History
The school was founded in 1958 by a group of NATO parents as an international daycare. Recognizing the need for a quality early childhood education, Mrs. Alba Fedele, a devoted mother and educator, took the initiative to create a preschool for their children. She attended the Montessori Training Course in Perugia, Italy, working closely with Dr. Paolini. Upon earning her certification, Mrs. Fedele began implementing the Montessori method, transforming the environment with child-sized furniture, brightly painted walls, and classrooms filled with Montessori materials. Each table was adorned with fresh flowers, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for the children.
As the school flourished, it expanded to include Elementary and Middle School levels. Highly qualified native English-speaking and Montessori-trained teachers were recruited for the 6–12 age program, alongside experienced Italian teachers who prepared students for the rigorous Italian State Exams. Mrs. Fedele remained committed to offering a high-standard bilingual education for the children of NATO officials, diplomats, and local families.
Thanks to Mrs. Fedele’s passion, dedication, and love for children, the school continues to thrive. Today, many of our alumni return as parents, eager for their own children to experience the same nurturing and enriching environment. We are deeply grateful for Mrs. Fedele’s unwavering commitment and lasting legacy – a foundation built on love, learning, and an unwavering belief in every child’s potential.
Our Founder – Mrs. Fedele
Mrs. Fedele was born in Italy, where she spent her early years in a traditional Italian environment that would later shape her appreciation for family, culture, and education. She went on to pursue her studies in Rome, a city that offered her both academic opportunities and exposure to an international community. It was during this period that she met her future husband. Following their marriage, the couple moved to the United States, where Mrs. Fedele experienced life abroad and came into contact with new cultural perspectives. These years proved formative, broadening her horizons and giving her a firsthand understanding of the richness of different traditions and ways of life.
After several years, the couple returned to Italy, bringing with them the rich experiences gained overseas. Experiences that would later influence and inspire her vision for education. Back in Naples, Mrs. Fedele became closely connected with the American NATO community. Thanks in part to her husband’s work and cooperation with the American government, she was able to join the American school serving the children of the NATO community stationed in Naples. At the time, the school was directed by Mrs. Blackwell and located within the NATO base at Bagnoli.
Driven by a deep interest in education, she started attending classes in Rome with the Opera Nazionale Montessori and also traveled to Perugia, where she studied at the Casa dei Bambini directly under Mrs. Paolini, Maria Montessori’s trusted assistant. During this period, tragedy struck when she lost her husband, leaving her to raise her two young children, Diane and Mark. Despite this hardship, Mrs. Fedele persevered with remarkable strength. In recognition of her outstanding work and unwavering commitment, Mrs. Fedele was chosen to succeed Mrs. Blackwell as director, taking on the responsibility of shaping the future of the school.
Her vision was clear: to integrate the Montessori method, which at the time was not as widely recognized or practiced as it is today, and to create an environment where children could prosper, mindful of their delicate situation as young students growing up away from home. As the school grew, she secured a larger building – the very grounds we occupy today. She chose this space because it offered what she valued most: wide, open gardens where children could play, explore, and learn in harmony with nature.
A true pioneer in the adoption of the Montessori method, Mrs. Fedele not only applied its principles with dedication but also contributed to spreading its knowledge within the local community.
Under her guidance, the school gradually expanded its reach, welcoming not only American children but also those from other NATO member countries. In this way, it developed into a diverse and international educational environment.
Thanks to her dedication and passion, the school became not just a place of learning, but a nurturing community inspired by Montessori values.