Welcome!

A Message from Head of School Abby Hall Choi

& A Message from the Board of Trustees

Dear Mustard Seed School Families and Friends,

I welcome you to our new website with a pride that is bittersweet. As we celebrate the many ways that God is good to the Mustard Seed Community in our sweet final 2023-24 school year, this website serves as a chronicle of an exceptional period. 

I also view these pages as documentation of our beloved child-centered approach, traditions, history, and more. How many times have you heard (or perhaps even said yourself) that one must be present on campus to really understand the quality that is uniquely and fundamentally Mustard Seed? Perhaps you observed student behavior in the park that was immediately recognizable as distinctly Mustard Seed, but how would you describe it? Maybe you were a member of the community for months before you knew about Las Posadas or our end-of-year honorings or the significance of STRONG-SAFE-BEAUTIFUL structures. You might have spent weeks accompanying your child to morning drop-off before truly appreciating the nuances of the Mustard Seed version of morning worship or Reggio-inspired curriculum or responsive classrooms. Because so much of what is special about our school is experiential and even when communicated, is often articulated only orally or documented in personalized segments for each child, the value of a written account became increasingly apparent. With this website, I am seeking to tend to the larger view of Mustard Seed School. 

Please enjoy this tribute to our school as a gifted scrapbook to you, our family and friends, capturing as much of the rich abundance and diversity of our community as we could fit in one place. Membership in this community has been a great honor for me and my family, and I will always treasure my time leading Mustard Seed School.

With love and gratitude,

Abby Hall Choi
Head of School

From the President of the Board of Trustees

Dear Mustard Seed Families and Friends,

Since its founding in 1979, the Mustard Seed School’s teachers, administration, and Trustees have committed to inspiring minds, cultivating hearts, and removing barriers for our students. The best manner to honor that commitment has been the driving force in the Board’s difficult deliberations on the sustainability of our school over the past few years. For me personally, the importance of that stewardship has weighed heavily.

Having served on the MSS Board for many years and the proud parent of two MSS graduates, I see our merger with Hudson as our best avenue in preserving and advancing the essence of Mustard Seed. Please know that this decision was made after extensive deliberation of all available options and a consideration of both the broad view and the individual students. Although Mustard Seed School will not retain its name under the integration plan, we believe The Hudson School shares many of the same values and goals for the development of the whole child. I, along with the Board and school administration, feel confident that our students will continue to grow into compassionate, responsible changemakers who are socially conscious and committed to lifelong learning and service with this merger.

I want to thank our donors, volunteers and supporters in the Mustard Seed community, and especially our teachers and current parents, for their initiative, understanding, and confidence. I join you in mourning the passing of Mustard Seed as a stand-alone school but look forward to our future and our children's future with hope.

Warm regards,

Scott Rostan

Board of Trustees

Kelesha Armand (2018)

Hoboken, NJ. Occupation: Attorney. Church Affiliation: Episcopal


Jan Gallagher (2020)

Jersey City, NJ. Occupation: Writer. Church Affiliation: Lutheran

Abby Hall Choi (2021) Ex-Officio

Jersey City, NJ. Occupation: Head of School, Mustard Seed School. Church Affiliation: Lutheran 


Cara Hilton (2018)

Hoboken, NJ. Occupation: Psychologist. Church Affiliation: Roman Catholic

Young Lee (2013) Vice President

Hoboken, NJ. Occupation: Attorney. Church Affiliation: Presbyterian


William McGraw (2014)

Hoboken, NJ. Occupation: Financial Risk Manager Church Affiliation: Roman Catholic


Lillian Meyer ‘04 (2018) Treasurer

Astoria Queens, NY. Occupation: Engineer. Church Affiliation: Roman Catholic


Mark Quiles (2015) Secretary

Hawthorne, NJ. Occupation: School Administrator. Church Affiliation: Non-denominational 


Scott Rostan (2010), President

Hoboken, NJ. Occupation: Corporate Trainer. Church Affiliation: Episcopal


Orlando Velez ‘94 (2021)

North Carolina. Occupation: Clinical Social Worker Instructor. Affiliation: Non-Denominational

To contact the Board of Trustees, please reach out to the Board President at boardchair@mustardseedschool.org.