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AMS Traveling Symposium: Regional Tour 2023

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2023 Traveling Symposium Tour Dates & Locations

The American Montessori Society is excited to announce the stops on our 2023 Traveling Symposium Regional Tour. Join your local AMS community for a series of workshops and spotlights focused on current practice and Maria Montessori's timeless philosophy. We look forward to seeing you at a regional symposium near you in the fall.

Register Today Book Your Hotel

Key Takeaways

New connections with Montessori educators from surrounding areas
Insight and resources from workshops at all levels
A deeper understanding of Montessori philosophy
An opportunity to purchase .5 CEUs will be made available for attendees after the event
5 AMS CPD hours, Washington STARS hours, PA Act 48 hours (pending)

Register

AMS Member: $99 | Non-member: $130

Register

Lunch is included with the cost of registration at all locations!

Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount on registration. Register Your Group

Event Schedule

8:15 – 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 AM: Spotlight: Expanding Our Horizon with Munir Shivji
10:15 – 11:15 AM: Workshop Session (Part 1)
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Spotlight: Action Research: A Tool for Transformation with Gay Ward
12:30 - 1:45 PM: Lunch Break (lunch is provided)
1:45 – 2:45 PM: Spotlight: Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) Are Not the Same with Amira Mogaji
3:00 – 4:00 PM: Workshop Session (Part 2)

Spotlights

Spotlight: Expanding our Horizon with Munir Shivji

Montessori is Best Practice: Expanding our Horizon

Earning your Montessori credential is only the beginning of your Montessori journey. Continuous growth is a critical goal and working to master the best practices in the expansive field of education keeps us fresh and ready to articulate the power of Montessori education for our families and our students. Participants will learn the critical elements needed to create a lasting and unified Montessori Movement. This session will include attendee participation, hands-on experiences, dialogue, and movement.

Workshop Objectives

Developing an awareness of:

The importance of lifelong learning for educators
The power of Montessori philosophy
Critical skills Montessori students gain from high-fidelity implementation
How to teach and articulate using mainstream language

Munir Shivji (he/him) is the executive director at the American Montessori Society. For over 20 years, he has been a noteworthy leader in Montessori education as a former teacher, instructor, school administrator, and teacher education program administrator. He is an inspirational multi-AMS-Montessori credentialed leader who observes, connects, and tells stories that inspire action while also being grounded in business and financial acumen that leverages the American Montessori Society for future success.

Spotlight: Action Research: A Tool for Transformation with Gay Ward

Action Research: A Tool for Transformation

Action research is a tool modeled by Maria Montessori whereby one uses systematic observation to identify needs, implement a plan of positive change and reflect on the results to inform one’s next action plan. In this spotlight presentation, Dr. Gay Ward will use case studies to demonstrate how action research can aid reflective Montessori practitioners in transforming their curriculum and physical and social environments to realize positive change in classrooms, schools, and communities.

Gay C. Ward, PhD, is a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF), where she works as a Montessori consultant and academic faculty in teacher education and Montessori studies. She was on the development committee and is currently on the faculty of the innovative UWRF Montessori EdD Program. Gay was the 2016 recipient of MACTE’s Dennis Shapiro Innovation in Montessori Teacher Education Award and was awarded the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Lifetime Achievement Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity in 2015 and the Education Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Wisconsin Montessori Association in 2021. Gay has facilitated numerous workshops on action research including presenting at The Montessori Event in 2017 – 2022 and has guided action researchers in reading and Montessori programs at UWRF as well as guiding AMS Emerging Leaders in their capstone action research projects. Gay co-chaired the AMS Research Committee 2015 – 2018. She has co-authored articles on action research, reading development, narrative development, choice in learning, and joyfulness. She is the AMS 2024 Living Legacy recipient. AMS-credentialed (Elementary I).

Spotlight: CRT and CRP Are Not the Same with Amira Mogaji

Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) Are Not the Same

This session will focus on demystifying Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) and discuss why having an understanding of both CRT and CRP is important for all educators. Participants will learn practical ways to apply Culturally Responsive Pedagogy to create equitable and inclusive classrooms and schools where all students feel a sense of belonging.

Dr. Amira Mogaji is the president of the American Montessori Society Board of Directors and the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for Battle Creek Public Schools. She also serves as the AMS board liaison for the Peace and Social Justice Committee; the chair of the Executive Committee; and is on the Directorship Committee and the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. Throughout her career, Dr. Mogaji has served as a teacher, a CEO, and a school principal in both traditional and Montessori school settings in urban school districts in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Michigan. Amira has served as the CEO/head of school of a Montessori charter school, the principal of an AMS-accredited Montessori school within an urban school district, and the chief academic officer of an ABAR-focused Montessori charter school. Along with her AMS board service, Amira is a Montessori for Social Justice Board of Directors founding board member and an Eliminating Racism & Claiming/Celebrating Equality (ERACCE) board member. She is a Montessori parent and an ABAR educational consultant. AMS-credentialed (Administrator).

Workshops

Workshops are presented in two parts, in the morning and afternoon, and attendees can pick any workshop. All workshops are geared toward educators of any level.

