The IMC Montessori Leaders & Learners Retreat 2026
April 17 & 18, 2026, Catskill Montessori School, Catskill NY
Sustainable Leadership & Reciprocity
Sustainable school leadership in Montessori education blends long-term vision with the Montessori philosophy to create thriving, resilient learning communities. It’s not just about keeping a school running—it’s about nurturing a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and purpose.
Reciprocity in Montessori schools fosters a leadership culture rooted in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and community empowerment—where every member, from students to senior staff, contributes to and benefits from the collective growth.
Program
The IMC Catskill Retreat is where Montessori leaders come to rest, reflect, renew—and return ready. The full program and schedule will be released soon. Stay tuned!
This retreat is not for you if…
You want:
- 12 breakout sessions crammed into 48 hours
- A three-ring binder full of strategies
- Every minute planned and productivity maximizeds
- PowerPoints, panels, and keynote speeches
- To collect certificates, not cultivate relationships
Then honestly? This isn’t your retreat. And that’s okay.
This retreat is for you if …
You are ready to:
- Trade information overload for meaningful conversation
- Experience sustainable practice, not just hear about it
- Have time to process, ponder, and actually plan
- Slow down so you can genuinely move forward
- Connect with fellow Montessorians who see leadership as service, not status
- Renew your spark in a setting that honors beauty, nature, and intention
- Lead from a place of wholeness instead of depletion
Then welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.
Our Tone Setters
Building on the foundation of our core themes, our exceptional tone setters are prepared to guide this experience. They will not simply deliver lectures, but rather create a robust framework designed to spark authentic discussion and peer-to-peer sharing. We encourage you to view them not just as experts, but as facilitators who will lead a truly collaborative experience, where your knowledge and insights are essential to the conversation and contribute directly to the collective learning of all participants.
Tammy Oesting
Tammy Oesting MEd (she/her) is a teacher education instructor and self-identifies as a practitioner of awe and wonder. She serves educators globally through her company ClassrooMechanics and partnership with Trillium Montessori
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and her professional passions include issues of social justice, educating support staff, neuroscience as applied to educational practices, and exploring the magnificence of the universe. Tammy is widely published and is a faculty member of The Institute for Educational Studies. AMS-credentialed (Early Childhood, Elementary).
Martha Carver
Martha Carver is a highly experienced Montessori Leader, Co-Director of the CGMS Leadership Credential, and Head of Rock Prairie Montessori School in Janesville, WI. Credentialed in Early Childhood with a BA in Liberal Studies, she has been in the Montessori field since 1989.
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Martha specializes in coaching Montessori leaders and has extensive experience with governance for non-profit Montessori school boards and conservation agencies. She is also a trained facilitator for the World Peace Game and an advocate for environmental conservation.
Patty Sobelman
Patty is the Head of Pines Montessori School in Kingwood, Texas, where she leads a team of 42 employees serving 180 children aged 6 weeks through 15 years. Holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education, she is a trained Early Childhood Montessori teacher and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business program.
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Patty is also an internationally published author and speaker, whose consulting expertise focuses on private school startups and business development, including market strategy, tuition, compensation, and culture development. She is the founding Head of the school’s Infant and Middle School communities.
Take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing
Seize this moment: Only 30 Early Bird tickets remain—purchase yours now!
Early Bird for Members
$690
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Includes Friday & Saturday lunch and Friday dinner
Early Bird for Non-Member
$795
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Includes Friday & Saturday lunch and Friday dinner
We recognize that while the desire to join this community is strong, budget concerns can sometimes create barriers for dedicated educators. As members of the Montessori community, we value mutual support. If you are in a position to help a colleague attend the Leaders and Learners Retreat, we invite you to pay it forward by adding an optional Contribution for Tuition Reduction during registration. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure that financial considerations don’t keep a passionate leader from this vital opportunity for shared growth and renewal.
Our Venue & How to Get There
Accommodation Information
Choose your ideal stay
The beautiful Catskills offers diverse accommodations near the venue, perfect for you and your team.
IMC Guiding Principles
At the International Montessori Council (IMC), our strength and passion are a direct reflection of what you, our members, bring to the table. We are only as powerful as the dedicated individuals who form our vibrant community, made of real people deeply committed to Montessori education. We invite you to learn more about our IMC Board & Staff knowing that we are here to support you, inspire you, and keep you accountable on your Montessori journey.
“It is interesting to notice that where life is simple and natural and where the children participate in the adult’s life, they are calm and happy. ”
Maria Montessori
The 1946 London Lectures, p. 153