Meet Our Principal
Mary Ann brings a unique blend of experience in early childhood education, school leadership, and social work to the Ivybrook community. With a Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College, she began her career supporting children and families as a therapist before discovering her passion for early childhood education. She has since progressed from classroom teacher to school administrator.
As both an educator and a mother, Mary Ann believes the best schools are built through strong relationships—with children at the center and teachers and families working together around them. Her leadership style is warm, collaborative, and hands-on. Families can expect to see her in classrooms, welcoming families, supporting teachers, and celebrating the everyday moments that make a school community special.
Mary Ann is passionate about nurturing each child's individuality, curiosity, independence, and joy in learning while creating a community where every child and family feels known, welcomed, and valued.
Owner's Story
Ivybrook Academy in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania is more than a school — it's a community shaped by people who believe deeply in the potential of every child.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Shilpa and Amit moved to the United States in 2001. After years in New York and Massachusetts, they chose West Chester, Pennsylvania as the place to raise their daughter, Arya, now thirteen. Deeply woven into the fabric of their community, they bring over twenty years of leadership experience in healthcare and management — and with it, a conviction that education, like medicine, is a calling with a just cause.
Both trained obstetricians and MBAs from The George Washington University, Shilpa and Amit have spent their careers building relationships and leading with purpose. They brought Ivybrook Academy to Glen Mills not as a business venture, but as an extension of who they are — people who show up for others, in every season of life.
"We've spent our careers bringing new lives into the world. Now, we're dedicated to helping those lives thrive. As OB/GYNs who have delivered thousands of babies right here in our community, we felt called to do more — which is why we brought Ivybrook Academy to our neighborhood. Because for us, caring for children has never just been a profession. It's a purpose."
— SHILPA & AMIT, FOUNDERS