Abbie Kelly & PK Barton

May 2025 Issue
Photography by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

Hometown:
Mom Abbie: I am most connected to Hilton Head Island, but until age 18, I lived in upstate NY.
Daughter PK: Hilton Head Island, where I attended Sea Pines Montessori School and Hilton Head Preparatory School

Career:
Abbie: Montessori Business and Administration
PK: Montessori Elementary Teacher – Grades 1-3

Passion:
Abbie: Outdoor Education in all forms
PK: Teaching and Coaching

Family:
Abbie: 2 children (PK, Andrew); 3 grandchildren- (PK) Hunter 2, Hudson 6 and (Andrew) Westley 10
PK: Husband, Chris (married in the Low Country), 2 boys Hudson, 6 and Hunter 2

Abbie: Being an advocates of Montessori education, when were you first exposed to the Montessori way, and what brought you to wholeheartedly believe in Montessori methodology?
My parents were early believers in Montessori education, though I was too old by the time Montessori schools were developing around the US. I think child-directed, experiential learning spoke to them as highly educated people. When we children were of marriageable age and considering having children of our own, they spoke often to us about the value of the Montessori way. At the time I was living in NYC where Montessori education was common, but because they were engaged in the development of Sea Pines Montessori Academy (SPMA), they were always talking about the new Montessori school on Hilton Head Island and the training of teachers going on here. When I visited them during summers and vacations, they insisted on introducing me to a few famous Montessori educators living and teaching here in hopes we would raise our children here one day and have them attend SPMA, the best example of Montessori school education they had seen. I fulfilled their hopes working toward my own Montessori education beginning in 1977, and moved here in 1985 so my children could attend SPMA.

PK: You were raised on Hilton Head Island, attending SPMA from 15 months through kindergarten and Hilton Head Prep from 1st to 12th grades. How do you think a Montessori education has made a difference in your life?
Montessori education is an individualized education system that taught me independence and the value of working hard. Also, my Montessori years gave me a foundation in the joy of learning and the value of being a life-long learner. Finally, the peace education component of Montessori learning taught me compassion, empathy, and respect, traits I bring to my teaching.

Abbie: Tell us what you have found rewarding in your Montessori career path.
I was a part of SPMA as it grew from three classrooms to ten and became the model Montessori school for the development of Montessori schools throughout South Carolina. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was the largest Montessori pre-school in the country with more than 200 children under the age of 6; people moved to HHI so their children could attend. Then, I had an opportunity to develop Montessori teacher training centers at the American Montessori Society in NYC due to the desperate need for more Montessori teachers.

PK: Tell us what makes teaching in a Montessori environment rewarding.
Teaching children in a multi-age, multi-grade classroom environment (I teach grades 1-3 simultaneously) creates a longer, more trusting relationship with the child and the family. The classroom is child-directed, with the teacher teaching to the needs of each child, guiding them academically, socially, emotionally, and moving forward at their own pace.

PK: What’s the best advice your mom has given you?
Follow your dreams, love your career, work hard, and play hard! My Mom taught me the importance of hard work and also enjoying time off with family. I love to take my family on adventures and explore the outdoors around us.

Abbie: Were you influenced more by your mother or father?
I was influenced by both my parents fairly equally. They firmly believed that education was a never-ending, life-long learning process. They both returned to education over and over, my mother switching a career teaching math in high school to becoming a university professor in Library Science Research (before the internet), and my father switching careers from a VP of Human Resources (Sea Pines) to a law degree. I chose a similar career switch from a NYC hotel executive to the Montessori school business and administrator at SPMA, and then Director of Montessori Teacher Training and Education for the American Montessori Society in NYC.

What are 3 myths about Montessori you both would like to debunk?
Myth #1: Montessori lets children do whatever they want. Montessori education is highly structured but allows freedom of choice through the guidance of the teacher.

Myth #2: Montessori is only good through pre-school. Montessori education offers a full curriculum through high school, allowing students to move through the curriculum at their own pace, creating excellent work habits and executive skills, all while encouraging love of learning.

Myth # 3: Montessori education doesn’t emphasize academic skills. Montessori doesn’t teach rote memorization of academic concepts, but rather teaches through presentation (of the lesson), practice, and proficiency. The child only moves on to the next concept after mastery of the previous concept, thus always moving forward with full understanding.

PK: What are your 3 favorite traits of your mom? What is the No.1 trait of yours that resembles her the most?
My mom is hard working, has a passion for exploration and new experiences, and a strong belief in preserving the outdoor world. I take after my mom in my commitment to hard work.

Abbie: What are your 3 favorite traits of PK. What is her No. 1 trait
that resembles her father?
PK is hard working, incredibly gifted in motivating the students she teaches and players she coaches, and believes in the ability of children to grow into the person they were meant to be. Her love of sports in all forms is a trait that resembles her father.

PK: Your mom is a legend at SPMA. Is it easy or hard to follow in her footsteps?
In some ways its easy because her legacy at the school has connected our family to the Hilton Head Community and the school community for almost 40 years. And it’s also a little difficult as my passion is teaching, while hers was school administration.

Abbie: You have been on the SC Montessori Alliance Board of Directors, which governs all Montessori schools—private and public—throughout SC. What’s the most exciting news parents can look forward to in the world of Montessori.
Many children in SC attend schools that are wholly or partially Montessori. For a time in the early 2000s, there were more Montessori schools in SC than in other states. As the state needed Montessori advising, the SC Montessori Alliance was created by Montessori leaders throughout the various SC regions. We interact with state agencies to answer questions and provide resources for Montessori schools, while providing Montessori curriculum guidance to traditional school leaders. Our most prominent work is providing Montessori professional development for Montessori teachers, as it differs from professional development in traditional teaching. This growth has been exciting, and we are so pleased to see a new generation of Montessori leadership taking on the work.

Abbie: What’s your favorite hobby?
I fill my time volunteering, reading, hiking, and spending time with family. My favorite is exploring new places to hike.

PK: What’s your favorite thing to do with your free time?
I like spending time with my family in the Lowcountry: boating, biking, beaching, and playing multiple sports.

What’s the most fun thing the two of you enjoy doing together?
Both: Anything outdoors, walking and biking (and exploring new hikes together).

Abbie: What are you currently ROARING ABOUT?
I’m excited winter has passed, and I can continue the 14 State Challenge on the Appalachian Trail—hikes along the Appalachian trail in all 14 states it passes through. I have completed five southern states with nine northern states to go (a few a year). I am also going to Ireland in the fall.

PK: What are you currently ROARING ABOUT?
We’re going to spend two weeks in the Pacific Northwest this summer, to include Olympic National Park, salmon fishing…and spending time with our boys.

Fun Tidbits:
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
Abbie: Häagen-Dazs-Chocolate Peanut Butter
PK: Hilton Head Ice Cream Kahlua Chip

Favorite Book of All Times:
Abbie: To Kill a Mockingbird,
PK: I don’t have a favorite, but I’m liking Author Freida McFadden right now.

Favorite Meal:
Abbie: Shrimp and Grits.
PK: Anything Taco

Favorite Movie:
Abbie: Star Wars (all versions)
PK: not really a movie person

Favorite Maria Montessori Quote:
Abbie: “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”
PK: “The greatest gift we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings
of independence.”

Favorite Lowcountry Hangout:
Abbie: Pinckney Island
PK: Out on a boat on the water

Favorite Thing to Cook:
Abbie: Homemade Ravioli (from scratch)
PK: anything breakfast

Favorite Holiday:
Abbie: Christmas
PK: 4th of July