THE MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
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Dr. KaLinda Bass-Barlow was appointed as the Executive Director of AMI/USA on August 01, 2025. She joined the AMI/USA Board in July of 2018, and served with dedication until November 2024. Before stepping into the role of Interim Executive Director for AMI/USA in December 2024, she held the positions of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development, Executive Montessori Principal, and Principal for Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Bass-Barlow has earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership; her dissertation focus was on the experiences of educators of Color during Montessori training. She also holds an AMI Primary Diploma, AMI Montessori Core Principles Certificate, M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education (Montessori Concentration), M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (K-12), and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
In 2016, her career shifted from a conventional educational school leader to a Montessori school leader when she began serving as the proud principal of Harold Holliday Montessori (HHMS) – a KCPS Signature School. After working with her team to transform HHMS, she was recruited to duplicate and exceed her Holliday blueprint at Border Star Montessori and to partner with Lawrence Public Schools to guide their work in opening the first public Montessori school in the State of Kansas. Kansas City's Montessori campuses are now recognized among the top five magnet schools in Missouri.
Dr. Bass-Barlow has achieved remarkable success as a Montessori leader and passionate advocate for children, she understands the urgency of learning for children and does not compromise at their expense. In her tenure as the leader of HHMS and BSM, she worked relentlessly with stakeholders to transform Montessori practice. She and her team worked with the mindset of Good, Better, Best to offer the children they’re privileged to serve rich Montessori experiences. KaLinda's time serving in the public sector was invaluable. She considers it an honor to be part of the public sector's Montessori movement.
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By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Identify three core Montessori principles (such as independence, the prepared environment, and purposeful work) and translate them into actionable at-home practices.
Analyze everyday home environments (like the kitchen, bedroom, or living space) to identify physical adjustments that promote a child’s self-reliance and “learning by doing.”
Design a personalized, step-by-step home implementation plan tailored to their child's current developmental stage.
Practice specific communication strategies and observation techniques that encourage problem solving and resilience without over-correcting.
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Janita Webb is an experienced educator, instructional coach, and Montessori advocate with over 17 years of experience. She began her career in 2009 as a traditional primary teacher, spending five years in the classroom before transitioning into instructional coaching in 2014.
Her journey into Montessori education led her to earn a Montessori Core Principles Certificate (2019) and an AMI Primary Diploma (2022) from the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT).
From 2019 to 2024, she served as a school administrator at Harold Holliday Montessori school in Kansas City, where she coached AMI-and AMS- trained teachers supporting them in deepening their reflective practice and strengthening Montessori instruction.
Currently, Janita serves as a New Teacher Coach with the Institute for Urban Education (IUE) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, mentoring and coaching first- and second-year teachers at the early stages of their careers. She also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Start at Zero, where she helps advance programs that support healthy early childhood development and family engagement.
Janita is also the founder of Hands to Mind, an organization dedicated to helping families build strong minds, confidence and independence through everyday experiences at home.
Passionate about teacher development, child-centered learning, and equity in early education, Janita believes that strong foundations in the earliest years create lifelong opportunities for success.
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By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Identify three core Montessori principles (such as independence, the prepared environment, and purposeful work) and translate them into actionable at-home practices.
Analyze everyday home environments (like the kitchen, bedroom, or living space) to identify physical adjustments that promote a child’s self-reliance and “learning by doing.”
Design a personalized, step-by-step home implementation plan tailored to their child's current developmental stage.
Practice specific communication strategies and observation techniques that encourage problem solving and resilience without over-correcting.
