“Don’t be overwhelmed. Think about the little things that we can do.” Kam Chohan
We don’t pretend to know everything, no one can, but we do know that there are people out there with great thoughts and exciting ideas. We want to capture that and share it with you. We created this podcast series with one main goal in mind…to learn. Together, we have nearly 100 years of experience in education, and we know the importance of being lifelong learners. The education sector is at a crucial juncture in which deeply impactful innovation and creativity are not only possible but necessary. We believe that by listening to a diverse range of people sharing their insights into education today we will create a rich tapestry on which we can see education tomorrow. This podcast aims to have conversations today about education tomorrow.
In this episode, the hosts chat with Kam Chohan, the executive director of ECIS (Educational Collaborative for International Schools). ECIS exists as a professional life force for members, a vibrant network of thoughtful doers and change-makers. Kam describes the importance of her work in DEIJ and child protection and shares her love of reading and her commitment to social justice.
Show notes:
In this episode…
Introduction of Kam Chohan (3.06)
How did Kam’s career start? (5.10)
What are we getting right in education today? (7.00)
What is the new normal in education? (9.00)
What are the easy wins for school leaders? (13.10)
The strategic direction of ECIS (16.45)
How do you say “no” to the network of constituents? (20.45)
If Kam could start again would she do anything differently? (22.45)
Were there specific moments, or individuals, who helped Kam in her career? (25.00)
Biographies/books/models which Kam has used for her leadership (27.30)
How to contact Kam (29.40)
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Kam Chohan is the executive director of ECIS. With an impressive background in education and leadership, Kam is a learning leader and brings insight, wisdom, and compassion to the role. Kam is committed to social justice and equity through diversity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding in international education.
Dr. James Dalziel is currently the head of school at the NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand. He also continues to work with the Academy for International School Heads providing online and in-person workshops related to the alignment of school mission, school identity, and developing an intentional school culture. James has taught in traditional and non-traditional educational settings from outdoor education centers to open-custody correctional programs, reflecting his belief that education is an intricate mix of academic, dispositional, experiential, and social constructs. He worked at the Canadian International School and the United World College in Singapore and was most recently the director of operations in Europe for the GEMS Educational Organization.
Richard Henry has worked in education for 34 years, beginning his career in both the state and private sectors in Brisbane, Australia. He then worked internationally for 21 years. He worked at the Global Jaya International School in Jakarta, Indonesia. He then moved to The Hague, The Netherlands in 2011 working for the International Baccalaureate (IB) as the head of school services for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2015, Richard moved to Washington DC, USA and was promoted to the role of global director of IB school services in which he was responsible for the design and implementation of the IB’s core services of program authorization and evaluation for over 4, 500 schools. After a year of running his own educational consultancy business, Richard moved to Singapore to become the regional director for GEMS Education (East Asia) and the head of school at GEMS World Academy (Singapore), the first and only four program IB school in Singapore. In the second half of 2021, Richard returned to Brisbane to take up his current role as CEO and executive principal of the Moreton Bay Colleges.
James MacDonald, originally from Canada, has been an international educator for over 20 years, beginning his career as a classroom teacher before going on to lead two IB schools in Japan (Yokohama International School) and Thailand (NIST International School). James has also led clusters of schools, including GEMS Education based out of Dubai. James is presently the director of the International School of Brussels in Belgium.
