For over 30 years international school leaders, teachers, and counselors have come together for PTC professional learning experiences. Each day of every program begins with a “pearl of wisdom,” a “nugget of knowledge,” or a “gem of inspiration” from one of the participants. We are delighted to offer our readers around the world these powerful stories, insights, and strategies, all dedicated to our shared mission of ever more and better learning for our children.
In this Pearl, Rafael shares a heartfelt reflection on the power of empathy in education and the importance of seeing each child as an individual before focusing on performance or outcomes. He recounts a story of a twice-exceptional student whose growth flourished only after teachers and parents “changed the system to be able to fit him” rather than asking him to change to fit the system. Through this experience, Rafael emphasizes that true inclusion begins when educators prioritize understanding over intervention and connection over correction. As he concludes, “When we lead with empathy and we validate each child's identity, we don't just help them to be successful, but we also help them to believe that they belong."
Professional positions cited were the ones held at the time of recording. The positions and schools of those quoted may have since changed.
Rafael Oscar Espinal Trejo is the Primary Years Programme coordinator at Canadian International School of Beijing.
