2. 2 3
OUR MISSION
To discover the child in inclusive
Montessori environments and
inspire a movement for educating
the human potential.
Family Star’s positive impact on children and families came
in the midst of significant challenges for our organization
when the federal sequestration and financial challenges hit
three of our major funding sources – Early Head Start, Head
Start, and CCAP. These cuts began to threaten our ability to
sustain this excellent program with a substantial projected
shortfall. We successfully addressed this short-term challenge
and we are very pleased to report that we ended 2013 with
a balanced budget.
To develop a long-term plan to solve some of these issues and
to reduce our vulnerability to cuts in funding, we formed a
sustainability committee consisting of staff, board of directors’
members, and parents. This committee devoted over 250 hours to
meeting, planning, and solving these challenges. The result is a
model that maximizes efficiency and revenue without sacrificing
our key elements of quality including well-trained teachers,
well-maintained facilities and well-prepared classrooms.
As many of you know, our president and CEO resigned in
January. The board formed a search committee consisting of
parents, Family Star employees, community members and board
of directors’members. The search committee recommended
Carolyn McCormick of Peak HR Consulting to assist in finding
a visionary leader for Family Star. We are very excited about the
process and hope to have this position filled by fall 2014.
As we move into this fiscal year, Family Star is embracing
the forward momentum of these changes as we continue to
serve children and families most in need. It is the support of
each of you - our donors, parents, community members and
friends that allows Family Star to flourish.
Thank you for investing in our work to educate children,
strengthen families and build community.
Sincerely,
Dear Friends and Supporters of Family Star:
On behalf of the board of directors, staff and
families we serve at Family Star, thank you for
your commitment and support. We are proud to
take the opportunity to shine some light on our
major accomplishments for the last fiscal year and
provide an update on the search for new leadership.
Last year, with your help, we:
• Educated 355 children in our center-based and
home-based programs, 67% of whom were
part of families living at or below the federal
poverty level
• Strengthened 291 families through our
supportive services to ensure meeting basic
needs would not get in the way of children
accessing a quality education
• Fully moved into our new building in
Northeast Denver and completed the
gymnasium and additional office space at our
Northwest school
• Built our community as one of just four
programs selected for a national study
examining the impact of Montessori education
with low-income families
• Invited nationally recognized educator and
researcher Dr. Steven Hughes who agreed to
come to Colorado and speak at Family Star in
2014 about Montessori and brain development.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2012-2013
Nancy Cohen
Chair
Jim Barrett
Vice Chair
Adam Newman
Treasurer
Cory Councilman
Allana Farley
Marilyn Hosea, PhD
Eric Liebman
Lee Pannier
Vienna Presley
Dano Rivas
Reed Stillwell
Jeff Tucker
Martha Urioste, PhD
LEADERSHIP STAFF
2012-2013
Ginny Trierweiler, PhD
(Until January 2014)
President and CEO
Jennifer Olson
Director of Operations
Sarah Wolfgram
Director of Development
Zena De Guzman
Finance Director
Dolly Hull
Head Start Director
Annelise Nugent
Northwest Center Director
Jeff Waxman
Northeast Center Director
LEADERSHIP LETTER
Nancy Cohen
Chair, Board of Directors
Vienna Presley
Interim Executive Director
3. 4 5
Family Star offers an authentic dual language
Montessori education that supports active, self-
directed, hands-on learning to give young children
practice with important foundational life skills.
Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children
learn by making discoveries with the materials,
cultivating concentration, self-control, flexibility,
motivation and love of learning.
Our students improve their cognitive, language,
literacy, math, physical and social-emotional skills.
The support we provide to students gives a step up
to those who would otherwise enter kindergarten
already substantially behind their peers.
EDUCATE CHILDREN TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD®
GROWTH REPORT
(Exported combined data)
1-3 Years (IC)
Assessments
Meeting or
Above TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
% of Meeting or
Above TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
Below TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
% of Below
TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
Cognitive 103 96 93% 7 7%
Language 103 85 83% 18 17%
Literacy 44 35 80% 9 20%
Mathematics 42 34 81% 8 19%
Physical 103 97 94% 6 6%
Social-Emotional 103 97 94% 6 6%
**Count of children may vary as children shift Age or Class Grade at Checkpoint Periods. Number of Assessments is a
count of all assessments entered to TS GOLD. Multiple assessments may be assigned to one child.