Nature, the First and Essential Environment with Geoffrey Bishop

Nature, the First and Essential Environment

Society has moved away from nature, believing it is no longer safe for our children. Parks are deserted and neighborhoods are empty. In this presentation, I will discuss the growing trend by parents, schools, and town planning commissions to limit children’s access to nature, and what we must do as educators and adults to ensure that our children do not grow up disconnected from the natural world. How do we draw on our own experiences with nature to connect our children to the natural world?

Geoffrey Bishop (he/him) grew up in Australia and, after completing his education, backpacked around the world for five years. He settled in Wisconsin, opening an environmental education program—Nature’s Classroom Institute (NCI). NCI now serves students from over 100 Montessori schools and across the U.S. He is currently the executive director and founder of Nature’s Classroom Institute and Montessori School (serving ages 3 – high school). He also serves on the AMS Board of Directors and executive committee, chairing both the global committee and Montessori Life editorial advisory board. He is co-chair for the development committee and he sits on finance and executive director review.

Engaging Your School Community in Reflective Practices with Melanie Thiesse

Engaging Your School Community in Reflective Practices

The process of school improvement is one that is best practiced continuously and with all stakeholder groups. When school leaders use the AMS School Accreditation Standards as a framework of best practices for schools, they have the opportunity to work with their community to celebrate strengths, discover opportunities, and develop goals for its future. This workshop will lead participants in the planning and use of these standards to build professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators in both public and independent schools—ultimately resulting in a stronger community with a singular focus towards continuous improvement.

Melanie Thiesse (she/her) is the senior director of membership & school accreditation for the American Montessori Society and is dedicated to supporting the growth of high-quality Montessori. She has nearly thirty years of experience in the field of Montessori education as a school administrator, teacher educator, and teaching in public and private Montessori schools at the Elementary and Middle School levels. AMS-credentialed (Elementary I). NCME-credentialed (Elementary I – II).

Classroom Management: The Key to Normalization with Marie Conti

Classroom Management: The Key to Normalization

A normalized classroom—it’s the dream of every Montessori teacher regardless of years of experience. We have our ideal lesson plans in our back pocket, our beautifully and thoughtfully prepared environments and our Montessori pedagogy in our hearts and our heads. The challenge is: how do we achieve this normalization Montessori wrote about when our classroom environments may be less than ideal? You may have an uneven mix of ages, a limited physical environment, or students who spend hours a day outside of school on electronic devices and lack social skills. You may live in a climate where weather prevents outdoor time for days or weeks at a time. You may have a class with many neurodiverse children who require more attention or who have support personnel visiting them throughout the day. How do you handle the reality of your everyday Montessori class environment and still achieve that coveted state of normalization when the children’s behavior is focused and purposeful and all is in a state of harmony? Montessori states this is the true nature of the child, but can it be done? In this workshop, experienced Montessori educator, Marie Conti, will share useful classroom management tips that are often overlooked that can help you overcome the hurdles, helping your students reach that coveted state of normalization.

Marie Conti (she/her) is the senior director of community and events for the American Montessori Society and is dedicated to connecting Montessorians from all regions with AMS. Marie has over 40 years of experience in the field of Montessori education as a school administrator, teacher educator, teacher, AMS board member (2016 – 2019), volunteer, advocate, and as the former senior director of school accreditation and member services at AMS. As a board member, Marie served on the development committee and was co-chair of both the member engagement workgroup and the research committee. She has also co-chaired annual conferences and has presented at The Montessori Event. AMS-credentialed (Early Childhood).

Using Learner Outcomes as a Guide to Our Montessori Practice with Cynthia Barraza Monroy

Using Learner Outcomes as a Guide to Our Montessori Practice

Maria Montessori asked Montessori educators to “see the child that is not there yet”, but how to see him/her if we don’t have a clear definition of where s/he should be. During this workshop we will explore Montessori aligned learner outcomes to be used in public or independent schools settings, and how defining them as a whole school can guide our daily observations, lesson planning, daily activities, and overall Montessori practice. We will engage in activities to understand and incorporate these outcomes as we practice Montessori education in both private and public school settings and within the individuality of each school.

Cynthia Barraza Monroy (she/her) is the school quality manager for the American Montessori Society and is passionate about creating school environments where teachers and students can thrive and where the Montessori philosophy is applied through the entire organization. In her 20+ years in Montessori education, she has taught in Early Childhood and Elementary I – II classrooms in the U.S. and Mexico. She also founded and led a school serving students from Infant through Elementary ages. AMS-credentialed (Early Childhood). CEMAC (Centro Educativo Montessori) certificate (Elementary I – II).

Additional Workshops for Livermore and Tacoma

A Montessori Model of Inclusion with Pamela Shanks
Only available in Livermore and Tacoma

A Montessori Model of Inclusion: A Model of Continuous Improvement

The development of an inclusive Montessori school requires a thoughtful approach. This workshop examines The Montessori Continuum of Inclusion, a continuum that allows schools to measure progress from access to acceptance. Participants will learn about the three stages of inclusion: structural inclusion, educational inclusion, and community inclusion. This framework helps define the work of administrators and teachers. Understanding these stages and the role you play reduces stress and doubt while increasing schoolwide unity of thought and approach. The end goal is that every child is an accepted, respected, and valued member of Montessori classrooms and schools. This workshop has something to offer every member of school communities.

