of our community and have already enabled us to begin applying for grants to further expand IDEAL’s impact. 

I particularly want to thank Jay Eisenhofer, President of IDEAL’s Board of Trustees; Dan Kesten, a member of the Board’s Executive Committee and Advancement Committee Chair; and Yolanda Wyns, Trustee and President of IDEAL’s Parents Association, for their extraordinary leadership in friend and fundraising activities throughout the year.

As we look ahead, there is so much to celebrate and anticipate. Our 20th anniversary year promises to open even more doors for our students as we:

• Equip our new STEM room with LEGO Robotics and hydroponics
• Plan our expanded Senior Civil Rights Journey
• Design schedules that allow for greater student choice
• Build out cozy book nooks
• Purchase a research database to enhance academic work
• Develop career shadow days for our oldest High School students
• Explore opportunities with dance teachers to enrich our physical education program

In addition, our teachers and therapists are engaging in numerous seminars and workshops focused on best practices in their fields. We have awarded summer grants to support faculty and staff as they prepare for the coming year. Summer grants include developing a Lower School handbells program, establishing an Upper School choral group, initiating projects to make our school greener, and planning a community mural to celebrate IDEAL’s creativity and spirit.

I am also delighted to share that today marks the official first day for Dr. Sara Jo Soldovieri and Daniel Sussman. Please join me in welcoming Sara Jo and Daniel on Monday, July 7, at a very informal gathering here at school between 4 and 5 PM. I promise good cheer and a slice of my coconut cake! Students, families, faculty, staff, and friends are all warmly invited.

Whether you can join us on Monday or not, my door is open throughout the summer. Please feel free to stop by to discuss High School next year or to share your ideas, questions, concerns, and hopes for the 2025-26 school year.

IDEAL was founded on the belief that opening doors is at the heart of inclusive education. Thanks to your generosity, we are poised to open those doors even wider as we celebrate our 20th anniversary – a year that promises to be filled with joy, connection, and opportunity. Together, we will continue to nurture a school community that is hopeful, forward-looking, and truly IDEAL.

With deep gratitude and enthusiasm,

Janet Wolfe
Head of School
The IDEAL School of Manhattan