Montessori Data Lens: - A Community Workshop Series
PNMA invites school leaders around our region to connect and share in these interactive evening sessions. Our guest, Isabella Cai is the founder of Y Montessori, launching Montopia - a Parent Ed platform, & the Montessori Data Lens, a research arm. Data stories is the format for sharing research in these workshops.
Closing the Intention Gap: Parent Ed through the Lens of the Child - November 18, 6:30-7:30
The distance between what Montessori schools intend for parents to learn (philosophy) and what parents actually want to learn about (their child), can lead to a gap of intentions and impact retention of families in the school. Research in "embedded delivery" shows strong engagement of parents. Explore the 5 main principles to create effective adult learning.
Dr. Lillard's New Study: A Story for Montessori Preschool - December 2, 6:30-7:30
Dr. Angeline Lillard's 2025 national randomized-controlled trial of public Montessori preschool followed 588 children across 24 schools using lottery-based admissions. By the end of the 3rd year, children admitted to Montessori scored higher in reading, executive function, short-term memory and theory of mind. The Montessori Data Lens has a data story developed with Dr. Lillard. Explore what the study suggests about the importance of the three-year-cycle and developmental gains that take time to surface.
$ 29 for PNMA Contacts or $ 19 for PNMA Members- Log in to your PNMA account to register with your member rate.
These workshops will be recorded and made available to registered attendees.
STARS credits have been approved for individuals who attend the live sessions.
Online Registration is Now Open - Click Here to Register
Workshop Details
During this workshop series, Isabella Cai will share results of years of research and bring deeper insights to connect our Montessori inspiration with the meaning that our school families need in support of our students.
In November consider the elements of adult engagement in how a school parent ed program serves your school. How do meetings, conferences and events enhance parent understanding and confidence?
In December connect with the story Dr. Lillard has shared from her research as it is accessible in the diagrams and outcomes shown in the Montessori Data Lens. Elements of these findings have direct impact on the story we tell parents about our schools.
Can a community that engages with research develop a more informed message to families about choosing Montessori education?
If you cannot attend during the live workshop, you will have access after the event to watch the recording.
These workshops will be recorded and made available to registered attendees.
STARS credits have been approved for individuals who attend the live sessions.
Isabella Cai is the founder and CEO of Y Montessori, where she leads the Montessori Data Lens program to empower the Montessori community with data that advances the movement. Drawing on her experience leading data programs at Qualcomm and her perspective as a Montessori parent, Isabella brings rigorous data expertise and deep educational passion to her work.
She is the creator of Montopia, a platform that bridges schools and families by turning classroom data into personalized parent education. Isabella has been invited as a guest speaker to the University of Wisconsin - River Falls doctoral Montessori program, presented at ASU+GSV and the AMI/USA Montessori Experience, and was recently invited to join the AMI/USA Global School Accreditation Committee, contributing through the lens of data and technology.
