Sarasota University

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Taking the Lead for Social Justice in an Ever-Changing World
2024-12-17 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an inspiring and insightful colloquium featuring Dr. Nicole Evans and Regina Dyson, two dynamic leaders who will share their personal leadership journeys and strategies for advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in their respective fields.
Through storytelling and actionable insights, Dr. Evans and Ms. Dyson will explore how leaders can create inclusive environments, champion equity, and drive meaningful change. This session is designed for anyone passionate about fostering diversity and justice in their communities or organizations.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Regina Dyson
Regina Dyson, Chair – Montessori for Social Justice
chair@montessoriforsocialjustice.org
Regina Dyson serves as the current Chair of Montessori for Social Justice. She has an extensive background in community building, strategic planning, project management, and organizational development. She is an ardent Montessorian for All advocate, committed to cultivating meaningful connections and rich experiences with students, families, educators, and school administration where the Montessori principles and practices are personal, at home, in school, and wherever we are, regardless of our age, position, and background.
Regina’s professional entry to education AND Montessori as the Parent Relations and Community Engagement Coordinator with an independent, Afro-centered school in Atlanta, GA, in 1992. The co-founding Executive Director required all staff to be in the classroom with primary-age students and to gain training in Montessori methods, regardless of their role or title within the organization. Not long after that, Regina assumed an Administrative role as the acting Executive Director of FreeForm Academy when the founding Director relocated to DC for Seminary school. Since then, her work has and continues to include a range of experiences in the non-profit sector, working with community-based organizations, NGOs, programs serving youth, entrepreneurs, cooperative enterprises, small business owners and start-ups, and independent and charter schools, embodying the principles, values, and practices embodied in the Montesorri pedagogy, which includes diversity, inclusion, and equity, observation, reflection, and opportunity at its core.

About Dr. Nicole Evans
Senior Director of Leadership, Embracing Equity
Dr. Nicole Evans has dedicated her life to the pursuit of transformative education, fueled by a passion ignited during her formative years spent alongside her father in his 8th grade classroom. Drawing from this early experience, Dr. Evans has spent the past 27 years championing the educational needs of families, students, and educators within diverse settings.
Throughout her career, Dr. Evans has navigated the complexities of the educational landscape, serving in roles across the public school system, her alma mater Harris-Stowe State University’s education department, and as the principal of a Montessori school in St. Louis. It was during her tenure as a Montessori principal that she recognized the imperative to delve deeper into the journey of fostering an antiracist educational environment. This pivotal realization led her to hire and enlist the expertise of Embracing Equity, an experience that profoundly shaped her professional and personal trajectory!
‍Driven by a commitment to equity and inclusion, Dr. Evans joined the Embracing Equity team, leveraging her wealth of experience to support organizations in cultivating equitable practices. In her current role as Senior Director of Leadership, she remains steadfast in her dedication to advancing this mission, empowering individuals and institutions to embrace equity, dismantle systemic barriers, and foster truly equitable organizations.

Christmas Day
2024-12-25 08:00 - 17:00

New Years Day
2025-01-01 08:00 - 17:00
Wishing everyone a happy new years from Sarasota University!

Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2025-01-15 08:00 - 17:00

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Vision Boards in Progress: A Yearlong Strategy for Busy Professionals with Monica Johnson
2025-01-21 19:00 - 20:00
Learn how to create a dynamic, evolving vision board that adapts and grows with you throughout the year. This session will provide a flexible framework for building a yearlong vision board while refining your professional goals, ensuring it remains a powerful tool for focus and motivation. Attendees will gain practical strategies to seamlessly integrate vision boarding into their busy schedules, supporting continuous personal and professional growth.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Monica Johnson
Monica Johnson is a Montessorian, Art-Life Coach, Teacher Educator, and Adjunct Professor at Sarasota University who is dedicated to fostering professional growth, innovation, and well-being. Passionate about a strengths-based approach to personal development, she specializes in practical tools such as visual journaling, mandalas, mindfulness, and vision boards. Her work fosters intentional personal and professional growth for teachers and busy professionals, integrating creativity and self-reflection to inspire meaningful and transformative progress.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.

Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : The Fishes Wishes with Ryan Moralevitz
2025-02-18 19:00 - 20:00
Dive into the fascinating world of ocean conservation with Ryan Moralevitz as he shares his fourteen-year journey of protecting our planet’s waters. In this inspiring presentation, Ryan will reveal incredible facts about the ocean, why it’s vital to our planet’s health, and practical tips anyone can use to help keep it clean and thriving. Whether you’re a passionate ocean advocate or simply curious about conservation, this event will leave you inspired and empowered to make a difference.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can contribute to a healthier, more vibrant ocean! 🌊
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Ryan Moralevitz

Ryan is an eighteen-year-old conservationist who has been helping the ocean through his project, The Fishes Wishes, since he was four years old. Through The Fishes Wishes he has hosted sea oat and mangrove plantings, organized many beach cleanups, and, over the last few years, developed a passion for making upcycled sculptures out of beach-found trash to raise awareness of the sheer amount of plastic pollution that plagues the oceans. His goal is to educate and inspire youth about the many problems our ocean faces while also striving to make the seas clean and thriving for all the animals that call it home.

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

Alumni Gathering - MEPI Conference - Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
2025-02-28 08:00 - 2025-03-01 17:00
Sarasota University is excited to be attending this year’s MEPI Conference in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina!
Stop by our booth to meet your fellow alumni and reconnect with fellow Sarasota University graduates. Learn about the latest advancements in the Montessori field, explore Montessori career opportunities, and network with industry professionals.
We can’t wait to see you there!

Alumni Gathering - AMS Conference - Denver, Colorado
2025-03-13 08:00 - 2025-03-16 17:00
Sarasota University is excited to be attending this year’s AMS Conference in Denver, Colorado!
Stop by our booth to meet your fellow alumni and reconnect with fellow Sarasota University graduates. Learn about the latest advancements in the Montessori field, explore Montessori career opportunities, and network with industry professionals.
We can’t wait to see you there!

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Language of Reverence with Elizabeth Slade!
2025-03-18 19:00 - 20:00
Language of Reverence explores the power of our words and their effects on human flourishing. By examining and changing our word choice to and about children, each other, and ourselves, we can change our sense of the school community and ultimately our outcomes. The Language of Reverence model emphasizes creating a powerful, shared language that allows all members of the community—children, families, and school-based adults—to feel respected and valued. Join us on Tuesday, March 18th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET to explore this topic!
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Elizabeth Slade
Elizabeth G. Slade is an author and educator with thirty-seven years of experience working in Montessori education. She has worked as an elementary teacher, Montessori coach, and administrator and spent six years at the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, working with public Montessori schools across the country. She now serves as the Executive Director of Public Montessori in Action International, an organization created to ensure fully implemented Montessori education for children, families, and educators of the global majority. Her book ‘Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools’ was released in July 2021, and her historical fiction novel ‘Momentum: Montessori, a Life in Motion’, was released in August 2023. Elizabeth holds an AMI Elementary diploma, an AMS Montessori Administrators credential, and an MFA from Spalding University
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

Alumni Gathering - Children Change the World - Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
2025-04-04 08:00 - 2025-04-06 17:00
Sarasota University is excited to be attending this year’s Children Change the World Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada!
Stop by our booth to meet your fellow alumni and reconnect with fellow Sarasota University graduates. Learn about the latest advancements in the Montessori field, explore Montessori career opportunities, and network with industry professionals.
We can’t wait to see you there!

