Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On behalf of Seneca Academy, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you as you explore our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) World School. We invite you to visit our 6.5 acres in the heart of Darnestown, Maryland: just north of the Potomac River, south of Great Seneca Creek, and northwest of Washington D.C. Our campus is an educational ecosystem with students aged 2 through grade 5, dynamic faculty and staff members with a wide range of skill sets, and terrestrial and freshwater habitats for trees, plants, animals, and insects.
At Seneca Academy, our faculty and staff lead an exceptional educational experience through the IB PYP. Our IB Units of Inquiry preserve the wonder of childhood through imaginative play, scientific methods, communication processes, problem solving, and cultural explorations. We believe in holistically fostering intellectual curiosity, creative expression, and environmental responsibility within each child. Our students are guided toward achieving their goals and expanding their optics on the world. They learn Spanish, play instruments, design art, become financially literate, collaborate on projects, and lead presentations as they become increasingly aware of the social responsibilities shared among themselves, one another, and the world.
I invite you to explore our website to discover the vibrant programs, passionate faculty, and supportive community that make Seneca Academy a truly special village in which children learn and grow. Whether you’re seeking meaningful curriculum offerings, a nurturing environment, or a diverse and inclusive community, we are here to partner with you in balancing an appreciation for the joys of childhood whilst shaping a bright future for your child(ren).
Thank you for considering Seneca Academy for your family’s educational journey. We hope to see you on campus soon!
Yours in education,
Karen K. Tyler, Ed.D.
Dr. Karen K. Tyler
Dr. Karen Tyler began her service as head of school in 2025, coming to Seneca Academy from Erie Day School, a coeducational preschool to middle school in Erie, PA. She spent her early years in the classroom as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in Pennsylvania public schools before becoming a kindergarten – sixth grade literacy coach and reading specialist and then a kindergarten – eighth grade special education literacy coach. Dr. Tyler has an International Baccalaureate educator certification in teaching and learning for the Primary Years Program and Middle Years Program. Her professional activities include long service at Pennsylvania Western University’s Edinboro campus, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as an assistant professor, graduate reading program head, graduate dyslexia interventions program head, and reading clinic facilitator. Dr. Tyler went on to earn her Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Recent professional publications include topics as diverse as early intervention for dyslexia and encouraging social justice among educators. She has also presented on these topics and others, largely literacy-based, on the national, state, university, and community levels.
