Our History

Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE) was born from a group of schools (calling themselves “sister schools”) that joined forces in 2004, in search of a school model that would meet the needs of their adult learners and communities. They were experiencing violence within the community, high incidence of school dropouts, and poor family participation. Inspired by the experience of school and social transformation of the Juan Ponce de León school (first public Montessori school) in the Juan Domingo neighborhood, Guaynabo, the “sister schools”, together with the first Montessori guides, discovered that this new way of educating represented a new educational alternative that worked for their communities. Students stayed in school and were interested in active learning,

Soon after, they realized the need for more teachers to take formal training and certification. Teachers at the Children's Home (3 - 6 years) and Elementary (6 - 12 years) levels began their training with the Montessori Center for Teacher Education (CMTE, New York). Eventually, CMTE brought their training to Puerto Rico and helped implementing the Montessori school model in the public sector.

In 2008, INE was incorporated under the laws of Puerto Rico as a non-profit organization and began its process towards accreditation with MACTE and affiliation with AMS. For 2009 and with the commitment of its faculty, INE achieved its initial accreditation with MACTE for the Early Childhood and Elementary I courses, levels that are affiliated with AMS. INE continues to provide academically excellent courses for its population of adult learners: mostly public school teachers. While INE team accompanies the adult apprentice and the graduate to their school community, it continues to see the possibility that arises from a method centered on the girl and the child.

In 2014, INE managed to extend its accreditation and affiliation to the level of Elementary I-II. In 2016, INE achieved accreditation and affiliation at the Secondary I level. The Infants and Toddlers course achieved the same in 2018.

In 2015, the White House recognized INE as a “Bright Spot” for Hispanic education. In 2017, INE received the Tina Hills award in recognition of its work in the third sector, "for its trajectory and extraordinary social work." Also in 2017, after hurricanes Irma and María, INE, together with the communities, took on various social responsibility projects: Sembrando Nos Quedamos, in alliance with Para la Naturaleza, in the mission of reforesting our country; Astronomía al Servicio, along with Astronomers Without Borders, in the common mission of making schools the center of their community, even as a stargazing place.

Since 2015, INE has developed the Escuelas para la Paz program, that uses the Casa Familiar initiative to provide a safe space in schools for children and young people who have been impacted by violence. Here they receive psychology services, various type of therapies, family activities, and other services geared toward physical and emotional needs. Escuelas para la Paz has presence in 13 of the Montessori school communities.

Creation of SAEM

In its commitment to the public sector, INE obtained in 2012 a Circular Letter from the Department of Education: a letter that includes the Montessori credential within the regulations of the Department.

In 2014, the Department of Education created the Auxiliary Secretary for Montessori Education (SAEM by its acronym in Spanish). SAEM has thus achieved a better accompaniment to the Montessori guide in the public school. Therefore, a continual contact with each school community is developed so they can better serve the child who attends this Montessori public school. Currently, 52 public schools are part of the project.

In 2018, SAEM achieved law status with Law 277 of December 2018, in order to develop and make accessible Montessori public schools in the Department of Education.