International Montessori Council

05/19/2026

The children are feeling it too.
The restlessness. The anticipation. The big feelings about change.
Some are excited for summer. Some are thinking about transitions. Some don’t fully understand what “goodbye” means yet.
Your job is to hold space for all of it.
The excitement and the grief. The joy and the worry. The readiness and the resistance.
This is emotional education. This is peace education. This is the real work of May.
Meet them where they are. Name what they’re feeling. Trust the process.
You’re teaching them how to navigate transitions. That lesson will serve them forever.

05/18/2026

Supporting Montessorians at every step of the journey.

From your first faculty meeting to your last parent update - the International Montessori Council is here for all of it.

04/15/2026

THIS WEEKEND!
Final packing reminders for Catskill! 🎒
Here’s what’s coming with you: Layers, walking shoes, rain jacket, your water bottle, and permission to REST.
Here’s what’s staying home: Your laptop, your to-do list, and any guilt about not being productive.
The weather? Gloriously unpredictable (50-78°F). Pack layers. Trust us.
We gather Friday. The land is ready. Are you?

See you SO soon. 💚

04/10/2026

Spring energy is REAL.
The children feel it:
Longer days = more energy Warmer weather = the outdoors calling Nature awakening = excitement in the air

As Montessori leaders, we don’t fight this energy. We channel it.
More outdoor work periods. Garden projects that require focus and care. Movement activities that honor their bodies. Nature studies that direct their curiosity.

Spring doesn’t ask children to sit still. Neither should we.
How are you honoring spring energy in your environment? 🌸

03/18/2026

The International Montessori Council is pleased to announce an important leadership transition that reflects both continuity and growth for our organization.
After many years of dedicated service to the Montessori community, Kathy Leitch will be transitioning from her role as Executive Director to Executive Director Emeritus, effective April 17, 2026.

Kathy’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing IMC’s mission of peace education and Montessori leadership development. Her vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the Montessori community have shaped IMC into the organization it is today. We are deeply grateful for her service and honored that she will continue to contribute to IMC’s work as Executive Director Emeritus.

The IMC Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Maly Peña as Executive Director, effective April 17, 2026.
Maly brings years of experience, expertise, and a connection to the IMC mission to this role. Her commitment to peace education and Montessori leadership aligns perfectly with IMC’s vision for the future.

Please join us in thanking Kathy for her extraordinary leadership and welcoming Maly as she steps into this important role.

This transition marks an exciting moment for IMC as we continue our mission of supporting Montessori leaders worldwide.

03/03/2026

What drew you to Montessori education originally?

The lessons?
The observation?
The albums or the materials?
The environment?

Or was it…
… a moment of watching a child’s face light up?
… a believe that education could be different?
… a calling to serve children in their most formative years?
… a vision of peace, cultivated, one classroom at a time?

That original spark is still there. Even if it feels buried under the weight of budgets, enrollment pressures, staffing challenges and endless meetings.

At our Catskill retreat, we are creating intentional space for you to reconnect with that spark.

Because when you anchor in your why, everything shifts.
The challenges don’t disappear. But you stop carrying them the same way.

🗓️ Catskill retreat: April 17-19, 2026.
🔗 Link in Bio

01/12/2026

Winter offers unique opportunities for cosmic education and practical life work. The season itself becomes the teacher.
Swipe for ways to bring winter into your Montessori space:
🌨️ PRACTICAL LIFE
Winter clothing practice, snow/ice melting experiments, preparing warm beverages, caring for winter boots and outerwear
❄️ SENSORIAL
Temperature exploration, ice and water experiments, seasonal texture baskets, comparing states of matter
🌲 NATURE CONNECTION
Winter nature walks, tracking animal prints, observing bare trees, studying hibernation and adaptation
🕯️ CULTURAL STUDIES
How different cultures adapt to winter, winter celebrations around the world, art inspired by winter landscapes
Winter is not a time to stay inside, it’s an invitation to engage with the natural world in new ways.
How does your environment embrace the winter season?

11/14/2025

Join our course to develop and sustain a culture of authenticity and accountability in your schools. Transform your educational environment today!

10/21/2025