Montessori Leaders Symposium
In study, service, and celebration of Puerto Rico
January 17 – 19, 2020
Carolina, Puerto Rico
The Montessori Leaders Symposium, an annual gathering of trailblazers from schools and teacher education programs, takes place over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend each January.
This year we are heading to Puerto Rico to engage in a pedagogy of place study that will lead to deeper appreciation of the work needed to create equitable schools and classrooms and the inherent egalitarian power of Montessori.
In addition to in-depth workshops and a keynote presentation, there will be opportunities to explore local schools, reflect with fellow Montessori leaders about equity and inclusion, and give back to the community through service work.
You will earn AMS continuing professional development hours by participation in the symposium.
We will be posting more information about the symposium including registration fees, hotel details, and workshop descriptions in the coming days.
Keynote Speaker
Ana María García Blanco
Ana María is the recipient of the 2020 AMS Living Legacy Award and the face of Montessori education in Puerto Rico. She transformed the once-struggling Escuela Juan Ponce de León public school into a model Montessori school serving toddlers through middle school—the island’s first public Montessori program.
Escuela Juan Ponce de León’s success fueled explosive growth for Montessori in the Puerto Rican public sector. Recognizing the need for properly trained teachers, Ana María left her position at Ponce de León and founded Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE), an AMS-affiliated teacher education program that has gone on to credential more than 500 Montessori teachers in 50 public schools.
Program
The Montessori Leaders Symposium is an in-depth professional development event. You will be introduced to topics with featured speakers, explore them in workshop settings, and have time for discussion in small groups of fellow leaders.
Itinerary
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Friday |
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5:30 PM |
Welcome Reception |
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6:30 PM |
Keynote Dinner: Ana María García Blanco |
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Saturday |
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6:30 AM – 8:20 AM |
Breakfast Buffet |
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8:30 AM – 10:00 AM |
Workshops |
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10:30 AM – 11:50 PM |
Roundtable Discussions |
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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM |
Networking lunch |
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1:00 PM – 5:30 PM |
Optional Time: Service, School Tour, or Free Time |
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6:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Dinner |
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Sunday |
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7:30 AM – 8:20 AM |
Breakfast Buffet |
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8:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
Workshops |
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11:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
Networking Lunch |
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1:00 PM – 5:30 PM |
Optional Time: Service, School Tour, or Free Time |
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6:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
Farewell Dinner & Learning Reflections |
Information about workshops, school tours, and service outings to come. Check back for updates!
Celebrating Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has one of the United States’s most progressive public Montessori programs. As a hive of Montessori activity, Puerto Rico is a model example of how to expand access to high-quality education to economically under-resourced areas. Combining this Montessori model with the island’s charismatic and hospitable culture makes Puerto Rico the perfect environment in which to explore Montessori leadership.
We’ll model the concept of pedagogy of place: learning from local educators, visiting local sights, engaging in local community service. Together we’ll seek a deeper understanding of Puerto Rico and learn how we can adopt parts of its captivating culture into our own local communities.
Recovery efforts have been ongoing in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria’s landfall in September 2017. Blackouts are not uncommon, roofs still need repair, and many residents are faced with the ongoing fallout from the trauma of the storm’s destruction. Your presence as a tourist, learner, and servant are great needed and highly appreciated.
