Welcome to the Tri-State Region!
IMS in the Greater New York area. Our Tri-State presence begins with a full-day center in Ridgewood, NJ, offering authentic Montessori education with language immersion in a warm, community-focused environment for families across Bergen County and nearby towns.
This region is also where we inaugurated the IMS co-ownership model with Kafre O’Connell, establishing a pathway for outstanding educators to lead schools with IMS support in investment, training, licensing guidance, and shared services.
KAFRÉ O'CONNELL
Tri-State Co-Owner
Kafré O’Connell joined IMS at its founding in the Upper Valley and has grown through nearly every role in the organization—assistant guide, guide, center director, Chief Operations Officer, and now co-owner of the Tri-State Region (Ridgewood, NJ). A graduate of the University of Connecticut (UConn), Kafré brings a blend of classroom insight and systems leadership, supporting high-quality Montessori practice, smooth day-to-day operations, and strong family partnerships. Kafré’s pathway reflects IMS’s commitment to developing leaders from within and expanding access to research-informed, bilingual Montessori education.
