Why We Became a Nationally STEM-Certified Campus

When people hear the word “STEM,” they often think of robotics, coding, or bubbling test tube experiments. But to us, STEAM has always been much bigger than any one subject. At its heart, STEM- or STEAM-based learning is about teaching children how to think. Our students learn to ask thoughtful questions, solve problems creatively, collaborate with others, and approach challenges with curiosity and confidence.

The Beginnings of Our STEAM Program

Our school started in 2009 with one toddler classroom, which eventually grew year after year to accommodate our growing children. As our school grew, so did our STEAM program. 

• 2013: Our journey began in 2013 with a vision where we wanted more for our students than passive exposure to science and technology. We wanted to cultivate an environment where students became active learners, designers, creators, and critical thinkers. An artistic 2013 student performance involving volcanoes at our Social Studies Fair wowed students and families, igniting the spark that STEAM (with “A” for the arts) and its integration into our curriculum would make us unique in Jersey City.

• 2014: We led our first Hour of Code event to create an awareness of emerging technologies. 

• 2015: We hosted a STEM evening, a celebration that marked Earth Day and the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies. 

• 2016: We became an official School Maker Faire site to celebrate the maker movement and encourage the art of tinkering with our families. We are proud to celebrate our 10-year anniversary as an official School Maker Faire site!

Significance of Our Hudson River Learning

We expanded our curriculum to connect students to the neighborhood and develop our Hudson River Estuary Program. Through environmental studies and hands-on field investigations, our students were able to see the immediate relevance of their classroom lessons right in their backyard. 

Similarly, while our students could see how their actions could impact real change, our community activation—working with many community, academic, and advocacy partners in Jersey City, New York City, and at the state levels—began to take hold and develop into lasting partnerships.

Rigorous Process To STEM Certification

It became clear that our school was uniquely emerging as a school dedicated to science-based inquiry, innovation, and its real-world application, with a Montessori lens. We knew that the foundations of creative thinking and scientific inquiry are best built early—from preschool, kindergarten, and our elementary program.

So in 2017, Hudson Montessori engaged in the rigorous process to become the first—and still the only—National Institute for STEM Education (NISE) STEM-certified school campus in New Jersey. We gained this distinction 18 months later in 2019. At the time, we were one of the few elementary schools in the entire nation to become certified—most were high schools or middle schools. 

Our journey didn't stop with campus certification. Several of our educators also earned the National Certificate for STEM Teaching through NISE, demonstrating their expertise in research-based STEM instruction and their commitment to continuous professional growth. The certification process emphasizes instructional excellence, student-centered learning, and real-world problem solving, which have been at the core of the Montessori philosophy for over a century.

Our Students’ Journey: Montessori x STEAM

Montessori encourages children to explore, discover, experiment, and learn by doing; STEM builds upon that same foundation. In our classrooms, our children investigate scientific concepts, engineer creative solutions, apply mathematical thinking, express themselves creatively and artistically, and make meaningful connections across disciplines.

Our students experience STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) through project-based learning, engineering challenges, scientific investigations, coding, Maker Faire projects, environmental studies, and regional STEM competitions. These experiences encourage collaboration and innovation while helping students connect classroom learning to the world around them.

Making STEAM Connections

As we prepare to launch our STEAM Connections information hub online, we'll be leading you on the journey of our experiences, told by students, our teachers, and our community partnerships, which are at the heart of what makes our STEAM program so strong.

We invite you to join us as we explore how Montessori and STEAM come together at Hudson Montessori School to inspire the next generation of curious thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and compassionate leaders.

Hudson Montessori School, located in downtown Jersey City, serves children from 18 months through 8th grade. The teachers use an interdisciplinary, theme-based learning approach grounded in Montessori philosophy and methodology to foster students' love of learning. The nationally certified STEM campus is the only one of its kind in New Jersey, featuring STEM-certified teachers who meet the highest standards set by the National Institute for STEM Education. The school welcomes parents to a school tour to learn more about its programs.