Limited Places Available for January 2025! Inquire Now!
Montessori in the Middle East Conference
Join the conference, the first of it's kind in the region.
Saturday
January 25, 2025
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
When?
Revere Montessori
9 Street 5B, Al Manara
Dubai
Where?
If you’re an educator, parent, or advocate for Montessori education, the Middle East Montessori Conference 2024 is for you. This impactful event is your chance to gain invaluable insights and practical strategies to support children’s development through the Montessori approach.
Join us on Saturday, January 25th, for a day packed with thought-provoking talks, expert-led discussions, and meaningful networking opportunities with educators, parents, and stakeholders from across the region.
Montessori in the Middle East Conference 2025
Bio:
Zoe O. Paul was born in Nigeria but raised in the US and Europe. She discovered the Montessori method when she was hired as a French teacher at a Montessori school in Washington, DC. After working in wireless telecommunications in the Middle East, she eventually took the 0-6 AMI teacher training in San Diego and completed her master's degree in education. Zoe worked around the world as a 0-3 and 3-6 guide eventually moving back to California in 2015 to start her own school. Zoe opened a program in her apartment and soon after founded Studio Montessori in 2019 serving children 3 months to years old in San Francisco. She is passionate about children and volunteers her efforts to support children in post conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East. An avid linguist, Zoe is fluent in English and French and conversant in Arabic, Italian, and Russian. She has also overseen the translation of key Montessori works into Arabic. In addition to owning and running a school, Zoe is an AMI Montessori teacher trainer for ages birth to 3 years. and regular gives certificate and diploma course trainings in Paris, France and online.
Summary of talk: Unleashing Children’s Potential through Understanding the Laws of Development
We know that children are highly intelligent, vivacious people with a zest for life. And yet we can’t help but notice how that wanes as they get older and we are faced with challenges such as tantrums, defiance, lack of intrinsic motivation, and lack of independence. Montessori proposes groundbreaking paradigm navigate all this and support children’s best development by understanding the laws of development.
Founder of Studio Montessori
Zoe O. Paul
Bio:
Thana Jaberi brings nearly 30 years of extensive experience and a track record of achievements in education. She has worked as an educational consultant, administrator, program coordinator, and teacher. Thana possesses essential skills, qualifications, and expertise necessary to make significant contributions to education in Bahrain. Her experience includes managing institutions across various international locations.
Thana has cultivated a wealth of teaching skills and effective planning techniques, working with students of all ages, primarily within the Montessori education system. She has held various roles in schools, kindergartens, nurseries, and classrooms worldwide, focusing on Montessori education. These roles have encompassed complete school management and leadership in both tactical and strategic aspects, as well as establishing new processes to further elevate educational standards.
Founder and training Director of Manama Montessori Training Center - Bahrain
Thana Jaberi
Bio:
For more than 19 years and with a lot of passion and dedication Chris has been working as a Global Brand Ambassador for world’s leading Montessori material manufacturer, Nienhuis Montessori. He is responsible for the global Montessori network and is leading the marketing and product development team. Next to this he has been representing Nienhuis at many international Montessori congresses. He has a degree in international marketing and is Montessori-trained at both 3 – 6 and 6 – 12 levels. He has observed Montessori education in many different countries and cultures, worked with many Montessori experts and gained a very broad perspective of Montessori education this way.
Summary of talk: The (R)evolution of the Montessori Materials
Our Montessori materials have been on a very interesting journey. It all started with the revolutionary approach to education developed by Maria Montessori, which we are taking forward today and place in the light of the new insights, recent scientific research and our today’s knowledge and experience. Some things will never change, simply because they are fundamental for a child’s development, but the evolution of the Montessori materials has not stopped since Dr. Montessori passed away in 1952. Together with many Montessori experts we are continuing and advancing her legacy.
In this lecture minutes of a meeting between Albert Nienhuis and Maria Montessori from 1922 will be disclosed. In these minutes Maria Montessori provides some very interesting insights of her thinking process when developing her first materials. Even today, these insights form a very important foundation for developing new materials and preparing our classroom environments.
Global Brand Ambassador for Nienhuis Montessori
Chris Willemsen
Bio:
Jip is a former professional football player at AFC Ajax and the national youth teams of the Netherlands.
Jip has over 10 years of experience in coaching and mentoring boys and girls at all ages and levels, from beginners to professionals. From 2021-2024, he was part of the methodology department at the Dutch professional club FC Volendam. His focus is on the individual development of children both as players and as people.
He was Student of the Year at the VU University Amsterdam (2015) and holds a MSc Business Administration from the University of Amsterdam (2017).
Besides the AMI 6-12 Orientation Course in Melbourne (2018) and the AMI Administration Course (2023), he completed the AMI Core Principles Course (2024) in Hyderabad, India.
Since starting Montessori Sports together with Ruben Jongkind and Patrick Oudejans in 2018, he has worked together with many schools around the world, supporting them with the implementation of sports within the Montessori environment.
Montessori Sports Co-Founder and Trainer
Jip Bartels
January 25th, 2025 | 9:00am - 5:00pm
The Schedule
8:30 am | Registration & Welcome Reception
Arrive, collect badges, and enjoy light refreshments.
9:30 am | Opening Remarks
Welcome address by conference organizers Hadeer and Mafalda, outlining the conference’s objectives and schedule.
9:30 am - 1:oo pm | AMI Global Update, Refreshment Break, Thana and Q&A Sessions
A representative from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) shares insights into Montessori’s global impact and highlights emerging trends in Montessori education worldwide. This is followed by a session led by Thana, focusing on practical approaches to implementing Montessori principles across diverse educational settings in the region. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a discussion, ask questions, and explore AMI’s role in supporting the growth of Montessori education in the Middle East.
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1:00 pm | Lunch Break
A buffet lunch will be provided. Use this time to relax, network, and connect with colleagues.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Zoe, Nienhnuis, Montessori Sports and Q&A Sessions
Zoe leads a session on fostering creativity and problem-solving skills through Montessori principles, emphasizing hands-on activities and real-life applications. This is followed by a lecture titled The (R)evolution of Montessori Materials, which includes the disclosure of minutes from a 1922 meeting between Albert Nienhuis and Maria Montessori. These minutes provide fascinating insights from Maria Montessori herself.
Next, we explore Montessori Sports and examine how physical education aligns with Montessori’s holistic approach to child development.
The event concludes with a Discussion & Q&A session to encourage audience engagement.
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5:00 pm – Closing Remarks & Farewell
Hadeer and Mafalda provide closing reflections and thank attendees for their participation, with announcements on upcoming events and follow-up resources.
Early Bird
260 AED
All tickets include full access to the conference, including speaking sessions, interactive Q&A's, demonstrations, and networking / mentoring experiences, A lunch buffet and refreshments will also be provided.
Register Now
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