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Advocacy: A Montessori Journey of Real Work and Passion with Lorna Cohen!
2025-04-15 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for an inspiring session with Lorna Cohen as she shares her journey in Montessori advocacy—how passion and dedication have shaped her work and led to the development of the Florida Montessori Partnership. Through personal experiences and insights, Lorna will highlight the impact of advocacy in the Montessori community and discuss ways we can all contribute to the movement. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to Montessori, this session will leave you motivated to champion the cause and make a difference.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Lorna Cohen
Current Director of Instruction and Curriculum at Countryside Montessori Charter School. A Montessori educator, advocate, consultant, mentor, leader, and lifelong learner. Born in Puerto Rico in a large family with centered core service values and the importance of education. Married to her partner Jason for 32 years, they have two sons that grew up in Montessori. Lorna has worked for the past 35 years advocating and supporting advancement of Montessori education in both the private and public sector. Started to develop connections with local universities and educators to promote exposure of Montessori education to teacher students at the college level. In 2019, Recipient of the Florida Charter Schools Champions Award, first Montessori teacher to receive this award. Co-founder of Florida Montessori Partnerships, the Montessori advocacy state organization in the state of Florida, representing at MPPI. She holds a bachelor degree in Fine Arts, AMS primary and elementary credentials, AMS coaching academy credential, IMC Leadership certification, IMC -participated as verifier for accreditation team, Practicum advisor for the Center for Guided Montessori Services teaching program. State Certifications in Elementary, ESE, Gifted Education, with reading and ESOL endorsements. Cohort 5 -AMS Emergent Leaders Fellow (ELF) Graduated, serving as current mentor for the new ELF cohorts.
Recently awarded one of the AMS impact medals at the 65 year anniversary celebration. Guest speaker at several universities, AMS conferences, IMC conference and board member at Life International Academy.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Using AI to Elevate Your Montessori Practice with Letty Rising!
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:00
Feeling curious about AI but not sure where to start? Come discover how generative AI and ChatGPT can become meaningful supports in your Montessori practice, helping you save time, fuel your creativity, and spark fresh possibilities. Through a Montessori-centered lens, we will explore practical ways to use these tools for planning, material making, and communication. Together, we will imagine how technology can elevate your work and help create learning spaces where creativity, connection, and human potential thrive.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Letty Rising
Letty Rising is a seasoned international Montessori consultant, teacher trainer, course developer, speaker, podcast host, and writer. In addition, she has led various initiatives involving new school development. She is credentialed with an AMI Elementary diploma for ages 6-12, alongside an M.Ed. from Loyola University. Her expansive journey in the educational realm spans roles such as an elementary teacher, education coordinator, homeschool education specialist, head of school, and school leadership trainer across a variety of Montessori settings including public, private, and charter schools.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Montessori Behavior Solutions: Teach By Teaching with Pamela Shanks!
2025-06-17 19:00 - 20:00
Reactive behaviors are patterns of behavior that interfere with learning and positive social interactions. They are alarmingly common in today’s classrooms, so access to strategies that work, even for learners with developmental differences, delays, or disabilities, is important. Pam Shanks, the author of “The Montessori Approach to Classroom-Based Interventions,” will introduce the concept of Montessori Classroom-Based Interventions, define the difference between tantrums and meltdowns, and provide several strategies from her book to help you teach the behavior you hope to see. Join us and learn to Teach by Teaching!
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Pam Shanks
Pam Shanks, M.S. Ed., earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Kansas. Facilitating a match between Montessori and every child is the focus of her work. A master educator, author, and presenter, she specializes in inclusive Montessori education by providing professional development and consultative services for schools and teachers serving children whose development is complicated by delay or disability. Her 35 years as a Montessori teacher and wide variety of inclusive experiences beyond the classroom have culminated in a deep understanding of the Montessori method, inclusive schools, and inclusive education.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : "Observation is Love!" with Kathy Leitch
2025-07-15 19:00 - 20:00
While we understand Dr. Montessori’s emphasis on scientific observation as the foundation of our teaching methods and her encouragement to “follow the child” and “acquire a moral sensitiveness,” many educators find it challenging to know how, when, what, and why to observe effectively across all levels. You might even be wondering, “What does love have to do with it?”

Join us for an engaging presentation where you will:

1. Gain a deeper understanding and new perspectives on the power of observation.
2. Learn to prioritize observation as the essential key to truly following the child.
3. Discover how to make meaningful emotional connections with your students, fostering trusting relationships.
4. Find ways to more closely align your daily practice with your core pedagogical beliefs.

Come prepared to discuss the following quote from Dr. Montessori.
“There is only one basis for observation: the children must be free to express themselves and thus reveal those needs and attitudes which would otherwise be hidden or repressed in an environment that did not allow them to act spontaneously.”

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Kathy Leitch
Kathy is active in the Montessori community and has extensive experience as a Montessori Guide, School Leader, Teacher Trainer, and International School Consultant and Speaker. She is a certified Parenting Instructor and Stress Management Facilitator. After founding and leading a Montessori school serving infants through middle school, Kathy currently serves as the Executive Director of the International Montessori Council (IMC). Kathy earned her Montessori Credentials (0-3 & 3-6) from the American Montessori Society.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : 'To Be or Not To Be' with Mary Ellen Maunz
2025-08-19 19:00 - 20:00
We will be reviewing the Montessori concepts and practices that give children the freedom to be all they can be. From understanding the spiritual preparation of the teacher to finding the balance between liberty and discipline, the answers to our challenges are right before our eyes.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tduqgqDIqHdBKhZDbWq9RRWXCGNZyZlL0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About Mary Ellen:
Mary Ellen has more than 50 years of experience as an early childhood and elementary teacher and teacher educator, lecturer and teacher on six continents. She is certified in Montessori for 3-6 (AMI) and 6-12 (PAMS). She holds a BS in Child Development, an M.Ed. in Integrative Education, a Master Teacher certificate from the Pan-American Montessori Society, and a certificate in The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
She served on the MACTE Board of Directors for ten years and was the recipient of the MACTE Wisdom of the Elders award in 2014. She founded teacher education programs in the US and Russia. Author of Learning to Read is Child’s Play, Nurturing Your Child’s Inner Life and the newly released Free to Be, Mary Ellen is delighted to share her experiences as a mother, devoted Montessori teacher and human being.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Personal Reflections on Montessori Accessibility with Míriam Magre Loren!
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar that blends personal storytelling with practical strategies for expanding access to Montessori education.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration

