Karen Pontrelli

Founder/Director of The Montessori Academy of Delaware (formerly New Day Montessori School) in 2002, Karen has over 20 years of experience in Montessori Education. Karen holds her American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler teaching credential, with more than fifteen years experience in the classroom.  

Karen is the mother of three sons, each of whom was a Montessori child. Karen's first exposure to the Montessori experience came through her own children. Karen has also been a Montessori teacher educator for the past 15 years. Courses taught include Montessori Pedagogy/Methodology, Personal Growth & Development, Program Leadership, Parent and Community Education and Interaction and Environmental Design. In 1998 she founded the fully accredited Montessori Institute for Teacher Education (M.I.T.E.), offering two levels of teacher certification - Infant/Toddler (birth - 3 years) and Early Childhood (2 ½ - 6 years).

Karen's vision for  The Montessori Academy of Delaware is to "offer a new day" for Montessori education, by putting the program back into the hands of all children, while adhering to core Montessori principles to afford the richest Montessori experiences for our children, our parents and our community.

Karen is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.