Leadership

Five Important Lessons I Learned as a First-Time Middle Leader
By Sara Refai
Mar 2025
As I reflect on my journey in middle leadership so far, I’ve identified five key lessons that have stood out and will remain in my toolbox..

Measuring What Matters
By Lesley Tait
Mar 2025
The Measuring What Matters project at Lincoln Community School tracks student understanding of learning, leadership, and connection to assess mission impact...

One School’s Journey of Implementing DUcKS to Improve Student Learning
By Ayorkor Dankyi and Ruba Abi Saab
Feb 2025
Intentional curriculum design can lead to deeper student engagement, meaningful learning, and a transformation in assessment practices…

Tailoring Teacher Support: A Strategic Approach to Coaching
By Danielle van Zijl
Feb 2025
Shifting from traditional, one-size-fits-all professional development to a more personalized, reflective approach can empower educators...

Cultivating Togetherness in Our Learning Communities
By Nunana Nyomi
Feb 2025
Theoretical foundations and strategies to cultivate togetherness in schools, for every voice to be valued and ensure nobody is left behind...

Supporting Local Teachers and International Mindedness in China
By David Whitmarsh
Jan 2025
Locally hired teachers in China's IB schools bridge cultures, model International Mindedness, and deserve equitable pay, growth, and recognition...

Building a Culture of Professional Growth
By Leticia Daza
Jan 2025
The impact of investing in teachers goes far beyond the classroom—it shapes the future of our students and the communities they will lead…

Authentic Leadership
By Ira Ghosh
Mar 2025
Effective leadership is not defined by age, but by confidence, inclusivity, and the ability to empower those around you…

The Importance of Honesty and Transparency
By Yim Pheng Wong
Feb 2025
In this Pearl, Yim emphasizes the vital role of honesty and transparency in leadership…

Find Your Board of Directors
By Ema Alatini
Feb 2025
In this Pearl, Ema shares the importance of building a "board of directors" to support and guide you throughout your leadership journey...

Believe in the Power of Yet
By Neelu Kalro
Jan 2025
In this Pearl, Neelu reflects on her three decades of learning, highlighting the importance of tapping into personal strength during challenging times…

Transcripts Inform the Future and the Past: The GCD and Flight Path Project
By Ellen Thorne, Austin Volz, Dr. Julia Higdon, and Paul Magnuson
Feb 2025
Innovative approaches to reshaping how school achievements are reported, emphasizing holistic student growth and skills over traditional test scores...

The Joys of Leading a School
By Anne Taffin d'Heursel Baldisseri
Feb 2025
Being a Head of School is a unique privilege, blending strategic vision, day-to-day decision-making, and the building of trusted personal connections...

Leadership at the Intersection of Complexity and Vision
By Dr. Oli Tooher-Hancock
Jan 2025
Explore the evolving role of a Head of School, balancing immediate needs with visionary leadership to empower students and navigate future challenges...

Learning With Teacher Leaders: Takeaways From a Course Facilitator

By Luiz Mello
15-Jan-25

A human-centered approach, encouraging readers to consider empathy, flexibility, and continuous professional growth in navigating leadership complexities… ..more

Growing a Culture of Learning

By Mark Hillman
15-Jan-25

Georgetown International Academy leveraged strengths-based leadership and the Danielson Framework to improve student outcomes and foster growth… ..more

Building Belonging and Professional Learning in Africa

By Elizabeth Imende and Dr. Graham Carlini Watts
15-Jan-25

Together, we’re creating a space where everyone can come together, learn, and be part of something greater… ..more

Building a Positive Workplace Culture

By Dr. Helen Kelly
15-Jan-25

In international schools, workplace culture is a crucial determinant of student outcomes and school effectiveness... ..more

Building Teacher Growth Plans That Impact Student Success

By Steve Barkley
11-Sep-24

In this episode, Tammy Joochinke shares a process for teachers to design professional growth plans based on a hypothesis from asking a question… ..more

Mentoring With DEIJ Empowers Mentees To Succeed

By Pankaj Mehrotra, Will Murphy, and Megan Vosk
06-Nov-24

Mentoring plays an important role in retaining new teachers, especially teachers of color, through the lens of DEIJ… ..more

Inclusion in Staff Retention

By Emily Rankin
25-Sep-24

Schools should not only consider how to inclusively hire a diverse staff, but also how to create an environment that retains them… ..more

A Transformational Approach to Leadership for Women in Education

By Alexandra Ritt Gustad
27-Mar-24

Uplifting through mentorship and action is empowering and will lead to greater diversity and representation within school leadership… ..more

Teaching and Learning

By Chanel Worsteling
17-Jan-24

In this episode, Chanel Worsteling interviews Mary Powell, a contributing author to AISA’s DEIJ Guide, Pathways to Transformation… ..more

Inquiring and Reflecting: Artificial Intelligence and the Power of Human Intent

By Aberra B. Belayneh
14-Feb-24

Future discussions and decision-making around AI and education must include the fate of the unconnected/less connected… ..more

The Headship Paradox

By Nicholas Alchin
11-Dec-24

The biggest demand of the Head of School role is that it requires diametrically opposed, even contradictory, approaches on an ongoing basis... ..more

Leading Without Authority: How to Influence and Inspire

By Riedwaan Kader and Tico Oms
06-Nov-24

For many, success often depends on leading initiatives with people over whom they have no formal authority. How can they win over those who don’t report to them… ..more

What Are Realistic and Effective Emergency Drills and Procedures?