About Míriam Magre Loren :
Míriam Magre Loren, M.S. in Biology & MEd., is part of Sarasota University faculty and a Montessori L.E. lead teacher in Nosara, Costa Rica. With over 16 years of international experience in Montessori and IB programs, she has taught in the U.S., Spain, the U.K., the Netherlands, and Costa Rica, engaging with diverse teams and educational communities. She is passionate about making Montessori accessible. AMS-credentialed (L.E.).
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : Intentional Connections Between Educators and Families with Dorothy Harman!
2025-10-28 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, October 28th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar on Intentional Connections Between Educators and Families presented by Dorothy Harman!
Parent/Teacher partnerships aren’t automatic in the busy lives of working families. Parent engagement requires deliberate action on the part of the teacher to develop a relationship between child, teacher, and home. There is a need to intentionally create and prepare that relationship with the same attention as preparing the classroom environment. Practical strategies will include: tools for effective parent teacher conferences, discussing successes and challenges, newsletter writing, parent education, at-home volunteerism, and easy to implement parent/child activities for the home.
This presentation will highlight research-based information reported by the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education indicating the importance and impact of the conscious development of parent/teacher relationships—research that confirms Dr. Montessori’s vision of connectedness.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration

About Dorothy Harman:
Dorothy Harman is a highly credentialed Montessori educator with extensive experience and a deep commitment to the field. She holds AMS Early Childhood and CGMS Infant and Toddler Montessori certifications and is a certified Teacher Education Instructor with AMS. Dorothy has retired from public school Montessori teaching but continues to contribute to the Montessori community through her roles as an Instructional Guide, Practicum Advisor, and Field Consultant for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Additionally, she serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and speaks to national and international audiences at professional conferences.
Dorothy’s academic credentials include a BA in Early Childhood Education and two Master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on Integrative Creative Arts. She is also a published author of two influential books on parent engagement: Intentional Connections: A Practical Guide to Parent Engagement in Early Childhood and Lower Elementary Classrooms and Building Parent-Teacher Partnerships: Intentional Connections for Parents.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium : 'Welcoming Our Newborns: Nurturing the Montessori Way from the Start' with Jeanne-Marie Paynel !
2025-11-18 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, November 18th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar on Welcoming Our Newborns: Nurturing the Montessori Way from the Start’ with Jeanne-Marie Paynel!
Event Description:
Montessori Insights for Birth Preparation and Beyond:
In this workshop, we’ll explore how the wisdom of Montessori can gently support families through pregnancy, birth, and the early months at home.

You’ll discover the importance of creating a simple nurturing space for both you and your baby—one that encourages calm, connection, and confidence.
Together, we’ll learn how to foster your baby’s natural development from the very start, create a home that invites exploration and independence, and care for your own emotional and physical well-being along the way.
This workshop offers guidance and inspiration on how we can support parents for a smooth, mindful, and enriching transition into the early years of parenthood.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Jeanne-Marie Paynel:
Jeanne-Marie Paynel M.Ed., is a bilingual French-English Montessori trained (AMI 0-6), parenting and childbirth educator, full spectrum doula, helping families prepare not only for birth, but for the three most crucial years of parenting.
Her in-person sessions are warm, practical, and rooted in evidence-based care — designed to inform and empower every step of the way, from pregnancy through postpartum and early parenthood.
With a background in Montessori education, infant massage, and doula support, Jeanne-Marie offers a holistic approach that honors both the science and the soul of parenting. She believes that when parents feel truly supported and informed, they can trust their instincts and step into their new roles with strength and grace.
Based in San Diego, she brings over two decades of experience supporting diverse families in both English and French. She’s also the host of The Art of Parenting podcast, where she shares thoughtful conversations on parenting, child development, and the realities of raising children in today’s world.

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium: Innovating Montessori Education for Equity with Tatenda Muchiriri!
2025-12-16 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, December 16th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar on Innovating Montessori Education for Equity with Tatenda Muchiriri!
Event Description:

