This week, over 4,000 members of the Montessori community are gathering for The Montessori Event in Washington, D.C., with some traveling across the country to be there in person. Others will join us from their homes, classrooms, and schools through our online offerings. However you participate, we are grateful for you, your time, and your support.
Each year, this conference is a labor of love. It takes more than twenty months of planning and collaboration from dedicated staff, board, commissioners, volunteers, presenters, and community members who care deeply about Montessori education and this annual professional gathering. Together, they design an experience that celebrates learning, connection, community, research and innovation, and the evolution of Montessori practice. It is one of the ways our community comes together to reflect on our shared purpose and recommit to supporting children and those who guide them.
At the same time, I know many of you will not be able to join us this year. Financial realities, family responsibilities, time constraints, and the demands of life and work can make attending an international conference difficult. If that is you, please know you are on my mind. Your presence in the Montessori movement does not depend on attending The Montessori Event. Your daily work in classrooms, schools, teacher education programs, and communities sustains and advances our field and practice. In the weeks ahead, we will share highlights, insights, and learning from the event so the spirit of the gathering can extend beyond the conference halls.
As I have been working on the opening ceremony, I have been reflecting on the broader community that surrounds Montessori education. This year, we will take a moment to celebrate an important milestone in Early Childhood. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is marking 100 years of advocating for high-quality Early Childhood Education. Their CEO, Michelle Kang, will join me on stage as we recognize this historic moment and the shared commitment our organizations hold for children, educators, and families. It is a reminder that our work is part of an even larger movement dedicated to ensuring that every child experiences environments that nurture their human potential.
This year’s event also celebrates the rich history and ongoing discovery within Montessori education. The AMS Montessori Learning, Research, and Innovation Team has envisioned and developed a special exhibit reflecting Dr. Maria Montessori’s decade in India. Participants will explore research that deepens our understanding of Montessori practice as they engage in this immersive experience.
The exhibit features a historical timeline of Dr. Montessori’s time in India, researched by Dr. Sid Mohandas. J.D. and Jenny Gunter have brought the timeline and exhibit to life as a large, interactive installation filled with activities and experiences that invite participants to engage directly with this remarkable period in Montessori history. Together, this work highlights an important chapter in Montessori’s story and its continuing influence around the world.
We will also gather for a community movie night honoring Dr. Montessori’s legacy. These moments connect the past, present, and future of Montessori education and remind us why our work matters.
Our community is filled with passionate educators who believe deeply in the potential of every child. That passion is what sustains our movement. It is what drives us to carefully prepare environments, to observe with patience, to guide with humility, and to continually grow our own practice. Across classrooms, schools, and teacher education programs, this shared commitment creates a powerful network of people working toward a common purpose.
Whether you are joining us in person, participating online, or continuing your work in Montessori prepared environments from afar, please know that you are part of this community. Your dedication, your care for children, and your commitment to Montessori principles are what give life to this movement every day.
At AMS, it is a privilege of our team to support and serve this extraordinary community. The energy we bring to our work comes directly from you, who continue to carry Montessori forward.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Wherever you are, we are grateful for you.