How Did Montclair Shape You?

As part of our 2025-26 Annual Appeal, the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence is asking members of our community to reflect on how the Montclair Public Schools helped shape the people they've become. We asked them to complete this sentence: "Montclair makes us ____.” Check out the below spotlights, and donate to ensure that ALL Montclair students have a strong foundation from which to grow.

Montclair Makes Us Hopeful & Proud

"'A Mountie born, a Mountie bred, and when I die, I’m a Mountie dead.' I truly bleed blue. I am a Mountie through and through. 

My journey began at Southwest Elementary School from kindergarten through third grade, then Hillside School for fourth and fifth grades, Glenfield for sixth through eighth grade, and finally Montclair High School, where I proudly graduated with the Class of 1984. I am a third generation product of Montclair, rooted in a legacy of pride, resilience, and excellence.

Growing up here instilled in me a champion’s mentality. We were raised to believe that Montclair produced the best, and we carried ourselves accordingly. I was fortunate to see Black excellence modeled all around me in educators, first responders, doctors, lawyers, municipal workers, and clergy. Representation was not abstract. It was visible and lived in our neighborhoods.

My childhood was full and vibrant. I was a Brownie. I ice skated, swam at Essex Pool, and excelled as an athlete and cheerleader, proudly following in my mother’s footsteps. I have fond memories of Blimpies sandwiches, Wood’s Ice Cream, Friday nights at the Parkhouse, and Sundays at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Montclair also gave me lifelong relationships. I am still friends with classmates I met in kindergarten. One of my earliest friendships outside of family began with Demeda Williams at Grass Roots, and we remain close to this day.

I met my husband in the hallway at Montclair High School. We were blessed to raise our sons here, and I continue to live in my family home, a living testament to legacy and continuity.

While the Montclair of my childhood has evolved, it will always hold a sacred place in my heart. I am grateful for the foundation it gave me and excited about the direction our town is heading. Montclair shaped my identity, my values, and my commitment to community. I am proud of where we have been, hopeful about where we are going, and honored to be part of it all."— Diane Tyree-Anglin, former MPS student, now leader of NAACP Montclair

Montclair Makes Us Special

"Growing up in Montclair always felt special. Attending Montclair Public Schools in the '90s was something to be proud of. The admiration and gratitude I have always had for the teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and mentors from those years has stayed with me. Thirty years later, I still share a close sense of community with so many of my childhood friends. I have always been proud of where I’m from, my family's deep roots in town, my grandfather serving on the Montclair Police Department in the late '50s, and three generations of graduates from Montclair High School filling me with a lasting sense of pride.

Growing up, Montclair was the most diverse place I had ever experienced. My friends were a beautiful array of ethnicities and economic backgrounds. No matter how rich or poor, light or dark, AP or regular classes, you could always find the most unlikely pairs and friend groups building genuine, lasting friendships.

I moved away for a while, but when I returned, I was blessed with the opportunity to become a mentor at MHS with Sister to Sister of Montclair Mentoring Group, Inc. — where I was once a mentee under the direction of Mrs. Adele Katz. Today, I am honored to serve as a program coordinator, mentoring the young girls in the same way mentors once poured into me." — Michelle Edwards, MHS grad and Sister to Sister program coordinator

Montclair Makes Us Joyful

"What has stayed with me the most about my childhood in the Montclair Public Schools are the moments of joy, laughter and friendship. I remember releasing yellow balloons with notes at Nishuane, singing my heart out in choir at Hillside, the 8th grade Frost Valley trip, field hockey pasta parties and Project Graduation hijinks at Montclair High. I think about going off to college and chanting “Montclair” every time I ran into another fellow Mountie walking across campus. People teased us about it, but only someone who grew up in Montclair could understand that bone-deep pride and kinship. Now that I am an Administrator in Montclair, I try to bring that same level of joy to my preschool students and families. I want them to have those core memories of their time here and form those friendships that will last a lifetime.  — Amy Dorr, MPS Grad, Hillside parent, and Executive Director of Montclair Community Pre-K (MCPK)

Montclair Makes Us Achievers

“Working with Montclair’s bilingual learners has shown me the power of a fun, collaborative, and inclusive educational environment. Although not easy, the journey of unlocking their full classroom potential is the most special part for me. Making sure the students know that they belong, and watching them realize that, makes it all worth it.”

Looking back on his Montclair education: "Montclair's close network of faculty, families, and community members makes every student's success possible. I will always be grateful for the support I was given throughout my time in MPS." — Kevin Keys, MHS graduate and Princeton University student

Montclair Makes Us Community Builders

"Montclair shaped how I view the world, growing up here taught me how to connect with so many different types of people and established the values I uphold: teamwork, open-mindedness and acceptance. Montclair gave me the opportunity to participate in a wide range of programs and activities, all within such a diverse and dynamic community. From Peer Leadership and the Civics and Government Institute, to Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse for MHS (Go Mounties), I always had access to quality programming. Montclair had so many opportunities to offer, but it was really the community- who made it so special."