Innovating Montessori Education for Equity is not just a workshop, It’s a re-imagining of what Montessori looks like when it is grounded in justice, belonging, and the lived realities of children and families who have been historically excluded. Together, we will explore how Montessori’s timeless principles of independence, curiosity, and respect for the child can be adapted as tools for dismantling barriers in education. This workshop creates space for dialogue and practice around bringing Montessori into non-traditional settings—buses, community centers, refugee camps, and underserved neighborhoods,where access is often limited but potential is abundant. Participants will leave with strategies to innovate without losing Montessori’s essence: designing environments that honor cultural identity, amplifying family voices, and shaping pathways for equity that allow every child to thrive.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Tatenda Muchiriri
Tatenda Muchiriri is the Executive Director of Montessori on Wheels, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to Montessori education and enhancing capacity building in underserved communities. Originally from Zimbabwe, Tatenda discovered his passion for Montessori education after moving to China. With over 18 years of experience in private and public education, he transitioned into the nonprofit sector, working in philanthropy and community participatory design work. Tatenda holds an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Endicott College in Massachusetts and a master’s in Education from St. Catherine University. He is also pursuing further studies in International Development at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Tatenda is a certified Montessori educator, earning his American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood credentials through the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies.
He is an active leader in education and social entrepreneurship in Denver, Colorado, having participated in prestigious fellowships, including the American Montessori Society’s Emerging Leaders Fellowship (2nd cohort, 2018), the Moonshot Edventures Fellowship (4th cohort, 2020), and the inaugural LEAD Fellowship in Denver.

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium: Why It's So Great to Be a Child (As An Adult): Self-Advocacy Toolkit for Montessori Educators with José Antonio Gordillo Martorell!
2026-01-20 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, January 20th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar on Why It’s So Great to Be a Child (As An Adult): Self-Advocacy Toolkit for Montessori Educators with José Antonio Gordillo Martorell!
Event Description:

We live in adult-centered/built societies where the (inner) children’s perspective is usually absent or simply not considered. As adults, we have so many words, mental models, power, and institutions, etc to “speak for” them and control the narrative. We know what is best for them, what is safe, and what is worthwhile for them to be useful people in the future”. However, in many cases, the child is a great unknown. We hardly really know what they think, what they think, what they think about the world around them, and in which they have hardly had any chance to make a decision.

In this workshop, we will give some clues as to how children and young people understand key aspects such as play, language, the creation of stories and identity, the use of AI, the relationship with nature, and their political participation and leadership. Finally, inspired by Maria Montessori, we will propose a new way for adults to meet their inner child in a safe space where they will not be judged. A kind of reverse Kindergarten in which the teachers are the children and the pupils are the adults.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About José Antonio Gordillo Martorell:
Mr. Jose Antonio Gordillo Martorell, Ph.D. is the Founder and CEO of Cultural Inquiry, a micellium company located in Switzerland that operates internationally. He is a professional with 26 years of experience in education, collective creativity, content co-creation, change-driven strategy, participation and community weaving with a passion for the democratization of minoritized and unrepresented cultural voices in the cultural arena. He founded Children’s Boards in different Museums of the world like the City of Arts and Sciences, Norrbottens Museums, HOTA-House of the Arts, and more recently Historisches Museum Saar, Museo of Solutions in Mumbai, Museum of Communication Bern, or Swiss National Museum-Château des Prangins.
As a participant in the 4th Edition of Catalyst Lab of Collaboratio Helvetica, he is a community weaver, agent of change, and catalyzer of disruptive social and cultural projects, an author, futurist, and playful expert. Jose is passionate about building new children and nature-centered narratives as strategic tools for organizations. His main work areas are children’s participation in democratizing organizations, Ge-AI design thinking civic participation of Indigenous people, elderly, and children (capacity building), care for Museum’s creation and implementation, new community-based fundraising formulas, and “soft” playfull organization skills acquisition and training.
He is a member and advisor of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and Climate Action Community Task Force Member in the Europeana Foundation, one of the most comprehensive cultural platforms in Europe. Jose advises leading social and cultural organizations and institutions, such as Haus der Bewegungen in Bern, MuseoSpace Foundation, or EIT Culture & Creativity as an external evaluator.
Martorell loves to contribute by offering mentoring support to social and cultural professionals who are thriving in the new-gen AI hype by acquiring children-centered skills. He has been involved in capacity-building programs such as the 7th cohort of the Museum Education Mentorship program (EdMEM) of the American Alliance of Museums. Currently, he is part of important learning communities like the Learning Community of Impact Hub Zürich or AI for Kids UX. He currently offers an out-of-the-box digital workshop program led by children on the platform My Creative Networks in cooperation with some international prestige experts like Polina Lulu, Sonia Tiwari, Marie Williams, Pip Kennedy, and Mitra Martin.
Jose is the author of 22 articles in peer-reviewed International Journals. He publishes articles regularly in peer-reviewed international journals such as the Journal of Museum Education, Culture Caleidoscoop, or in digital platforms such as Medium or LinkedIn. Currently, he is involved in some main editorial projects as his book with Routledge & Taylor Francis Children’s Boards in Museums to The Children’s Board: A New Way to Work with Children in Museums to be published in the first half of 2025. He penning the chapter, “Students as Museum Creators” for Barbara Smith’s Coordinate book Urgen Care for Schools. Situating Responsability as an Engaging Way for Students to Transform Schools Cultures publish by Brill in January 2025. He is preparing a new book called “50 Micelium Words for Museum Lovers. Sparks to Ignite a Love Story with Your Museum“.
He is invited as a keynote speaker at international forums, conferences and summits such as Museums & Change, MuseumExpert, MusemNext, FabCafe Kyoto, Independent Museum Professionals, as well as on podcasts such as the Museum Human, Plan Dulce, The Business Narrative or Cooperate Culture. He is External Evaluator and member of the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) Board of EIT Culture & Creativity.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
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Sarasota University Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremony
2026-01-25 16:00 - 17:00
Sarasota University Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremony
We are delighted to invite you to celebrate the achievements of our graduating class at the Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremony. This special event honors the dedication, hard work, and accomplishments of our students as they take the next step in their professional and academic journeys.
Date: January 25, 2026Time: 3 pm CST, 4 pm EST Format: Virtual Ceremony Registration: Please register here to attend:https://zoom.us/meeting/register/F4Mmoy-LTcm4wtqAmWRgqw
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you and honoring the incredible graduates of Sarasota University.