3-4 Years (Primary)
Assessments
Meeting or
Above TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
% of Meeting or
Above TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
Below TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
% of Below
TS Gold
Widely Held
Expectations
Cognitive 104 79 76% 25 24%
Language 104 95 91% 9 9%
Literacy 96 80 83% 16 17%
Mathematics 80 58 73% 22 28%
Physical 104 98 94% 6 6%
Social-Emotional 104 86 83% 18 17%
**Count of children may vary as children shift Age or Class Grade at Checkpoint Periods. Number of Assessments is a
count of all assessments entered to TS GOLD. Multiple assessments may be assigned to one child.
CHECKPOINT PERIODS: FALL 2012/2013, WINTER 2012/2013, SPRING 2012/2013
CHILD 2PRIMARY (3-4 YEARS)CHILD 1 - IC (1-3 YEARS)
94% 88%
COGNITIVE LANGUAGE LITERACY MATHEMATICS PHYSICAL SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL
AVERAGE
MONTHLY
ENROLLMENT
AVERAGE
MONTHLY
ATTENDANCE
FALL
12/13
FALL
12/13
WINTER
12/13
WINTER
12/13
SPRING
12/13
SPRING
12/13
25
35
20
30
15
10
5
60
50
40
30
20
The charts on the following page show samples
of a typical student’s growth at Family Star over
a one year period, as well as aggregate data for
students’ growth as a whole.
4. 6 7
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
During FY2012-13, Family Star served a total of
355 unduplicated children and families.
Center-Based 60%
Home-Based 16%
Community-Based 24%
Income Based on Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
At or below FPL 67%
At 100-130% FPL
(eligible for EHS/HS) 3%
Over 130% FPL 30%
Race Ethnicity
Race and ethnicity are defined by the federal
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and
the United States Census Bureau, and are self-
identification data items in which clients choose
the races with which they most closely identify,
and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic
or Latino origin (the only categories for ethnicity).
American Indian/Alaskan Native 4%
Asian 2%
Biracial or Multiracial 5%
Black or African
American 11%
Caucasian 57%
Other 3%
Unspecified 18%
Languages represented – Arabic, Chinese,
English, French, Spanish
Family Star provides health, mental health,
nutrition and family support in our center-
based and home-based programs. We conduct
developmental, vision and hearing screenings on
all students so that any delays are identified and
addressed early to assist with school readiness.
We track health status, link families to systems
of dental and health care and ensure that families
maintain on-going care. Child Family Advocates
work with parents to identify needed resources or
support, set goals and access community resources
to resolve challenges such as homelessness,
unemployment, substance abuse or violence in
the home and more.
Family Star’s home-based program uses the
evidence-based curriculum Parents as Teachers.
Parent Educators provide weekly home visits
for families with infants and toddlers to provide
child development and parenting information,
coaching and support. Services support previously
underserved families including undocumented,
stay-at-home, pregnant mothers and families that
experienced loss of employment or childcare.
Family Star is a Head Start/Early Head Start
program. All of our comprehensive services
ensure that a child’s home life will support
his/her ability to focus, learn, create and
socialize in school so basic needs don’t get
in the way of quality early education.
PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEY
(Out of 4 stars)
Home-Based Program
Center-Based Program
Family Star offers parents opportunities to take
on leadership roles to influence and inform school
policy and programming. Parent Policy Council
meets monthly to set policy, approve new hires
and make decisions that affect programs. Parent
committees plan programs and events of interest to
the community. We offer monthly educational and
social events to connect parents from both center-
and home-based programs with each other and with
community resources to serve their needs. Family
Star began as a group of strong parents who cared
about their community, and we seek to continue this
legacy in our present-day programs and services.
BUILD COMMUNITYSTRENGTHEN FAMILIES
88%
99%
RECEIVED MEDICAL
EXAM
OVERALL
SATISFACTION
( 3-4 Stars)
SINGLE
PARENTS
68%
83%
RECEIVED DENTAL
EXAM
4 STARS!
OF FAMILIES ACCESSED
PUBLIC BENEFITS
OVERALL
SATISFACTION
( 3-4 Stars)
OF FAMILIES
RECEIVED CCAP
4 STARS!
62%
94%
68%
66%
45%
HISPANICOR
LATINO
ORIGIN
50%
OF PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN
A SOCIAL OR EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM
54%SPANISH PRIMARY
LANGUAGE
SPOKEN AT HOME
11%
SPECIALNEEDS-
HAVE AN IEP OR
IFSP
18%
VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 2,245 HOURS VALUED AT $201,370!
