Maati Wafford
The Secret Life of Three-Year-Olds
Equity Integration as Praxis
What can we learn from three-year-olds about justice?
Their spirit of exploration, integration, and fearlessness will be discussed as motivation and guidance for the Montessori community to collectively evolve in an ever-changing, diverse world.In this session, we engage in embodied remembrance techniques to put ourselves in a three-year-old's mind and body as they explore their environment through their senses. What do we learn about our biases, sensitivities, and fears?
Maati Wafford offers a distinct approach to lifelong learning that creates avenues for the coexistence of science, spirit, and social justice. Her unique perspective integrates social work competencies around equity, mental health, and community models of care with justice-oriented pedagogy.
Topics that will be explored:
- The potent sensory life of the young child as a guide to undoing internal and external systems of inequity.
- The role of sensorial materials and embodied early childhood classrooms.
- Justice frameworks that protect the psychic integrity of the young child.
AUDIO VERSION

Maati Wafford
Maati Wafford is a Culturally Responsive Educational Consultant & Coach committed to liberating mindsets and strengthening organizations to achieve equity integration.
She is a licensed social worker, equity practitioner, and spirit-led credentialed Montessori leader (Early Childhood, Lower El, Upper El, Administrator), with a unique eye that integrates social work competencies around equity, mental health, and community models of care with justice-oriented pedagogy and best practices in adult learning.
Maati offers a distinct approach to lifelong learning that creates avenues for the coexistence of science, spirit, and social justice in progressive student-centered education. Her leadership focuses on integrating models of community care to strengthen schools, elevate teaching and learning, and support the overall well-being and transformation of adults.
For over 15 years, Maati has served Montessori, public, and independent school communities by creating innovative spaces for organizations and individuals to expand, build, and foster more justice in the world. She firmly believes in divine intelligence and understands that we all sit at the very center of that space.
Discussion
Your questions will be answered after the conference.