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium: Using Storytelling to Support Community and Belonging with Justin Tosco!
2026-02-17 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, February 17th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on Using Storytelling to Support Community and Belonging with Justin Tosco!
Event Description:
Montessori philosophy asks us to prepare environments that honor dignity, voice, and growth – yet this work is often centered solely on children. This session reframes adult storytelling as a restorative practice that supports belonging and equity by creating space for reflection, learning, and connection. Participants will leave with concrete structures and tools for using storytelling to strengthen adult community and align school culture with core Montessori values.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Justin Tosco:
Justin Tosco is an educator, consultant, and advocate dedicated to building equitable, relationship-centered learning communities. A third-generation Montessorian, Justin brings over a decade of experience as a teacher and administrator across both public and private sectors. His work focuses on the intersection of Montessori philosophy and restorative practices, helping schools cultivate cultures of belonging and align equity initiatives with Montessori philosophy. He has presented nationally at venues such as the International Montessori Congress and The Montessori Event (AMS) on topics ranging from racial equity to educational technology. Justin is a founding board member of the Montessori Association of North Carolina (MANC) and has been recognized as an AMS Innovation Think Tank Fellow. He holds a Master’s in Education and Montessori credentials for both the elementary and secondary levels.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium: Bringing Visual Arts Literacy into the Montessori Classroom with Spramani Elaun!
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, March 17th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on How to Start Thinking About Visual Arts in the Montessori Classroom with Spramani Elaun!
Event Description:

Join Spramani Elaun for an engaging webinar exploring what visual arts literacy truly means within the Montessori classroom. This session will provide foundational insights into how schools can understand art literacy, what a meaningful curriculum looks like, and how to begin implementing it with clarity and intention.

Participants will gain practical, actionable guidance for making thoughtful shifts in their environments, along with resources for continued learning and a dedicated Q&A to address specific questions. Educators will leave informed, inspired, and equipped to begin integrating visual arts literacy in their environments.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Spramani Elaun:
Spramani Elaun is an art educator, author of The Way Children Make Art – The Science Art Method™, and founder of Nature of Art® and the Art Teaching Blueprint® Certification Program. She works with Montessori educators to integrate visual art literacy into the classroom in ways that honor child development, independence, and Montessori principles. Her Science Art Method™ provides a research-informed, process-based approach that positions visual arts as a distinct and purposeful domain of learning.

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(FREE) Montessori Colloquium: Guidance and Support to Honor the Child: A Montessori Perspective on Neurodivergence and Family Partnership with Tristan Kladzyk & Seslie Recker!
2026-04-21 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, April 21st, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on Guidance and Support to Honor the Child: A Montessori Perspective on Neurodivergence and Family Partnership with Tristan Kladzyk & Seslie Recker!
Event Description:
This presentation invites Montessori educators to reconsider how we understand and support ADHD and autistic children in the first plane. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, we focus on shifting perspective: from deficit to dignity, from compliance to connection, and from child-centered intervention to family-centered partnership. Grounded in Montessori philosophy and lived experience, this session encourages reflection on how we prepare ourselves and our environments to truly honor the child.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Tristan Kladzyk:
Tristan Kladzyk has been a Montessorian since first attending Rainbow Montessori School in Sunnyvale, CA, in 1987. She is certified in both early childhood (Caspari Montessori Institute, 2007) and Infant-Toddler (CGMS, 2020). She worked at Mariposa Montessori School in Austin, TX, from 2009 to 2022, where she met and co-taught with Seslie Recker in the Toddler Community. Tristan also has 17-year-old twins who attended Mariposa Montessori from the Infant Program through Upper Elementary. She is currently an instructional guide, practicum advisor, and field consultant for both the IT and EC levels for CGMS.

