Montessori Schools of Connecticut
Annual Professional Development Conference 2025
Preparing the Adult Montessorian:
What's in Your Toolkit?
Keynote Speaker: Elizabeth Slade
Friday, October 31, 2025
8:00 - 2:30 pm
Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth G. Slade is an author and educator with thirty-eight years of experience working in Montessori education. She has worked as an elementary teacher, Montessori coach and administrator, and spent six years at the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector working with public Montessori schools across the country. She now serves as the Executive Director of Public Montessori in Action International, an organization created to ensure fully implemented Montessori education for children, families, and educators of the global majority. Her book Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools was released in July 2021, and her historical fiction novel Momentum: Montessori, a Life in Motion was released in August 2023. Finding Ground: Building Strong Elementary Practice, co-written with Allison Jones is coming out in 2025. Elizabeth holds an AMI Elementary diploma, an AMS Montessori Administrators credential, and an MFA from Spalding University.
Conference Schedule
Registration and Coffee Social
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Pick up your name tag and conference packet and enjoy some refreshments while you reconnect with colleagues.
Session I: Preparing the Adult Montessorian: What's in your toolkit!
Elizabeth Slade 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
How can Montessori educators work together to develop a community of practice in support of strong, lasting Montessori schools? In this keynote address, author and long-time public Montessorian Elizabeth Slade shares the principles of One School, Honest Talk, and Strong Systems used to unite school communities in a common mission, allowing for a prepared environment for children and adults. Her book, Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools has provided educators from around the globe a practical and implementable pathway towards constructing thriving and joyous schools. Participants will leave with new tools to add to their toolkit.
Break
10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions by Level
10:30 am - 12:15 p.m.
Our breakout sessions are thoughtfully designed to foster connection, collaboration, and professional growth among educators. These sessions are grouped by developmental level of Toddler, Primary, Elementary, and Adolescent to ensure relevance and depth of discussion. Each session is facilitated by experienced breakout educators who specialize in that specific level, guiding meaningful conversations and the exchange of best practices.
In addition to the level-based sessions, MSC will offer specialized breakouts focused on critical roles and topics in education, including:
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Administration – Leadership-focused discussions on school operations and fostering a thriving school culture.
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Intervention – Conversations on effective strategies for supporting students with diverse learning needs.
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Prepared Adult – Reflecting on the adult’s role in the learning environment, with emphasis on intentional practice.
Whether you're an educator, administrator, or support specialist, these sessions offer a valuable opportunity to learn from peers, share experiences, and grow together in a supportive professional community.
Lunch
12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
Session II: MSC Breakout Session Panel
12:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Breakout facilitators will return to share key discussion themes from each breakout session. This overview offers insights into conversations across the community. A Q&A session will follow, providing space for deeper discussion and reflection.
Conference Details
Fees:
Morning refreshments (during registration) and lunch (vegan/gluten free option available upon request) are included in fee. Faculty will select their dietary preferences when they register and choose their breakout sessions.
- MSC member schools: $75 pp
- Non-member schools and individuals: $85 pp
Conference Registration Return Policy:
Conference registration may close early if the conference reaches maximum capacity. Refunds are available upon request only. Fees will be refunded in full (less processing fees) if canceling prior to 10/10/2025. If canceling after 10/10/25 and up to 10/15/25, the school or registrant will be refunded 50% of registration fee. After 10/15/25 the school or registrant is fully responsible for payment and no refunds will be issued.
Conference Directions & Parking:
Washington Montessori School
240 Litchfield Turnpike, New Preston, CT 06777
Click here to view or navigate via Google Maps
Washington Montessori School has limited on-site parking. Parking at the school will be reserved for Speakers, Workshop Presenters and the employees of WMS, who are volunteering to host our conference.
Participants will be directed where to park via email through their MSC conference registration confirmation. Carpooling is encouraged and parking will be clearly marked. If you are car pooling to the conference, please drop off your participants at WMS and then head to parking.
Fostering Community Across Development
Statewide Virtual Parent Education Event
Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Free to all parents from MSC Member Schools
Led by Keynote Speaker, Elizabeth Slade
The Power of Our Words
This session explores the power of our words and their effects on human flourishing. By examining and changing our word choice to and about children, each other, and ourselves, we can change children’s sense of self and agency in the world. The Language of Reverence model emphasizes creating a powerful, shared language that allows all members of the community—children, families, and school-based adults—to feel respected and valued. Positive Phrasing invites families to speak to and with children in a positive manner, imagining the best in them and building their potential.
Conference Sponsors
Seeking Conference Vendors
Are you interested in reaching a broad audience of Montessori teachers and administrators? Submit an application to have materials available at our Annual Conference. To learn more, click the button below.
"The adult’s idea that freedom consists in minimizing duties and obligations must be rejected…The freedom that is given to the child is not liberation from parents and teachers; it is not freedom from the laws of Nature or of the state or of society; but the utmost freedom for self-development and self-realization compatible with service to society."
– Maria Montessori –
