Lead Montessori Is Back — Because We Need Each Other More Than Ever

Three years ago, we gathered under the shadow of a global pandemic at what turned out to be a deeply moving Lead Montessori conference. In the invitation letter for that year, I wrote:

“The past school year presented a great challenge; and we still don’t know whether it is over. We are entering a door to the future that is still unknown, but it is there if we look closely enough… Even when the time is hard, we need to keep doing the good work.”

I had no idea how powerfully those words would echo today.

We thought the worst was behind us after COVID. But here we are—three years later—facing different, yet equally heavy challenges. A world in crisis. A sense of fragmentation. A constant, exhausting effort to hold everything together—our schools, our teams, our families, and ourselves.

Prague

And yet, there’s one thing we’ve learned and must remember: Together, we are stronger.

That’s why I’m writing to share some of the happiest news I’ve had in a long time:

Lead Montessori is returning this fall!

But this time, it’s more than a conference. It’s a community reunion. A space to breathe, to reflect, and to lead—together.

Whether you’re a school leader, a founder, an entrepreneur, a classroom guide, an assistant, a specialist, or a trainer—if you believe in the power of Montessori to transform the world, this gathering is for you.

We are thrilled to welcome back three incredible mentors and thought leaders: Sue Pritzker, Kathy Minardi, and Peter Davidson. Their experience, wisdom, and deep care have supported so many of us through difficult seasons—and they’re returning to Lead Montessori to guide us again.

This year, we’ll be talking about what’s on everyone’s hearts:

• Burnout and the loss of balance

• School and training center closures

• Financial strain

• Challenges with parents and “Montessori in name only” competitors

• A growing global staff shortage

• And the deep internal pressure to just keep going

Together, we’ll explore how to face these challenges with courage, compassion, and clarity. How to lead through uncertainty. How to find joy and purpose again. And how to reimagine what Montessori leadership can be—not just to survive, but to grow something new and even stronger.

We are not just returning.
We are rebuilding.
We are rethinking.
We are leading forward.

Join us. Shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart.

Let’s continue the good work—together.

With love and care,
Mirka