"The guidance counselor who helped me survive middle school, the coaches who taught me what hard work looks like, the security guards who would catch me trying to leave the building and send me right back to class, and of course the friends and neighbors who always showed up–-and have never stopped showing up to this day! This community guided me into a long career of working for a community-based organization in the Bronx. Now, I’m proud to be back in Montclair, continuing to help build and shape our community, from my role as President of the PTA, to youth soccer coach, to general master of community whatsapping. I’m proud to see so many others that have made their way back and are committed to the same goals! I feel lucky that I get to bring my children up in such a special and unique place." — Risa Whipple, MHS graduate and President of the PTA at Charles H. Bullock Elementary School

Montclair Makes Us Feel Seen

"I found teachers who deeply cared about me as a student, and made me feel seen as a person. One of my favorites was my freshman biology teacher, who still texts me on my birthday. Despite not finding my path in science, he supported my pursuit of music. I found community through Montclair High School’s Passing Notes and in SVPA. I met some of my closest friends and found my voice."

"Sammy Mellman’s Choir classroom was a safe haven for me at lunch time- many days I spent sat down learning from his experience, and many days I spent playing songs during lunch time in a community of kids who shared my love for music. My education through Montclair was a big reason I got a full-tuition scholarship to The University of Miami,... So much of who I am—and the artist I’m becoming—comes from the experiences, relationships, and sense of belonging I found in Montclair’s public schools." — Joe Colwell, MHS graduate and musician

Montclair Makes Us Inclusive "In Montclair, even though it's a diverse and affluent town, there are children who grow up in all different types of households. Fortunately, I grew up here... and I felt a big sense of inclusivity with me being a part of a town that even if I didn't have the same house, the same upbringing, the same access to wealth immediately in my family, there was a resource network of amazing families and friends within the public schools I went to where I felt as though I had one of the best educations growing up. And I hope that continues in Montclair." — Zane Keyes, MPS graduate and owner of KeyCuts Barbershop in Montclair

Montclair Makes Us Ready to Act!

"From a really young age, Montclair schools gave me space to figure out who I was. I found the arts early at Hillside, performing on stage and discovering that I could tell stories, take risks, build community, and really express myself. As I got older, being around people with different backgrounds pushed me to see beyond my own experience. Montclair High's Center for Social Justice taught me that learning isn’t just about grades — it’s about using your voice, standing up for others, and actually doing something when it matters. Between the arts, the friendships, and teachers who challenged me to think differently, Montclair shaped how I move through the world — curious, aware, and ready to act. It’s the kind of place that sticks with you, in ways you don’t always notice until years later." — Justin Comini, MPS graduate and student at the University of Michigan

Montclair Makes Us Think!

"Montclair helped shape how I see the world. As a student, I was encouraged to question, see multiple perspectives, and engage in the world beyond the classroom. Whether I was studying whales and the anti-whaling movement in the early 1980s when I was at Watchung School, or organizing a symposium while at Montclair High on U.S.–Soviet relations at the end of the Cold War, we did not shy away from studying real issues or finding our own voice. Now, as a teacher here, my goal is to give my students that same gift: to learn to think critically and grow into thoughtful contributors to their community." — Drury Thorp, MPS graduate, now Watchung Elementary STEM teacher and MPS parent

Montclair Makes Us Connected—For Life

"Soccer is where I found my people—teammates from every background who became lifelong friends. Some of those bonds formed in high school; others grew even stronger years later. That shared Montclair experience created a connection that never faded. My coaches and teachers saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself, and their belief helped shape who I became," Coach Weaver says. "Now, decades later as a Montclair coach, I’m still surrounded by that same community—classmates who show up for my players and a school system that continues to nurture the next generation. Montclair didn’t just shape my teenage years. It gave me a community that grows with me, long after graduation.” —Touré Weaver, MHS grad and Boys' Varsity Soccer Coach

Montclair Makes Us Explorers

"As a high school student, I had the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests—from AP Calculus and studying the economy to playing field hockey and learning French. Those experiences shaped far more than my college choices; they gave me confidence and an awareness of what was possible. I built a career in finance and economics after discovering the field through Fed Challenge. I gained self esteem and resilience through field hockey. Most importantly, I was able to explore in a supportive, low-stakes environment that helped me learn who I was. Now, as a Montclair parent, I hope these same opportunities continue to be available for my daughters and for future generations of students. — Dara Blume Clewey, Montclair High School graduate and current MPS parent

Montclair Makes Us Empathetic Leaders

"You learn from kindergarten that speaking up, showing compassion and being a good steward in-community is vital to a thriving town. Our teachers and parents modeled it first! Montclair is special for recognizing different learning styles, different cultures and celebrations, and many ways to give back! Sometimes it’s cleaning up your own parks, maybe it’s helping those who have less than you do, but most importantly, it’s being kind and helpful to neighbors, family, and strangers alike. Those lessons are so needed today, and I’m glad Montclair taught them to me and my children!" — Ghana Hylton, Montclair High School graduate and longtime MFEE volunteer