About Seslie Recker:

Seslie Recker is a passionate educator and a graduate of The Center for Guided Montessori Studies’ Infant-Toddler program. She lives on the South Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand) with her partner and two children. After years in the classroom, Seslie now works directly with families. She founded her region’s first Montessori parent-infant playgroup and offers Montessori-based postpartum doula support. Her work is intentional and centered on helping families feel confident and supported in the early years.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(Free) Montessori Colloquium: Healing Through Connection Amidst Chaos Montessori Philosophy: A Response to Trauma with Maati Wafford!
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, May 19th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on Healing Through Connection Amidst Chaos Montessori Philosophy: A Response to Trauma with Maati Wafford!
Event Description:
Join Montessori educator and clinical social worker Maati Wafford for a workshop exploring how Montessori philosophy naturally aligns with trauma-informed teaching and self-care. This session highlights the importance of spiritual preparation, mindful observation, and creating trauma-informed environments that foster psychological safety and promote healing for children affected by vicarious trauma or adversity. Participants will discover practical strategies for integrating neurobiological insights with Montessori’s core principles, ultimately building learning spaces where both children and the communities that support them can thrive together.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Maati Wafford:
Maati is a licensed social worker, equity practitioner, spirit-led, Montessori-credentialed teacher, and educational consultant and coach. She is the founder and principal consultant of Radiant Mind Solutions, holding Montessori credentials in Early Childhood, Elementary I & II, and Administration.
Maati fiercely infuses critical reflection and a sincere love of learning into her interactions with children, parents, and fellow educators. For nearly two decades, she has created brave spaces for educators and school leaders to expand, build, and make more justice in the world. Maati is a firm believer in divine intelligence and understands that we all sit at the very center of that space!
Maati’s unique approach integrates community development, social-emotional learning, and key elements of social work practice to enrich the educational equity landscape. In her practice, she uses cognitive and somatic tools to bolster the deep inner work of justice and equity. Getting proximate to the parts of ourselves that hold biased thinking and belief systems allows us to engage in the radical truth-telling needed to dismantle injustice, which all begins in the psyches of individuals.
Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(Free) Montessori Colloquium: The Prepared Adult as Environment: Dignity, Diversity, and the Discipline of Deference in the Montessori Community with Regina Dyson!
2026-06-16 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, June 16th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on “The Prepared Adult as Environment: Dignity, Diversity, and the Discipline of Deference in the Montessori Community” with Regina Dyson!
Event Description:
What if equity, access, and belonging are not outcomes we pursue—but conditions we create? This symposium invites educators, leaders, and practitioners into a deeper inquiry: How do our daily interactions, structures, and decisions shape whether dignity is protected, difference is honored, and voice is shared? Moving beyond individual character and into collective responsibility, this experience reframes dignity as a cultural practice—one that is enacted clearly, consistently, and carefully across adult communities. Through dialogue, reflection, and real-world application, participants will explore: How dignity, diversity, and deference function as a continuum—not isolated ideas. The conditions that cultivate or compromise equity, access, and belonging. Practical shifts in language, structure, and leadership that make these values lived realities. This is not a session about ideals. It is an invitation into discipline, design, and daily practice—where the prepared adult becomes the environment.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Regina Dyson:
Regina Dyson is a lifelong educator, organizer, and advocate whose 35-year journey has been rooted in community, justice, and Montessori education. She discovered Montessori in 1992 at an Afro-centered school in Atlanta, an experience that shaped her commitment to creating learning environments where freedom, dignity, and belonging are central. Over the years, Regina has worn many hats—Executive Director, HOS, classroom assistant, afterschool coordinator, summer camp co-director, consultant, and developmental coach—each role deepening her expertise in organizational transition, curriculum design, parent partnership, and community building. Today, she serves as Board Chair of Montessori for Social Justice and works closely with schools and organizations as instructional and admin coach, program development and capacity-building. Passionate about justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (JEDIB), Regina works to advance intergenerational coalition building, restorative justice, adolescent leadership, cooperative enterprise, and environmental stewardship—always centering the power of education to transform lives and communities. She is also a parent of three, ages 31, 25 and 19 and now GiGi to a grandson!