5. SUPPORTERSThank you to Family Star’s supporters, whose generous contributions helped us educate children, strengthen
families and build community from December 1, 2012 – November 30, 2013.
GIVING CIRCLE
These donors have made a multi-
year gift to Family Star.
Beth Ganz and Mitch Phillips
Dale Cantwell and Pamela Ray
Dano and Kelly Rivas
Erin Murray and Zeke Williams
Ginny Trierweiler, Ph.D.
Helen Hayes
Honoria Niehaus and Paul Caouette
Jim Barrett and Maggie Gourd-Barrett
Lucia Guzman and Martha Eubanks
Lucy Black Creighton and Tom
Creighton
Martha Urioste, Ph.D.
Mary and Dan Strizek
Nancy Cohen and James P. Wason
Nina Wang and Doug Hargrave
Ray Merenstein
Reed and Claire Stilwell
Sheana Bull and Paul Salyers
Stacey Fischer
Vienna Presley
$100,000+
Colorado Health Foundation
Gates Family Foundation
Mile High United Way
$50,000 - $99,999
Helen K. andArthur E. Johnson
Foundation
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
The Piton Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999
Nancy Cohen and James P. Wason
TheAnschutz Foundation
The Denver Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999
I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation
Reed and Claire Stilwell
Rose Community Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
Becki Dale
Catherine Cole
Denver Post Community Foundation
Eugene and Barbara Sternberg Family
Fund
Jim Barrett and Maggie Gourd-Barrett
Mike and Barbara O’Shaughnessy
The Schramm Foundation
$1,000 - $4,999
Amy and John McCawley
Bruce and Martha Sattler
Erin Murray and Zeke Williams
Gerald Unruh
Ginny Trierweiler, Ph.D.
GwenAnn Huitt and Carol Hunt
Harmes C. Fishback Foundation Trust
Honoria Niehaus and Paul Caouette
Julie Rubsam
June Stool and Evelyn Waldron
Lucia Guzman and Martha Eubanks
Lucy Black Creighton and Tom
Creighton
Martha Urioste, Ph.D.
Nina Wang and Doug Hargrave
Ray Merenstein
Sam S. Bloom Foundation
Stacey Fischer
Strear Family Foundation, Inc
Wells Fargo Foundation
$500 - $999
Allen Balczarek
Allyson Dodge and Patrick Condon
Anne Sneed
Beth Ganz and Mitch Phillips
Dano and Kelly Rivas
Harold Pratt
Jack N. Blackstock
Jim Rubin and Faye Weitzman
Joan and Lawrence Brennan
John Latino
John Wasserman and Esther Starrels
Kathy Bridges-McMahon
Kellie Teter and John Connell
Maria Talero and Bruce Kruger
Matt and Natalie Mansi
Nancy Elkind and Skip Hibbard
Paul Wember
Robert E. andAnne T. Sneed Family
Foundation
Shannon and Todd Sainer
Venoco, Inc.
Wendy and Steve Kaeuper
$100 - $499
A. Louis Eubanks
Adam and Sarah Bialek
Adam Newman and Mindy
Greenwald
Advantage Credit, Inc.
