Thank you to all who submitted presentation proposals by the April 20 deadline. E-mail notification of acceptance will be by June 30, 2008. We received many wonderful submissions and are looking forward to a stellar conference.

The American Montessori Society 2009 Annual Conference will be held in New Orleans, LA, a location that continues to experience the effects of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Inspired by the hope, resiliency, and rebuilding that the world has witnessed in this city, AMS is dedicating the conference to the theme of social justice, global peace, and sustainability.

Central to the conference is Dr. Maria Montessori’s message that we are the keepers of our world and that the peacefulness of humanity depends upon what and how we teach our children. As AMS founder Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambusch stated: “What binds Montessori teachers together is a piety toward children—piety as respectful regard, not sentimentality. Whoever deciphers the uniqueness of each child enhances that child’s possibility of becoming his or her fullest. In a world growing increasingly complex and inhospitable to children, this is the simple truth on which Montessori education is built.” Let us continue to build on this simple truth.

Note: To give participants an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing rebuilding efforts by the people of New Orleans and others from around the world, a pre-conference day of service is being planned for Thursday, February 26, 2009.

For general conference information, contact Leslie DiLeo.

For information about presentation proposals, contact Marie Conti.