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(Free) Montessori Colloquium: Montessori in the Digital Age with Sarah Kennedy-Berge!
2026-07-21 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, July 21st, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on “Montessori in the Digital Age” with Sarah Kennedy-Berge!
Event Description:
How can Montessori education remain deeply human, developmentally grounded, and ethically strong in an increasingly digital world?
Sarah Kennedy-Berge shares insights from her research, classroom practice, and international teacher education work to explore what Montessori in the Digital Age truly means. Rather than focusing on devices or trends, the session centers on the prepared adult, creative technology as a form of expression, and meaningful integration across the Montessori curriculum. Participants will be invited to reflect on how thoughtfully chosen digital tools can support creativity, agency, collaboration, and cosmic education while remaining firmly rooted in Montessori principles.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Sarah Kennedy-Berge:

Sarah Kennedy-Berge is a Montessori teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and author. She is the Director of European Montessori College and has worked internationally in Montessori teacher education, curriculum design, and professional development. Her work focuses on integrating creative technology into the Montessori curriculum in developmentally appropriate and philosophically grounded ways, with a strong emphasis on the prepared adult, creativity, and cosmic education. Sarah is the author of Montessori in the Digital Age and regularly speaks and writes on Montessori education, transformation, and the future of learning.

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(Free) Montessori Colloquium: Rewilding Stewardship: Montessori Leadership in Late Stage Capitalism with Frank E. George IV !
2026-08-18 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, August 18th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on “Montessori Leadership in Late Stage Capitalism” with Frank E. George IV!
Event Description:
Together we will explore our freedom and responsibility for building equitable structures in our schools and developing economically transgressive models of operation. Through imagination activism, emergent strategy, and rewilding, we will explore what it means to move toward a “decapitalized” Montessori approach, examining how emergent strategy and community-based models of system building are the answer to our movement’s challenges in an age of economic and human crises.
Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Frank E. George IV:
Frank E. George IV is a lifelong educator, community builder, and advocate for children. He is AMI certified as an Administrator and Montessori Guide (3–6 and 6–12) and holds an Oregon State K–12 English Language Arts Teaching Credential. He currently serves as Head of School and Primary Guide at Rock Creek Montessori School.
His work blends authentic Montessori practice with a strong commitment to justice and equity. He believes Montessori education is a powerful vehicle for nurturing independence, dignity, and compassion — and that strong communities are built when we intentionally amplify diverse voices and support one another in meaningful work.

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance

(Free) Montessori Colloquium: Beyond the Classroom: What Montessori Can Teach Us About Meaningful Work with Dr. Katie Keller Wood!
2026-09-15 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, September 15th, at 7:00 p.m. ET for an exciting webinar on “Beyond the Classroom: What Montessori Can Teach Us About Meaningful Work” with Dr. Katie Keller Wood!
Event Description:

Montessori education offers a remarkably hopeful vision of human work—one that extends far beyond the classroom. In this engaging presentation, USA Today bestselling author and Montessori educator Dr. Katie Keller Wood explores what Montessori’s philosophy can teach us about meaningful work, purpose, and human flourishing throughout adulthood. Drawing on Montessori’s writings, adult development research, and practical experience working with educators and leaders, Katie invites participants to reconsider common assumptions about work, success, and well-being. Together, we’ll explore how timeless Montessori principles can help us cultivate more meaningful careers, make wiser decisions about our commitments, and create lives in which our work contributes to—not competes with—our overall thriving.

Please register in advance for this meeting, and feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YZ9XL5RIQca6wqKU_fogDQ#/registration
About Dr. Katie Keller Wood:
​Dr. Katie Keller Wood is a TEDx and international keynote speaker, USA Today Bestselling Author, and University of Virginia instructor recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on Montessori education for adolescents and adults. She blends a deep understanding of how people learn with expertise in adult development to help professionals stay engaged in meaningful work while living lives that feel whole.
As longtime director of CMStep, Katie has trained and mentored hundreds of educators across the globe, and is widely regarded as a pioneer in Montessori programming for both adolescents and adults. In March, she was recognized as the 2026 Innovator of the Year by the American Montessori Society.
Beyond the classroom, Katie brings her insights on learning and human development to diverse audiences: from graduate students to entrepreneurs, leaders, and change-makers seeking new ways to flourish in work and life. Her book Alignment: A Montessori Approach to Reimagining Work-Life Balance builds on this work, helping professionals discover that work and life don’t have to feel like opposing forces.
In her work with adults, Katie weaves Montessori principles, psychology, and personal experience into practical strategies that empower individuals and organizations to stay engaged in meaningful work, without losing themselves. She believes we can create a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world together—one aligned life at a time.

Certificate of Attendance
Upon the completion of this session, all attendees are welcome to fill out our 3-2-1 form and receive their certificate of attendance. If you missed the live session, you may watch the recording from our YouTube channel and complete the 3-2-1 form at a later date.
Receive My Certificate of Attendance
