Educator Retreats in Italy
where professional development and authentic local experiences converge to create a dynamic cultural exchange.
Our October 2025 Facilitators:
Alison Maher, Visionary Director and Andrea Sisbarro, Advisor to the Team of Directors, Boulder Journey School Boulder, CO www.boulderjourneyschool.com
October 5-10, 2025
Educational Leadership:
Embracing a Strong Image of the School as a
Significant Feature in Society
The focus of this retreat is to challenge outdated leadership practices and systems within schools and to envision new forms of leadership that can help to re-shape the field of Early Childhood Education. The retreat will address personal, professional and political issues in our field and will offer time and space to innovate new solutions to positively impact both school and society.
During this retreat, we will socially construct answers to the following questions:
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What are the current complexities of school leadership?
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How can a strong pedagogy help us navigate, respond to, and influence the modern world?
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How do we increase participation and engage many voices?
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How do we continue to live our values within the daily moments of life at school?
How can we build a fair and just world with our children?
Our time this week will focus on creating a vision for social justice in your professional and personal life. We will draw inspiration from our recent work including our book (with Louise Derman-Sparks), Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide to Change, for Change (2023), and our two films (with Filiz Efe McKinney), Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in
Session 2
May 31-June 5, 2025
Leadership for Change: Identity, Social Justice and the Right to be Visible
John Nimmo
Debbie LeeKeenan
Co-Directors
Professor Emeritus, Early Childhood Inclusive Education, Portland State University, Oregon.
Early Childhood Lecturer, Author, Filmmaker,
Seattle, WA
May 24-29, 2025
Reignite Your Leadership Journey!
Session 1
Susan MacDonald
Early Childhood Author, Speaker, and Coach
Inspiring New Perspectives, Waltham, MA
Are you ready to step into the next chapter of your leadership journey with fresh energy, renewed purpose, and a deep sense of joy - while experiencing life in a small Italian village and its beautiful surroundings?
Through dynamic presentations, proven frameworks, and interactive activities, this retreat will reignite your focus, confidence, and passion as an educational leader.
Together, we will explore ways in which raising your own personal energy levels can positively impact your professional life and the teachers, children, and families with whom you interact.
“How wonderful it was to be there, to know interesting and provocative people and to learn from different sources and fields. Words cannot express my appreciation and deepest appreciation to all of you. The powerful collaborative process of our work was intense.”
Reggio Emilia Study Groups for U.S. Educators
Angela Ferrario is the U.S. Liaison for Study Groups to Reggio Emilia, Italy. Since 1994 she has been working in collaboration with Reggio Children, organizing and accompanying one or two groups per year and the annual U.S. Students and Professors Study Group. Angela was a founding board member of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA) and is currently on the board of the Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network (BARIN).
For more information about Reggio Children and the Loris Malaguzzi International Center, visit www.reggiochildren.it. For more information about NAREA, visit www.reggioalliance.org.
Join us for an in-person study opportunity!
Study groups are returning to the Loris Malaguzzi International Center in Reggio Emilia, Italy!
Session 2
November 2 - 9, 2024
U.S. Study Group for Educators
For educators, professionals and others with an interest in the field of early childhood education who would like to know more about the Reggio Emilia Approach®, its principles and values recounted by the teachers, pedagogistas, and atelieristas whose daily work is in Reggio Emilia's municipal Infant-toddler Centers and Preschools.
Session 2
March 14-19, 2026
U.S. Students & Professors Study Group
For graduate and undergraduate students and accompanying professors whose work with students at U.S. colleges and universities is influenced by the Reggio Emilia Approach®. It fits well with short term faculty led study abroad programs and independent study.