Quarter-century down

Deirdre Newman

DeLores Sanfelice is too modest to toot her own horn.

So after 25 years of teaching at Montessori Harbor Mesa School in

Costa Mesa her students had no problem gushing about her positive

attributes on her last day Friday.

“She doesn’t abandon people,� said fifth-grader Kate Misogas, 10.

“She always goes back to help you. She’s very honest.�

Sanfelice was invited to teach at Mesa by director Giuliana De

Frenza, who heard a glowing review about the teacher from Sanfelice’s

then 5-year-old son who was a student at the school.

“She’s absolutely the most dedicated teacher I ever met,� De

Frenza said. “She’s been an invaluable asset to the school.�

Sanfelice’s attendance record was almost on par with baseball

great Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive game achievement -- only missing

about two to three days over the last quarter century, De Frenza

said.

Montessori schools give students the freedom to make choices about

what they want to learn based on their interests and ability.

Sanfelice, who mostly taught fourth-through sixth-graders, said

she relished the challenge of tailoring her instruction to individual

students.

“You have to be well-prepared, know the material and know what a

child’s ability is,� Sanfelice said.

She said she enjoyed watching children discover their talents and

nurturing them over the years.

“You may have one year a child who’s into science, so you want to

foster that. The next year, there may be someone with artistic

interest,� Sanfelice said.

After two-plus decades, Sanfelice said she felt bittersweet about

leaving.

“It’s sad because I will miss the school. The staff has been

great. I will miss the children. I don’t know what the future holds

for me,� Sanfelice said.

Her students will definitely feel the void.

“She has a really kind heart,� said fifth-grader Phillip Softa,

10. “When I first came to class, she taught a lot that I never

thought I would know and taught me the hardest things.