2025 AIMS Conference

Creating a personal schedule helps YOU, US, and YOU! Planning your day ahead of time will:
1) Leaves YOU more time for connecting with fellow Montessorians during the conference
2) Allow US to help determine the best room size for each session
3) Because of #2, increase YOUR chances of safely and comfortably attending every session you planned on (without sitting on the floor)!

PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR FINAL TIMES AND ROOM ASSIGNMENTS OF EACH SESSION CLOSER TO THE START OF THE CONFERENCE!

8:30am CST

Check in Goodwin Hall of Leaders

9:00am CST

Welcome Goodwin Hall of Leaders

9:15am CST

(AM Keynote Address) Awestruck Leadership: Igniting Adult Transformation for a Thriving Montessori Community Goodwin Hall of LeadersTammy Oesting

10:30am CST

AM Break Goodwin Hall of Leaders

11:00am CST

Panel Discussion: Illinois Literacy and the Science of Reading Goodwin Hall of Leaders

12:00pm CST

Lunch Goodwin Hall of Leaders

1:00pm CST

Illinois Policy Update and Discussion Goodwin Hall of LeadersDr. Jamilah R Jor'dan

2:00pm CST

PM Break Goodwin Hall of Leaders

2:15pm CST

(PM Keynote Address) Cultivating Resilience: Embracing Change for a Thriving Future. Goodwin Hall of LeadersNatalie Neris

3:30pm CST

PM Break Goodwin Hall of Leaders

3:45pm CST

What You Need To Know & Why Montessori Will Lead The Way In An AI World (*Featured Speakers*) Goodwin Hall of LeadersSamantha Gleisten • Dana Anderson

5:00pm CST

Networking Goodwin Hall of Leaders

8:15am CST

Check in Goodwin Atrium

8:45am CST

Welcome Goodwin Auditorium

9:00am CST

Keynote Address: Achieving Equity Integration: How We Consent to the Undoing and Commit to the Rebuilding Goodwin AuditoriumMaati Wafford

10:45am CST

Building Strong Parent Relationships TBACaitlin Escobedo • Kara Pettyjohn Creating an Outdoor Environment for All Learners TBAVicki Promenzio • Briana Kyle How to Bring a Coaching Mindset and Methodology to School Leadership TBAMargaret Combs • Sara Hruska Maati Wafford - Continuing The Achieving Equity Integration Conversation Goodwin AuditoriumMaati Wafford More than Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic: Healing Educational Trauma for Positive Psychic Development TBAKelly Jonelis • Andrew Faulstich Project Based Learning in the Montessori Classroom TBAJoanne Shango The Role of Self-Expression in the Third Plane TBAColin Palombi Connecting the Prepared Environment to Common Core Content Standards TBAAmy Belovich • Liz Vogel Introducing the Young Child to the Wonders of the Cosmos: Making Science Come Alive! TBAAnna Perry • Aida Rodriguez Quiles Kickin' it with Cursive TBASarah Fondriest Leading with an Equity Lens: 4 Ways to Begin Centering Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in your Montessori Environment TBANicole Evans • Carly Riley Mindful Art in Montessori Classrooms TBAMegan O'Hehir • Mykela Nowicki If Montessori Philosophy is Based on Simplicity, Why is Managing a Montessori School so Complicated? TBATina Patel

12:00pm CST

LUNCH: Exhibit Hall Open TBA

1:15pm CST

Creating Accessible Curricula TBAJessica Davis Digital CItizenship: A Montessori Approach (*Featured Speakers*)Samantha Gleisten • Dana Anderson Empowering Through Equity TBAShawn Viverretta • Zakiya Lasley In Pursuit of Imperfection TBALarry Schanker Let’s Get Quiet! The Power of Silence and Stillness in our Primary Communities TBAChristine Carr Our Public Montessori School Journey TBAKathryn Lause • Christine Rembert Parentship Palooza: Fun Parent Partnershipping TBAHedy Lane The Future of Cosmic Education: Insights from a Nationwide Survey of Montessori Educators TBADevin Veselenak The Gifts and Opportunities in Conflict and Emotional Triggering TBATom McSheehy The Impact of Technology on Child Mental Health: Navigating the Digital Age in Montessori Education TBAErica Kittle Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom: Setting and Maintaining Limits (*Featured Speaker*) TBAChip DeLorenzo A professional Learning Community for Promoting School Leadership TBADr. Sharon Damore • Mary Maintosh

2:30pm CST

BREAK: Exhibit Hall Open Goodwin Atrium

3:00pm CST

Awe-Inspired Classrooms: Igniting Wonder to Transform Montessori Learning (*Featured Speaker*)Tammy Oesting Beyond the Classroom: Montessori as a Way of Being TBAMary Sue Reutebuch Developmental Growth for the Montessori Adult TBACaroline Robbins • Dr. Sharon Damore Hello Summer! TBAAnnie Breitenstein • Ramona Villarreal Line is for MOVEMENT, Silence is for EVERYTHING! TBAMelissa Mulvaney Montessori Marketing in the Digital Age: Leveraging TikTok and Social Media to Showcase Your School's Unique Approach (*Featured Speaker*)Alexandra Peterson Positive Parent Partnerships TBAHeather Wilcek • Erica Lane Reawakening Your School Culture with Wonder TBAJennifer Nolan • Rosemary Quaranta Running a Parent-Infant Class and other Ways to Connect with Families TBAElizabeth Pabello • Shannon Carr Small Steps, Big Impact: Supporting Students Needs with SEL and Positive Behavior Supports. TBAMeghan Greeley The Prepared Teacher TBANancy De Leon Uses and Abuses of Generative AI in Upper Elementary and Middle School Classrooms TBAAdam Darlage Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom: Reclaiming Independence (*Featured Speaker*) TBAChip DeLorenzo