The International School of Kenya (ISK) community has been significantly impacted by the recent changes in the development sector and by the uncertainty many members of our community are currently facing. In response, ISK has been reflecting on how to best support our families during these challenging times. Recognizing that uncertainty and unexpected transitions bring added difficulties, our team has developed and implemented a comprehensive plan to support all ISK families through this period of instability. While these initiatives are tailored to the current challenges facing ISK, the ideas and strategies we’ve developed can be applied to any school experiencing similar difficulties.
Phase One
Students/Families:
Our first priority has been to have open communication and express care and concern for our community members. Our administration formed a dedicated steering committee — administrators, counselors, human resources, athletics, advancement, and admissions—to coordinate our support efforts. Counselors, administrators, and our Director of Community Relations and Advancement reached out to the ISK community, acknowledging the uncertainty and expressing empathy to those affected.
Our focus then turned towards understanding the specific needs of both departing and remaining families and the needs of our faculty and staff. Our counselors conducted a needs assessment, which all ISK families were invited to complete. We reached out to the USAID-affiliated families on our caseload and offered to check in with their children. In addition, the counselors conducted individual interviews with the impacted families who requested meetings to identify their needs regarding academic records transfer, emotional support, and farewell arrangements.
As a counseling team, we increased our availability for individual sessions and offered support for students experiencing grief, loss, and anxiety. We also reached out and provided support to parents, both leaving and staying, who needed space and support in processing their emotions. We worked with our teachers and leveraged our advisory program to create opportunities for students to connect.
Staff/Faculty:
For our faculty, staff, and remaining families, we sought to understand their concerns and anxieties about the school's future, and our Director and Advancement Office worked hard to address any rumors or misinformation quickly.
Our administration checked in with our faculty and staff to assess morale and identify potential anxieties about job security or workload. We advised individual teachers on concrete ways to support students through transitions, grief, and change. Our faculty and staff were offered information, reassurance, and support to help them manage their own stress and uncertainty.
Phase Two
The second phase of our action plan focused on logistics, ensuring academic continuity, and strengthening our community bonds. For departing students, we streamlined the transfer of academic records and recommendations to support their integration into new schools. For the remaining students, we are minimizing disruptions to classes and programs. We have offered extra time in advisory to allow students, both leavers and stayers, to talk in a safe environment about their feelings
Recognizing the importance of community during times of change, the Advancement Office, the parent teacher organization, the athletics department, and the computer-aided design (CAD) department continue to organize and promote community events to foster a sense of belonging. Our robust extracurricular program continues to provide students with opportunities for engagement and connection.
Departing students and their families will receive transition/farewell packages—letters of recommendation, transcripts, and school mementos. Individual transition counseling sessions are also available to help students process their emotions and prepare for their new academic settings. As always, the counselors are offering our transition workshops, using the RAFT (reconciliation, affirmation, farewell, think destination), for parents and students.
In addition, we are providing additional support for students and families who are staying. We offered the RAKE (reconciliation, affirmation, keep in touch, explore) or NEST (navigate, express emotions, stay connected, trust your toolbox) to students expressing grief and losing friendships.
Steadfast in Our Commitment
Our faculty and staff remain steadfast in our commitment to the ISK community during this time of need and transition, and we are committed to supporting those impacted by the changes in the development sector. We hope our efforts have offered comfort and a sense of shared strength to all in our community during these challenging times.
Indi Alford, Colleen Coady, Liv Gregor, Jessica Hajee, Michael Maldonado, Shelly Maldonado, and Dr. Deedre Werner are all members of the counseling team at ISK.
