Affiliate & Collaborator Events
Closing the Intention Gap
Y Montessori
Join Isabella Cai, founder of Y Montessori, as she introduces "The Intention Gap," a new framework for understanding why traditional parent education falls short and how schools can align adult learning with what parents care about most: their own child.
Zoom event: Closing the Intention Gap by Isabella Cai
Leadership Workshop: Seeing Through the Dignity Lens
Leadership Workshop: Seeing Through the Dignity Lens
Staff wellness, retention, and burnout are big issues right now for school leaders. If you feel like you've tried everything, here is an angle you probably haven't.
Montessori schools ask adults to model the culture we want children to absorb: grace and courtesy, respect for the individual. The single biggest predictor of whether a teacher stays is whether they feel valued by the adults around them. In a sector where trained Montessori educators are hard to find and harder to replace than ever, dignity work is one of the few culture investments with a direct line to both wellness and mission.
This 2-hour live virtual workshop introduces the Dignity Model in a way that's practical and built around real conversation. It's not a new initiative on top of what you're already doing. It's a way of strengthening what's already there.
Power of Possibility Introduction Workshop
Presented by PDK Educational Consulting
During this 2-Day introduction workshops participants will we'll move through the Power of Possibility framework reimagining how we support children.
Participants will:
Examine the beliefs and paradigms that shape how we see and respond to children
Explore the Being → Becoming → Belonging arc as a foundation for inclusion
Understand behavior as communication, not a problem to manage
Develop the practice of intentional observation as a core professional skill
Discover how the prepared environment and the prepared adult function as the primary conditions for every child's growth
Apply the Keys and Bridges framework to real classroom contexts
Leave with a personalized action plan grounded in your own setting and community
Before They Arrive & Beyond: Supporting Teachers, Parents, and the School Community
Presented by Sarah Fondriest
In this workshop, Montessori administrators and program leaders will explore how to support teachers, parents, and the school community before the school year begins — and how that preparation shapes the experience of the children once they arrive.
Together, we will look at the systems, communication, and planning that help adults feel prepared, connected, and supported. This includes back-to-school preparation, staff training week, new family orientation, parent communication, community gatherings, and the practical details that need attention before the first day.
We will consider what teachers need in order to begin the year with confidence, what parents need in order to feel informed and welcomed, and what school leaders can do now to create a calmer, more connected start to the year.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for supporting the adults in the school community so everyone can begin the year with more clarity, trust, calm, and purpose.
Leadership Workshop: Seeing Through the Dignity Lens
Leadership Workshop: Seeing Through the Dignity Lens
Staff wellness, retention, and burnout are big issues right now for school leaders. If you feel like you've tried everything, here is an angle you probably haven't.
Montessori schools ask adults to model the culture we want children to absorb: grace and courtesy, respect for the individual. The single biggest predictor of whether a teacher stays is whether they feel valued by the adults around them. In a sector where trained Montessori educators are hard to find and harder to replace than ever, dignity work is one of the few culture investments with a direct line to both wellness and mission.
This 2-hour live virtual workshop introduces the Dignity Model in a way that's practical and built around real conversation. It's not a new initiative on top of what you're already doing. It's a way of strengthening what's already there.
Supporting the School Day: Transitions, Work Cycles, Lunch, Nap, Arrival, and Dismissal
Presented by Sarah Fondriest
In this workshop, Montessori administrators and program leaders will look closely at the moments in the school day that often create the most stress — arrivals, dismissal, work cycles, outdoor time, lunch, nap, and the transitions in between.
Together, we will consider how these parts of the day are currently working, where children and staff may need more support, and how adult preparation, clear expectations, thoughtful schedules, and consistent routines can create a calmer and more purposeful flow.
We will explore how to protect the work cycle, support children through daily transitions, clarify adult roles, student support, and create systems that help teachers and assistants move through the day with more confidence and less overwhelm.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for strengthening the routines and schedules of the school day so children, teachers, and classroom teams feel more supported throughout the daily grind.
Thoughtfully Planning the Year Ahead
Presented by Sarah Fondriest
In this workshop, Montessori administrators and program leaders will step back from the daily rush and look thoughtfully at the full school year ahead.
Even if the calendar is already set, this is a chance to look at the bigger vision for the year — what is working, what may be missing, what needs adjusting, and what — GASP — may need to be eliminated!
Together, we will review what is already on the calendar, including conferences, parent education, staff meetings, community events, school traditions, and key moments that shape teacher and family retention. We will consider what is working, what needs refinement, and what new ideas may better support teachers, families, and the whole school community.
We will also explore how to fit it all in without feeling overwhelmed, including practical systems such as weekly team meetings — yes, teachers and assistants need to meet weekly — regular administrator check-ins — yes, you need to meet with your teachers regularly — parent education opportunities, communication touch points, and simple planning tools.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for mapping the year ahead with more clarity, intention, and confidence — while creating a school year that supports connection, trust, and long-term community commitment.