2026 Greater Washington Montessori Conference
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 8:00am - 4:00pm | Jamie L. Roberts Athletics Center
Schedule
| 8:00-8:30 am - Registration | |
| 8:30-9:45 am - Welcome and Keynote Rachael Thrash | Let Learners Lead: Cultivating Agency, Belonging, and Shared Responsibilty |
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| 10:00-11:30 am - Session 1 | |
| 11:45 am-12:30 pm - Networking Lunch by Levels | |
| 12:45-2:15 pm - Session 2 | |
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2:30-4:00 pm - Session 3 |
"Wait while observing." That is the motto of the educator.
Maria Montessori
Keynote Address
Let Learners Lead: Cultivating Agency, Belonging, and Shared Responsibility
Rachael Thrash
It’s one thing to teach a child how to be independent; it’s another to help them learn how to live, work, and solve problems with the people around them. Montessori educators have long excelled at fostering individual agency and student choice. But how do we channel that personal independence into collective responsibility and meaningful action so every child can reach their leadership potential?
Drawing on stories, research, and practical strategies from her book Let Learners Lead, Rachael Thrash explores what happens when we invite students to lean into the inevitable challenges of community-building as opportunities to learn, contribute, and create meaningful change that they and their peers can see and feel. When young people are trusted with authentic responsibility, they develop not only confidence and initiative, but also empathy, collaboration, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Whether working with young children who are just beginning to share a community or older students tackling complex challenges, the goal is the same: helping learners see themselves not simply as participants in a community, but as people who have the power and responsibility to shape it. Participants will explore practical ways to cultivate belonging, shared responsibility, and engaged citizenship by empowering every learner to become a contributor to the wellbeing of others.
About Rachael
Rachael Thrash, author of Let Learners Lead: Empowering Student Voice to Co-Create School Culture (Routledge, 2026), is passionate about transforming school cultures so every learner becomes a responsible, valued member of the community. A former teacher, instructional coach, and school leader with more than two decades of experience in international and independent schools, she has worked alongside educators around the world to strengthen belonging, student agency, and inclusive school culture. As Senior Director of Education and Innovation at Big Bad Boo Studios, she works with schools globally to develop essential SEL and citizenship skills in young people.
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