Sue Pritzker worked as a primary teacher and administrator at Marin Montessori School before taking the position of Head of School at Childpeace Montessori in Portland, Oregon in 1987.  She helped to grow the school from 45 to 360 students and retired from that position in July 2020. 

Sue is in close collaboration with Lead Montessori and Montessori Institute Prague. Her focus as a consultant, speaker and presenter is the primary classroom and administrative practice.  She is a board member and trainer for Whole School Leadership and a trainer for the AMI Administrators Certificate Course. Sue has been an AMI-USA school consultant at the Primary level since 1985.  

Maria Montessori's legacy survives and thrives in every Montessori prepared environment. As each child's potential is nurtured, her vision of the child as a global citizen becomes a possibility. Montessori's focus on educational reform in the early decades of the 20th century resulted in many collaborations and her theories have been validated by continuous research and scientific discovery. How do we embrace her legacy as our own Montessori stories unfold? How do we serve as an "aid to life" for another generation of children as they realize their place in the global community? 

Sue is in close collaboration with Lead Montessori and Montessori Institute Prague. Her focus as a consultant, speaker and presenter is the primary classroom and administrative practice.  She is a board member and trainer for Whole School Leadership and a trainer for the AMI Administrators Certificate Course. Sue has been an AMI-USA school consultant at the Primary level since 1985.  

Kathy is Executive Director at Whole School Leadership Institute, founded to help Montessori administrators around the world to guide healthy communities of children, families and school staff. Kathy has 40 years of experience as a school leader and was the Head of School at Aidan Montessori in Washington, DC for nearly 20 years.

Kathy presents for NAMTA, AMI USA, Montessori Australia Foundation, AMS and AMI. She is a trainer for Whole School Leadership Institute and the AMI Administrators Course.

Dignity is the birthright of every human being. This truth, central to Montessori’s vision, is reflected in our daily work with children, families, and communities.

Drawing on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Donna Hicks—developed through decades of conflict resolution alongside leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu—Kathy will introduce the Dignity Model. This framework helps us to:

Embody dignity practices in our schools,

Recognize and resist “dignity temptations”, and

Heal dignity violations when they occur.

Peter devoted his life to children and the Montessori movement, with 6 years in the classroom and 37 years in administration including 27 years as Head of School at Montessori School of Beaverton, Oregon.

Peter consults, speaks on management topics and provides leadership seminars across USA and Canada and around the world, including Russia, Australia, GB, the Czech Republic, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

There was no training for school leaders in 1981 when I began leading a school, and very little communication between us. Talk about lonely! So I reached out to my fellow school leaders for mutual support, I had to search for guidance also, and found it in my Montessori teacher training, in certain pivotal books from the business and human development worlds, and in unique experiences both inside and outside of Montessori. I look forward to sharing these resources that helped shape my successful leadership approach.  I would also like to share some of the insights I have gained since retirement. I only wish I had encountered them sooner!

Anca Bobu is an AMI 0–3 Montessori guide, school leader, and parent educator with over a decade of experience supporting children and families. A mother of two, Anca brings deep personal insight into the emotional realities of parenting and leadership. She has co-founded two Montessori non-profits, led parent-inflant classes, a classroom, both classroom and administrative teams, and integrates business, coaching, and a compassionate approach into her leadership work.

Sarita Goacher is an AMI Montessori educator (0–6), and Parent Support Specialist. She has served on a UK primary school board, led Montessori classrooms, and supported parents as a Doula and Hypnobirthing practitioner. Sarita’s work centers on building trust, connection, and emotionally intelligent leadership—empowering schools and families to create nurturing, collaborative environments where children can thrive.

True potential is nurtured when the adults around a child—at home and at school—are aligned in vision and in heart, when they work together as one. This interactive session invites school and classroom leaders to go beyond traditional parent education and step into the deeper, more impactful work of truly supporting families. Participants will explore how to build long-term trust, loyalty, and belonging through everyday leadership practices. We will work our way through empathy mapping, reflective exercises, and group collaboration, we will identify the current gaps in school-home understanding and design practical solutions that can be integrated into everyday practice.

Lisa Thauvette, founder of Tilt Think, brings over 20 years of experience as a Montessori teacher, school leader, and coach. Holding an AMI 6–12 diploma and a Master’s in Montessori from Loyola University, she blends leadership insight with improvisational comedy, helping schools grow in fidelity, function, and joy.

How can we transform traditional "check-the-box" training into engaging, relationship-centered professional growth? Design a professional development plan as intentional and alive as your classroom. Move beyond one-off training to continuous learning, weaving PD naturally into daily life. Gain a clear roadmap and tools to make every PD moment a trust-building, relationship-deepening opportunity for your team.

Dinara Zhaksylyk, AMI 3–6 guide and Director of the Qazaqstan Montessori Institute, leads national training efforts in Kazakhstan. With over a decade of experience, she also directs Damina Montessori in Almaty. Passionate about adult development, her work focuses on communication, team growth, and creating prepared environments for both children and adults.

How can Montessori leaders build motivated, thriving teams while protecting their own vital energy? Dive into the dynamic World Café format exploring communication, mentorship, and wellbeing. Gain leadership templates and strategies for long-term staff development and retention. Learn self-care rituals and practical tools for giving respectful, ecological feedback using non-violent communication.

Mirka Vlckova first encountered Montessori when her youngest son was born. Despite having no formal training, financial resources, or external support, she was determined to bring Montessori education to her child. Starting with a volunteer mother’s group, she successfully established a Montessori kindergarten and elementary school, followed by an international Montessori teacher training center, and later, an adolescent farm program.

With over fourteen years of experience, Mirka has become a seasoned Montessori entrepreneur. She has raised over 1.8 million EUR in grants and funding and continues to run a thriving Montessori business, Montessori Institute Prague. She also serves on the board of the Montessori school she founded. Her passion is to help others realize their Montessori visions, whether through starting schools, securing funding, or launching new programs.

This session provides an update on AMI’s Global School Accreditation (GSA) initiative, highlighting its purpose, progress, and next steps. Participants will explore the Self-Study and Coaching model, practical tools for school improvement, 2024–2025 milestones, and ways GSA strengthens school identity, quality, and community trust across diverse Montessori contexts.

Nada Mašić, founder of Children’s House “Love, Faith and Hope” in Belgrade and Novi Sad, has led Montessori schools for over a decade with kindness and intuition. A former economist turned educator, she fosters trust-based cultures for children and adults alike. In 2025, she launched a parenting education platform under the same name.

We nurture children with trust and respect—why not lead adults the same way? This session explores heart-centered leadership rooted in Montessori values. Reflect on your style, learn tools for trust-based teamwork, and discover how empathy, clarity, and courage foster harmony, motivation, and emotionally safe environments where both adults and children thrive.