To the Editor:

On April 2, the community came together at the Starry Starry Evening Gala at Bedens Brook Country Club to support the incredible work of Princeton Nursery School (PNS). The event raised funds for PNS and celebrated our community’s commitment to ensuring that all local children build strong minds, strong bodies, and strong connections. Exciting news about the school’s future was also shared, as PNS announced a new executive director, Leanna Jahnke, after a comprehensive search.

PNS was founded in 1929 by Margaret Matthews-Flinsch to help working mothers who felt forced to choose between supporting their families or caring for their children. Today, the school honors this history by helping children and families break the cycle of poverty through a successful start to their education. Through the hard work and the support of staff, volunteers, and board members, PNS has been able to continue its mission of empowering children through exceptional early education and supportive family services that are affordable for all. All the funds raised during A Starry Starry Evening will sustain essential services provided by PNS, including providing high-quality education, nutritious meals, and comprehensive family support.

As the new executive director, Leanna will be continuing the school’s impactful programming and building upon its strong foundation. The board of trustees was certain that Leanna was the perfect candidate given her extensive experience in education, her charismatic personality, and her commitment to advancing equity. She has spent 13 years working in education, leading school communities and equitable education initiatives as a teacher, school administrator, and nonprofit program manager and director. Leanna graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 with a B.A. in Hispanic studies and is now pursuing her M.S. in nonprofit leadership from her alma mater.

PNS and its board of trustees would like to send a sincere thank you to all of our generous donors and corporate sponsors of the event. Our wonderful community made it an evening to remember, with an impact that will carry on through our students and families. We are excited to watch as Leanna continues our commitment to creating brighter futures for children and families through an excellent preschool education.

More information about PNS can be found at princetonnurseryschool.org.

Danielle Bentsen
President of the Board of Trustees,
Princeton Nursery School