Meet Our Community Vendors at the Conference!
WMI is thrilled to host a one-day conference on unpacking the keys to successful inclusion. Hear from:
- Dr. William Stixrud, respected clinical neuropsychologist and co-author of the best-selling book, The Self-Driven Child
- Erin Smith, AMI 0-3 Trainer
- Jennifer Shields, AMI 3-6 Trainer
- Dr. Andrée Rolfe, Inclusion Consultant and Teacher Educator
Gain practical guidance and a fresh perspective to support diverse learners in your classroom, community, and beyond. If you’ve been thinking about how to foster inclusion that is effective, sustainable, and meaningful, this is for you!
Conference Schedule – Saturday, October 25, 2025
9-10 am: Keynote Address by Dr. William Stixrud
10:15-12:15 pm: Session I (0-3 and 3-6 workshops)
12:15-1:15 pm: Lunch
1:15-3:15 pm: Session II (0-3 and 3-6 workshops)
3:30-5 pm: Wrap up – Group Discussion and Q&A
5-7 pm: Wine & Cheese Social
Professional Development Hours: Participants will receive 6.5 MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education) training hours for attending this conference.
Hotel information: Make a room reservation at the Crowne Plaza – College Park with the WMI Fall Conference special rate ($169/night, includes breakfast).
The keynote presentation will focus on supporting the development of a healthy sense of control or autonomy in young children, as a sense of control is crucial for positive mental health and for the development of strong internal motivation. Although much of Montessori education supports the development of a sense of control beautifully, in a world where parents are increasingly anxious and controlling, it can be helpful to know that science fully supports principles such as a prepared environment, familiar routines, respect for the child, freedom of choice, and independent learning.
After briefly summarizing the relevant science, Dr. Stixrud will discuss steps that adults can take to help young children gain a strong sense of agency and confidence in their ability to handle the challenges that life presents them. Topics will include the importance of child-led play, encouraging children to make their own decisions and solve their own problems (with support as needed), the language adults can use to encourage autonomy, and ways to help children make changes without trying to change them. The discussion will include the application of autonomy supporting strategies with a neurodiverse group of children.
Copies of Dr. Stixrud’s books will be available for purchase at the Conference!
→ About Dr. William Stixrud
William R. Stixrud, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychologist and the founder of The Stixrud Group. He is also a faculty member at Children’s National Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Stixrud is the co-author, with Ned Johnson, of the national best-selling book, The Self-Driven Child (Viking Books, 2018). It has been published in 18 countries and 17 languages and has sold almost a million copies worldwide, and a one-hour podcast about the book has been viewed by 39,000,000 people in China. Dr. Stixrud and Mr. Johnson have also written a critically-acclaimed second book, What Do You Say? Talking with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home (Viking Books, 2021), and they are currently finishing a third book.
Dr. Stixrud’s work has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, Scientific American, Business Week, Barron’s, New York Magazine, and Vogue.
Dr. Stixrud’s approach to neuropsychological assessment has been shaped by an appreciation of the importance of identifying the strengths of children, teens, and young adults, as it is their strengths that they will use to find their way in the world. It is also based on the belief that people are always doing the best they can at any given time – and on the belief that one of the best things we can do for young people is to accept them as they are – and to see their challenges as part of “their path” to creating a satisfying life.
Dr. Stixrud is a long-time practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, and he plays in the rock band Close Enough.
Erin will present two important and practical topics relating to children ages birth to three:
1) Independence & Co-regulation in the Montessori 0-3 Environment
Children under 3 require supportive adults and healthy relationships in order to regulate their emotions and behaviors. Providing nervous system support while supporting independence can be one of the trickiest aspects of our work as Montessori guides. In this workshop, we will take a fresh look at nervous system development from birth to three and learn specific strategies that we can apply to improve our daily interactions with the children in our communities.
2) The Role of Movement in Healthy Emotional Development
Dr. Montessori understood that purposeful movement is an essential element of the prepared environment. We now know that one of those purposes is to help children process and modulate their emotions. In this workshop, we will explore opportunities to expand the movement opportunities we provide children in the prepared environment so we can support their emotional development in practical and attainable ways.
→ About Erin Smith, AMI 0-3 trainer
Erin has been working in Montessori environments since 2001, and as a classroom guide for 16 years. She has worked as an Assistant, Nido guide, Toddler guide, Primary guide, Parent-Infant Class Facilitator and Instructional Coach. Erin is also an AMI Trainer at the Assistants to Infancy level and an A to I Consultant for AMI/USA. She has worked on AMI training courses in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Erin’s personal Montessori journey began at The Montessori Institute in Denver when she attended training in 2002-2003, learning from Judi Orion and Cha Cha Vidales. She went on to earn her Masters at Loyola University in Maryland in 2005. Erin completed her Primary training with Annette Haines in 2008. Erin joined the faculty at TMI in Denver in 2018 and now serves as the Director of 0-3 Training.
In their collaborative style, Jennifer Shields and Andrée Rolfe will explore 10 Essential Truths about Successful Inclusion, providing the right kind and the right amount of support needed to serve more children well in the casa. The morning session will focus on expanding our practice to meet the needs of more children. The afternoon session will spotlight what we can learn from experts outside of our AMI community to expand our vision of the child who is “not yet there.” Andrée will share experiences, research-based strategies, and practical suggestions gleaned from 50 years of experience. Jennifer will anchor this work in AMI practice and pedagogy, connecting the ideas and questions that arise to the challenges of inclusion.
→ About Jennifer Shields, AMI 3-6 trainer
Jennifer is an AMI primary trainer. She holds both the AMI Primary and Assistants to Infancy diplomas. Jennifer earned a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University and an M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. She worked for over 15 years in Montessori schools as a teacher, assistant, and administrator. She is an examiner and consultant for AMI and presents at workshops and conferences locally and worldwide. Jennifer joined the Board of AMI Global in spring of 2019. Jennifer loves observing in classrooms, coaching teachers and teacher trainees, and spreading the insights made by Dr. Montessori.
→ About Andrée Rolfe, Inclusion Consultant and Teacher Educator
Andrée is an educational consultant with 35 years of experience in public special education (teacher, diagnostician, administrator) and 12 years consulting with Montessori schools. She works at The Village School, in Waldwick, NJ. Andrée teaches Montessori guides about disabilities and inclusive practices. She has been an instructor at Loyola’s Center for Montessori Education and currently leads a course about special education offered by NCMPS (National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector). Andrée is a contributor to Montessori Inclusion and the author of Instructional Level Spelling materials. She trained at Washington Montessori Institute at the Elementary level.