Pam Shanks (she/her) provides professional development and student consultative services for Montessori schools and teachers serving children whose development is complicated by delay or disability. During her 30+ years in Montessori education, Pam worked as a teacher, administrator, coordinator of a schoolwide program of inclusion, and mentor for Montessori and special education teachers/interns. She has taught at the university level and authored articles and books on inclusive Montessori education. She has spoken at AMS, NAMTA, and IMC conferences, as well as the 2013 International Montessori Congress. AMS-credentialed (Early Childhood).

Panel on National Teacher Shortage: How to Maximize Staff Retention
Only available in Livermore

Panel on National Teacher Shortage: How to Maximize Staff Retention

During a time when hiring new teachers is more challenging than in recent years, school leadership needs to get more creative than ever before in how we retain our staff. Considering both compensation and benefits, leaders need to examine both tangible and intangible benefits that create higher levels of satisfaction, allowing staff to feel valued and heard. This panel discussion will offer the experiences of school leaders with years of collective experience, and will include a collaborative discussion during which perspectives and creative ideas can be shared, and everyone's voice is heard and considered. Participants will leave this workshop with tangible initiatives that can be implemented at their schools.

Panelists

Patti Wilczek, head of school Valley Montessori School
MaryEllen Kordas former head of school Valley Montessori School
Diane Kmetz, director of Elementary and Middle School at Valley Montessori School

Working with Students with Neurodiversities: Q&A with Mandi Lee-Han & Jillian Clanton
Only available in Livermore

Working with Students with Neurodiversities in a Montessori Environment

Please join Mandi and Jillian, experienced educators in Montessori and special education, to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by working with students with a variety of neurodiversities in inclusive Montessori environments. This session will not have a formal presentation, but rather it will be a discussion of your questions, concerns, successes, and challenges. Come prepared to discuss!

Jillian Clanton has been working in the field of special education, both as a teacher and as a board-certified behavior analyst, in both schools and privately through healthcare, for close to 20 years. As a former student at Valley Montessori, Jillian has always felt a strong tie to the Montessori community. Jillian completed her first year as a primary classroom teacher. In her spare time, Jillian loves reading, spending time outside, camping, puzzles, being at the ocean, and traveling with her family.

Mandi Lee-Han is the developmental specialist and educational coordinator at Valley Montessori. With over 23 years of experience working in various educational settings, she’s proud to have had 11 of those years at Valley Montessori School (VMS). Some of Mandi’s roles at VMS include weekly meetings with teachers to support student learning and development, coordinating outside student resources, parent workshops, coordinating school wide screenings for vision, OT, and speech, and coordinating staff professional growth consortium.

Maria Montessori, Teacher of the Teachers with Matteo Ferroni
Only available in Livermore

Maria Montessori, Teacher of the Teachers

Meet Matteo, architect and artist who designed the first ever statue of Maria Montessori, donated by AMS to the italian city of Perugia. Wishing to represent the scientist educator as "the teacher of the teachers," he collected the living memories of two former students of Dr. Montessori, unveiling an unexpected portrayal of what she was like and how she delivered training. Join Matteo during the lunch hour to discover more!

Matteo Ferroni is a former Montessori student and a present-day award-winning architect. He graduated from the Academy of Architetture of Mendrisio in Switzerland and has worked in Europe and Africa. He chairs the Swiss charity Fondazione eLand. In 2018, he went back to his school and became the driving force behind the revival of the local Montessori Movement, “Montessori District Umbria.” He designed the space of a center for pedagogical studies, a Montessori playground in a tiny city square named after Maria Montessori, and—with the support of the American Montessori Society—he created a statue of Maria Montessori as the landmark of this Montessori city.

Anti-racist Work in Schools Serving Majority of White Students with Michelle Hammons
Only available in Livermore

Maria Montessori, Teacher of the Teachers

Meet Matteo, architect and artist who designed the first ever statue of Maria Montessori, donated by AMS to the italian city of Perugia. Wishing to represent the scientist educator as "the teacher of the teachers," he collected the living memories of two former students of Dr. Montessori, unveiling an unexpected portrayal of what she was like and how she delivered training. Join Matteo during the lunch hour to discover more!

Michelle Hammons, MA, has served for the last 20 years as the principal/executive director of Eagle Peak Montessori, a public Montessori charter school in Walnut Creek, CA. The entirety of Michelle’s educational career has been involved in Montessori Education in the public sector. She began this journey as a teacher in the Montessori magnet programs in Waco, TX. After teaching for six years, she entered school administration as the assistant principal of a diverse public Montessori charter school in Houston, TX. Michelle holds a BS in Sociology, a Post Bac in Early Childhood Education, a Masters in Educational Leadership, all from Baylor University and is completing her doctorate in Educational Leadership through the focus of Social Justice and Equity at San Francisco State University. Michelle has worked with the Charter School Development Center in their Leadership Bootcamp for new charter leaders and has served on the board of the American Montessori Society and other charter school boards.