A Family Conference on Virtue, Development, and the Montessori Journey
Join the Pearlily Montessori community for a half-day family conference designed to explore how children develop the character, confidence, and resilience they need– not just for school, but for life.
Who Should Attend
This conference is designed for current Pearlily Montessori parents; past parents who want to stay connected to the community; prospective parents curious about Montessori; and friends and family members invested in children’s growth. No prior Montessori knowledge is required, just a desire to better understand how children grow and how we can support them well.
Why We’re Hosting This Conference
At Pearlily Montessori, our purpose has always been larger than academics. We believe education is about preparing children for life— helping them develop the habits, attitudes, and inner strength they’ll need to navigate challenges, build meaningful relationships, and live with purpose.
Parents often ask these thoughtful questions:
- How do family values shape a child’s long-term development?
- Why does Montessori emphasize independence, long work cycles, and mixed-age classrooms?
- How do these early experiences translate into resilience, character, and lifelong learning?
This conference was created to bring those pieces together– offering clarity, encouragement, and deeper understanding of how family life and the Montessori environment work in partnership to prepare children for life’s great adventure.
Our Theme For The Conference:
Preparing Children for Life’s Great Adventure
Preparing Children for Life’s Great Adventure
Life is an adventure— full of discovery, challenge, uncertainty, and growth. Children who are best prepared for that journey are not those who are rushed or over-directed, but those who develop:
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A strong moral foundation rooted in family values
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Emotional resilience and self-mastery
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Confidence grounded in independence
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A deep sense of belonging and purpose
This conference explores how both the home and the Montessori classroom play essential roles in cultivating these qualities— helping children grow into capable, grounded, and fulfilled adults.
Featured Speakers and Talks
Dr. Laura Saylor
Dr. Laura Saylor is the Dean of the School of Education at Mount Saint Joseph University. She earned her Ph.D. in educational studies with a concentration in educational policy and higher education with a focus in STEM education from the University of Cincinnati. Previously, she earned her Master’s of Education from Xavier University with a concentration in Montessori education.
Dr. Saylor’s 25 years of practical experience include teaching in inclusive and multi-age settings and serving as the Head of School for an independent Montessori school. She is a frequent presenter at national conferences. Her research foci include the importance of learning and reading science in teacher preparation as well as assessing performance of preservice teachers in clinical experiences.
Dr. Saylor’s interests also extend to best practices in educational assessment, and collaborative work between P–12 and educator preparation. Her recently published research includes mathematics discourse with preservice teachers and the effects of teacher-centered mentorship.
Topic: Connecting the Montessori Curriculum to Cognitive Development and the Three-Year Cycle
Montessori classrooms are intentionally designed to align with how children grow and learn.
In this talk, Dr. Saylor will help parents understand why the Montessori curriculum is structured the way it is and how the three-year cycle supports deep cognitive, social, and emotional development.
This session bridges educational theory and classroom practice, offering parents clarity around concepts that are often misunderstood, yet essential to a child’s long-term success.
You’ll walk away with:
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A clearer picture of how Montessori supports brain development
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A deeper understanding of the purpose of the three-year cycle
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Confidence in how patience and consistency lead to mastery and self-confidence.
Deacon Frank Iannarino
Deacon lannarino served as the Director, Dean, and Professor of the College of Deacons for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio from 1992 until he retired in 2024. He was ordained by Bishop James A. Griffin in 1989 and since his ordination has been assigned to the diaconal ministry at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish in Dublin, Ohio.
He joined Bishop Watterson High School as a Theology teacher in 1977, was Chaplain of the school, and coached the Varsity Golf and Freshmen Baseball until his appointment to oversee the formation of Roman Catholic Deacons. He was a member of the Administrative Council at Bishop Watterson and ex-officio on the school board. He retired from Bishop Watterson in 2022.
He graduated from St. Charles Borromeo Preparatory School here in Columbus. He received a B. A. in History from Capital University; an M.A. in Education from The Ohio State University; and a M.A. in Theology from The University of Dayton. He and his wife, Peggy, were married in 1979 and live in Dublin. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Topic: The Importance of Family Virtues
Family life is where character is formed.
In this talk, Deacon Frank brings a pastoral, family-centered perspective to the conversation, reflecting on how virtues such as patience, humility, perseverance, integrity, and self-control are cultivated through everyday family life.
Drawing on lived experience and timeless wisdom, this session will encourage parents in their essential role as guides and models, especially amid the challenges of modern family life.
You’ll walk away with:
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A renewed understanding of why virtue formation begins early
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Insight into how daily family rhythms shape character
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Encouragement and perspective for parenting with intention and hope.
Why Attend?
This conference is more than an event. It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the deeper purpose behind the work we do as parents and educators. At Pearlily Montessori, we believe education is a partnership between school and family. This gathering is an invitation to strengthen that partnership, so together, we can prepare children not just for the next stage of school, but for life’s great adventure.
“Your little sons and daughters are men and women in the making. Let them keep their childish secret and you will have the satisfaction of having them turn to you for help when they need it, and you will see over the years how the secret of their childhood grows into adult firmness of character and a fine independence. ”
DR. MARIA MONTESSORI
Founder, Montessori Philosophy and Method of Education
Prepare your child for life.
Is your child a dreamer? A builder? A thinker? A storyteller? An explorer?
At Pearlily Montessori, we educate children 3-6 years old and support them in becoming independent, responsible students who love to learn. Learn more about:
Our Mission
The Prepared Environment
Our Early Childhood Program
To grasp the essence of a Montessori education, just step inside a classroom.
Explore Pearlily.
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