Teacher Melissa

Melissa Dunkle

Melissa is a beloved teacher. With her deeply caring and empathetic heart, she leads children in the classroom through their Montessori academic journey, as well as science lessons and special projects. She has experience teaching her own classrooms in public school, fell in love with Montessori, and worked hard to gain her elementary Montessori certification while working full-time, and being a parent of one of our students. She has brought to the DPM lower elementary classroom and community a love of STEAM, as well as modeled how to be a helpful and positive citizen in the world. She helps lead the Lower Elementary classroom alongside teacher Kelly.

Testimonials

My daughter attended the pre-K program here for 1.5 years (started mid-year) and also did 2 summers at the camps. She entered as a shy 3-year-old and really blossomed, leaving at just shy of 6 with a strong personality, good friends, and great academic skills. She has always picked up reading and math easily, and here she was allowed to move beyond the basic counting and letter sounds she had mastered at 3 and entered kindergarten reading at a 1st grade level (based on kindergarten teacher’s ass…

Primary classroom parent

For 2024-2025 school year:
WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for FULL DAY students who are ready to enroll in Primary (ages 4.5-6) as well as Lower Elementary (ages 6-9). Apply today!

For 2025-2026:
We currently have students in the waiting pool to schedule observations and tours (ages 3-6). We are still accepting applications for all classrooms.

Waiting pool: there are a few factors contributing to enrollment, aside from date of application. We try to give priority to families with siblings already currently enrolled, families who intend to do Montessori through the elementary years here at DPM, the child’s age to ensure a balanced classroom, the commitment to Montessori practices at home, and there is an observation of the prospective student in the classroom with the teacher that takes place prior to enrollment.

For that reason, it is impossible to say for sure whether there’s space available until admissions decisions have been made in January. That’s when the enrollment invitation goes out to families who have completed the process and who’s kiddos are eligible to start in the following school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Alex, [email protected].