Garden Island turns 21 in teaching business

A small school located near downtown Coupeville has provided the educational foundation for hundreds of children over more than two decades.

By Nathan Whalen • April 12, 2011 3:17 pm
Garden Isle Montessori teacher Darrellyn Currier helps Malena Nealon with an assignment recently. Twenty-five students spend their first years of elementary school attending classes at the venerable school located near Coupeville’s historic downtown.
Garden Isle Montessori teacher Darrellyn Currier helps Malena Nealon with an assignment recently. Twenty-five students spend their first years of elementary school attending classes at the venerable school located near Coupeville’s historic downtown.

A small school located near downtown Coupeville has provided the educational foundation for hundreds of children over more than two decades.

And the two-person operation is still going strong. Entering its 21st year, Garden Isle Montesorri continues to educate children from preschool through second-grade. In fact, 25 students are enrolled in the classroom located in the lower level of a Coupeville home.

The students were busy last week completing individual assignments ranging from learning to count to finishing a geography project.

“Children can come and make a lot of choices on their own,” teacher Darrellyn Currier said.

She operates Garden Isle along with her husband, Dan.

“It’s challenging, but not overwhelming,” she said of the curriculum.

The Montesorri style of education is based on the work of Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. A Montessori education focuses on multi-age groups that foster peer learning, uninterrupted work times and a guided choice of activity, according to the American Montessori Society website.

Having the older students in the class provides younger students with role models.

“For the older kids, it’s great for them to show the younger ones,” Currier said.

The Curriers opened Garden Isle in Coupeville in 1990 because Darrellyn has long supported the Montesorri education philosophy.

They moved to Whidbey Island in 1978 when Dan Currier took a position overseeing the facilities at the Casey Conference Center.

“We wanted a really nice place to raise our kids,” Dan said. Dan and Darrellyn have three grown children, Luke, Keith and Laura.

They had operated two schools in the years prior to opening Garden Isle — Green Pastures Preschool in Greenbank and Whidbey Christian Academy.

Dan said the Coupeville location was chosen because it was close to the library, Town Park and beach. The property was large enough for a garden, which has always been a valuable educational tool for students.

In addition to the school, the Curriers also offer guest cottages and a vacation home from their property located next to the Post Office.

For more information about Garden Isle Montessori or the guest cottages, call 678-5641.