In this Pearl, Marzia reflects on how curriculum gains meaning not through authority or documentation alone, but through lived experience, culture, and community. Drawing on her upbringing in a small Alpine village and a formative childhood journey abroad, she illustrates how learning is shaped as much by context and relationships as by standards and plans. Using the metaphor of bread-making, Marzia argues that while the curriculum provides a recipe, its true value comes from how educators adapt it to their students, families, and environment. In a time of rapid change driven by artificial intelligence, she reminds us that human qualities remain essential, stating, “The most legitimate curriculum is not just what we plan. It’s what we co-create every day with our community.”
Professional positions cited were the ones held at the time of recording. The positions and schools of those quoted may have since changed.
Marzia Mauffrey is the Assistant Head at the International School of Denver.
