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AMS Asia Leadership Labposium

June 12, 2026
Hangzhou, China

Community as Curriculum: Building Meaningful Partnerships with Families

The AMS Leadership Labposium is a forum for Montessori leaders ready to build what comes next.

A fusion of lab and symposium, the Labposium is designed to spark momentum, foster collaboration, and co-create practical solutions for the future of Montessori education. Here, ideas are discussed, tested, refined, and shaped into action.

This gathering invites School Leaders and AMS Teacher Education Program professionals into a shared space of innovation and responsibility. Together, we will explore how leadership, pedagogy, and community intersect to strengthen Montessori education.

Register Now

This Labposium Topic: Community as Curriculum: Building Meaningful Partnerships with Families

Montessori education is social by design. Yet today, family engagement requires more than newsletters and events; it demands intentional structure, trust-building, and shared leadership.

At this Labposium, we will examine:

  • How schools and teacher education programs can engage parents as authentic partners, guided by Montessori principles and informed by Asian perspectives on family–school harmony.
  • We will consider the social architecture of Montessori communities through the lens of Asian traditions that value shared responsibility and relational trust.
  • Together, we will examine leadership practices that build capability, confidence, and a sense of belonging across culturally diverse contexts.
  • We will also reflect on how strong family partnerships can enrich both classrooms and adult learning environments by honoring interdependence, respect for elders, and the vital role of community in learning.

This is not theoretical work. It is an applied leadership practice.

What to Expect

Opening Vision by AMS Executive Director, Munir Shivji

Program Facilitation, Guidance, and Framing provided by Dr. Vanessa Rigaud and Hannah Baynham

Keynote by Dr. Xing Zikai

Dr. Zikai is an influential education innovator, author, and TED speaker dedicated to rethinking education, personal growth, and human development in an era of profound social and technological transformation. Her work helps children, families, and educators cultivate intrinsic motivation, self-awareness, and long-term resilience for an uncertain future.

Her publications have been designated as family reading materials by the China Family Education Society, reflecting the broad impact of her thought leadership on parenting and educational practice. A Stanford University alumna, Dr. Xing brings both academic rigor and public voice to her work. Through her writing and speaking, she fosters meaningful dialogue about how individuals and societies can support authentic development and prepare the next generation to navigate complexity with confidence and purpose.

Leadership & Classroom Perspectives

Short, high-impact presentations exploring:

  • Community-building strategies from a school leadership lens
  • Community within the classroom from a teacher’s perspective

Parent Panel

A dialogue with Montessori parents exploring the Why, Where, and What.

Case Study Design Lab

Participants will identify challenges in their own communities and begin to shape actionable responses.

Focused Afternoon Working Sessions

The Labposium will be divided into two pathways:

  1. AMS School Leaders will focus on systems-level structures, policies, communication frameworks, and leadership strategies to strengthen parent partnerships.
  2. AMS Teacher Education Program Professionals will focus on preparing adult learners to cultivate authentic family engagement as part of their professional identity and classroom practice.

Collaborative Design & Share-Out

Participants will co-create tangible tools, frameworks, and commitments to bring back to their schools and programs, followed by a collective presentation and dialogue.

Why Attend?

Leadership in Montessori today requires more than fidelity to philosophy. It requires relational intelligence, strategic clarity, and the courage to structure partnership intentionally.

Community is not an accessory to Montessori education. It is the curriculum.

When school leaders and teacher educators work side by side, the entire movement strengthens.

Who Should Attend?

  • AMS Heads of School
  • Assistant Heads and Program Directors
  • AMS-Affiliated Teacher Education Program Directors and Faculty
  • Emerging Montessori leaders preparing for institutional leadership

If you are responsible for shaping culture, guiding adults, and strengthening family relationships in your Montessori community, this Labposium is for you.