The windows of the Strawberry Blossom Montessori School are plentiful and extra low to the ground so small children can see out. The entrance is a large porch where people can gather and chat. Niehaus has overseen every aspect of the classic school building rising on an empty lot in New London, New Hampshire, set to open in September. “It had to be red,” she says, “and it had to have a cupola!” It also has a teaching kitchen, garden, community room, and two classrooms, one for primary students ages 3 to 6 years, including Niehaus’ 3-year-old son, and one for toddlers, where her 10-month-old son will start in January.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” says Niehaus, an art history major with an education minor who serves as head of school and lead primary teacher. “As soon as I stepped into a Montessori school, I thought, this matches who I am as a human and as an educator.” Niehaus is determined for the school to welcome all and give back, offering personalized tuition to keep it affordable for families of various income levels.
Susan Matthews ’11 and Zach Kuster ’11 are sending their son Malcolm to the school. “We are excited about this opportunity for our whole family,” Matthews says. “The care Liz has taken with every aspect of the school—including designing the building herself—is obvious.”
At the groundbreaking ceremony last year, Niehaus shared one of her favorite children’s books, Someone Builds the Dream, about the people who pound the nails, drive the trucks, and physically create things. “I’ve been watching that process happen right here,” she says. “So many people have come together to make this dream. We want to be here for generations of children, as a fixture in the community, so we’re building it well, and you can feel it.”