Angie Durlin and Candice Fondal
Ann Weaver
Ben and Gloria Zamora
Beverly Walter
Brigid and Doug Whitehead
Catherine Hance
Charles and Martha Hansen
Christy Cutler and Bill Walters
Clinton Eubanks
Compass for Lifelong Discovery
Connie Proulx
Cory and Kerry Councilman
CREAResults
Cynthia Kahn
Cynthia Nagel
Dan Harrison
Danzena de Guzman
Darrell Stanley
David andAna Hill
Denise Corley
Denise Slavens
Diana and John Romero Campbell
Diana Pulido
Don and Mary Hoagland
Dorothy Borland
Elizabeth Hall
Ellen Goldstein
Eric Liebman
Erlinda and LeroyArchuleta
Forrest Cason
Frank and Myra Isenhart
Frank Vincent
Fredric Lewis
Gale Kahn
Gerri Stirlacci and Cynthia Clark
Gregory and Chermarie Crichlow
Gretchen Seefried
Helen Hand and Mike Bender
Henry Stanley
J P Morgan Chase
James Jackson
Jeff and Betsy Seifried
Jennifer Thompson
Jerry Rohr
Jessica Caouette
Joan Shepardson
Joe Haines
John Bermingham
Josh Beezley
Juanita Chacon
Judi Orion
Karen Black
Katy Myers
Kenneth Crichlow
Keny Wu
Kristine Dorn
Lee Pannier
Linda Campbell
Lisa Blevins
Louise Kiteley
LourdesArauz
Lucie Tran
Marianne and Lester Woodward
Mark Canjar
Martha Guevara
Mary McGee
Michael Kiley
Michael’s of Denver Catering
Nancy McMahon
Nora Jacquez
Patricia Wilderotter
Richard Stonich
Robert Graham
Roy and Dottie Knoedler
SallyAllen
Sam and Karen Niebrugge
Sharon O’Hara and Howard Beck
Sheana Bull and Paul Salyers
Stacia Harris
Stark Schenkein LLP
Stefanie Winfield
Stella Milan
Susan Gretchko
Susan Kay
Suzanne Linenberger
TammyAaron
Vienna Presley
William and Janis Falkenberg
$1 - $99
Abby Knowlton
Adam and TracyAlleman
Alan and Sally Gass
Alba Millan
Alberto Torres
Alexis Zirpoli
Alicia Sheridan
Alicita Hamilton
Allana Farley
AmyAndrews-McMaster and Thomas
Andrews
Anastacia and Payman Dadashpour
Andrew and Ellen Selig
Anonymous
Arthur and Sandra Lemiux
Arturo Jimenez
Ashley Wheeland
Austin Scott
Barbara Reasoner
Berkie Harris
Beth Hamilton
Beth Hooper
Betty Luce
Boettcher Foundation
Bonnie Krotkov
Brad Clark
Brewster B. and Helen W. Boyd
Brian Smith
Bridget O’Toole and David Finch
BronwynAlleman
Carley Schneider
Catherine Witt
Chris Zacher
ChristinaAguilar
Christine Marquez-Hudson
Christy Carr
Dan Moen and Mimzy Tackney-Moen
Daniel Ramos
Daniel Wason
Dante and Zenaida C. De Guzman
DavidAragoni
Dean Hubbuck
Deborah Covill
Dena Sorokin
Diana Kotecki
Douglas Gertner
Elizabeth Williams
Ellen Hart Pena
Ellen Van Ness Seymour
Emelia and Kevin Nidel
Frank Stirlacci
Gail Riley
George Pratt
Gissel Uribe
Grace Wanner
Harriet Strobel
Heidi Hess
Hillary Jorgensen
Holly Prior
Holly Storm
Ian Elfner
Ian Ellis
Jan Wiens
Jazmin Chavez
Jeff and Elena Tucker
Jeff Waxman
Jennifer Hinderliter
Jenny Weyel
Jill Haver
Joanne Herk
JoKatherine Holliman Page
Jon C and Lynne Montague-Clouse
Jon Mohr
Jon Monteith
Joyce O’Donnell
Judy Goldberg
KaitlynAnderson
Kathleen Farley
Kathryn Mattis and Zeke Peters
KeithAmbuhl
Kelly Wells
Kerianne Smith
Lara Jakubowski
Lara Wallace
Larry Dominguez and Beverly Tafoya
Dominguez
Leilani Siens
Leo and Shanna Kattari
Lia Sperandeo
Linda Redstone
Linda Schierkolk
Linn Stanley and Greg Baumhauer
Lisa Daniel
Lisa Guthery
Lisa Montagu
Lisa Olcese
Lorena Garcia
Lynda Thompson
Lyndy Modesitt
Lynne Montrose
Marcia and Jeff Goldstein
Marisol Cruz
Marshall and Janine Vanderburg
Martina Hill
Mary Bogus
Mary Caroline Parker
Mary Ross
Matt and Kim Lemme
Max and Patricia Grassfield
Max and Susan Tyler
Meredith and Ricardo Changeux
Michelle Tijerina
Mollie O’Brien Moore and Richard
Moore
Nan Remington
Nancy Bergstrom
Nancy James
Nina Esch
One Colorado
Patrick Johnson
Peter and Ro Veto
Peter Clark and Mark Croteau
Piper Niehaus
Preston Dickey
Richard Gallerani
Richard Romero and Hope Morris
Robin and Catie Waters
Rosanne Bonavita
Sally Rothstein
Sally Waxman
Sara DuBois
Sarah Behunek
Sarah Shikes
Scott Norquist
Shannon Minch
Sheri Lockhart
Stefin Woolever
Steve Durlin
Sunnivie Brydum
Susan Pfabe-Wiggans
Sylvia Smith
Ted Washburne
Terence Weatheral
Tina Marie Trifilio
Tom and Sandra Eubanks
Victoria Garmonia
Yumiko Dougherty
IN MEMORY OF
TOM CREIGHTON
Alan and Sally Gass
Alicita Hamilton
Andrew and Ellen Selig
Ann Weaver
Brewster B. and Helen W. Boyd
Compass for Lifelong Discovery
Cynthia Kahn
Cynthia Nagel
David and Kayoko Morton
Don and Mary Hoagland
Douglas and Hazel Price
Elaine Creighton-Baca
Frank and Myra Isenhart
Grace Wanner
James and Dorothy Borland
Joan Shepardson
John Bermingham
Keny Wu
Linda Redstone
Max and Patricia Grassfield
Robert Graham
SallyAllen
Sara DuBois
Ted Washburne
William and Janis Falkenberg
98
6. 10 11
REVENUE AND EXPENSES 2012-2013
REVENUE
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS $90,991
FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS $621,886
GOVERNMENT $2,525,895
TUITION $863,707
IN KIND $143,510
OTHER INCOME $266,822*
TOTAL REVENUE 4,512,811
* During the year, Family Star sold the Northeast property for
$700,000 and recognized a gain on the sale of $200,667
2013-2014 OPERATING BUDGET
EXPENSES
EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS $3,655,055
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE $490,749
FUNDRAISING $167,306
TOTAL EXPENSES $4,313,110
FAMILY STARS’S FISCAL YEAR IS DECEMBER 1 - NOVEMBER 30
An independent financial audit was conducted by Taylor, Roth and
Company, PLLC Certified Public Accounts.
REVENUE
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS $100,000
CORPORATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS $20,000
FOUNDATIONS $400,000
GRANT REVENUE: FEDERAL GOV’T $1,916,479
GRANT REVENUE: LOCAL GOV’T $71,150
USDA REIMBURSEMENT $76,217
DENVER PRESCHOOL PROGRAM: DPP $38,997
CHILDCARE REVENUE: CCAP $436,489
COLORADO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM: CCP $90,450
PARENT TUITION $798,000
PARENT CCAP CO PAYS $86,000
SPECIAL EVENTS REVENUE OTHER $20,000
RENTAL INCOME $9,000
OTHER FUNDRAISING $115,000
TOTAL REVENUE $4,177,782
EXPENSES
CLASSROOM EXPENSES $1,622,314
PROGRAM EXPENSES $1,142,230
GENERAL ADMIN (IncludesFacilitiesFundraising) $1,409,203
TOTAL EXPENSES $4,173,748
NET INCOME $4,034
OF DOLLARS RAISED WERE
SPENT ON PROGRAMS.
81%
GOVERNMENT
CONTRIBUTIONS
During FY2012-13 Family Star received
support from the following government
agencies.
Colorado Child Care Assistance
Program (CCAP)
Colorado Preschool Program
(CPP)
Denver Great Kids Head Start
(DGKHS)
Denver Preschool Program (DPP)
Early Head Start (EHS)
Maternal Infant Early Childhood
Home Visitation Program
(MIECHV)
US Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
TOTAL REVENUE
$4,512,811
TOTAL EXPENSES
$4,313,110
7. NORTHWEST DENVER
(Education Center / Main Office)
2246 Federal Boulevard
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 477-7827
www.familystar.net
FAMILY STAR’S HISTORY:
In 1991, a passionate group of inner-city parents and educators
organized in Northeast Denver to stop the decline of their
neighborhood and reduce inequities for young children living
at or below poverty level. We purchased what was then a
crack house, renovated it with volunteer labor from Denver
Prison, trained women in the community to become Montessori
teachers and opened our doors to serve 24 infants and toddlers
in three classrooms.
Our present-day capacity allows us to serve 210 children
at a time, 140 in center-based classrooms in Northeast and
Northwest Denver and an additional 70 in our home-based
program. We are proud that, since our founding, more than
3,500 children in Denver have benefited from our program to
educate children, strengthen families and build community.
NORTHEAST DENVER
(Education Center)
2940 Curtis Street
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 295-7711