By Mike Mills
06-Nov-24

Prepare your school community for emergencies with practical strategies that ensure safety and clarity while minimizing disruptions… ..more

On the Need for Peace Education in International Schools

By D.J. Condon
23-Oct-24

It strikes me that while our international schools may not be taking a stand against aggressor nations, we are not really standing up for peace either... ..more

How To Develop Student Councils to Foster Global Citizenship

By Isabelle Wolfe
23-Oct-24

Student councils serve as an introduction to democracy and give students a voice in the decision-making process… ..more

Sharing Data with Parents

By Suzie Boss
11-Sep-24

This case study describes the strategies that have prepared Zurich International School to launch its innovative data platform for parents… ..more

The Complexities of Head of School Leadership

By Stacy Stephens and Jeff Paulson
11-Sep-24

This series will explore the complexity of the position of Head of School and deep dive into the joys, challenges, and opportunity that come with it… ..more

Slow but Steady: Unlocking the Secrets to a Successful School Year

By Amber Ham
14-Aug-24

Adopting the proverb "slow but steady" contributes to building a successful, unified team by providing insights for achieving steady and sustainable progress… ..more

Building a Data Culture

By Suzie Boss
17-Jul-24

Analytical reasoning and emotional intelligence have helped Oberoi International School create an environment where teachers and students can thrive and grow… ..more

Equitable and Growth-Focused Teacher Evaluations

By Aparna Sundaram and Lindsay Prendergast
17-Jul-24

To create an environment in which teachers feel inspired to grow and trusted to take risks, we propose the change begins with school leaders… ..more

Touch in International Primary Schools: A Practical Approach With a Cultural Lens

By Dallin Bywater
05-Jun-24

With the welfare and body autonomy of children as guiding points, schools need to develop a healthy and culturally sensitive culture around touch… ..more

What Are Trust-Based Observations and Why Do We Need Them?

By Craig Randall
05-Jun-24

A case for transforming the teacher evaluation process… ..more

Two Ways To Reflect on Your Year as an Instructional Coach

By Kim Cofino
05-Jun-24

As we wrap up this academic year and transition into school holidays, now is the perfect time to reflect and set intentions for the next academic year… ..more

Learn by Doing, Learn by Caring, with Nueva School’s Lee Fertig

By Josh Reppun
08-May-24

This episode dives into the PTC’s commitment to excellence and innovation and the Nueva school, a community dedicated to learning by doing and caring… ..more

Instructional Coaching: A Research Endeavor

By Dr. Samantha Olson-Wyman, Dr. Kristen Moreland, and Jordan Benedict
10-Apr-24

We are asking instructional coaches and leaders who support instructional coaching to share their insights and experiences in this survey… ..more

Making the Most of the Experience: A Reflection on Recruiting Fairs

By Nicholas Forde
10-Apr-24

With another school recruiting season almost in the rear-view mirror, it is worthwhile reflecting on what went well and what could be improved… ..more

Top Five Elements for an Effective Instructional Coaching Conversation

By Kim Cofino
13-Mar-24

No matter how many coaching conversations you’ve had, there are always opportunities to continue to grow. Give these strategies a try in your next coaching conversation… ..more

De-Siloing Education

By Austin Farwell
13-Mar-24

To foster a culture of collaboration, schools can implement a framework that prioritizes communication, shared goals, and interdisciplinary initiatives… ..more

Creating a Culture of Support: Learnings From the Teacher Leader Institute

By Vickie Swann
28-Feb-24

The continuous evolution of the educational landscape offers an opportunity and need for school leadership to empower our middle leaders… ..more

Know Yourself, Believe in Yourself, Acknowledge your Limits

By Oliver Chua
20-Nov-24

We need to take care of ourselves, be kind to ourselves, and set realistic yet impactful decisions that will make a significant change… ..more

Strive To Be a Joyous Leader

By Bryony Maxted Miller
20-Nov-24

In this Pearl, Bryony shares her story of centralizing joy as she transitioned from a classroom teacher to a leadership position... ..more

You Are a Leader If...

By Loretta Fernando Smith
06-Nov-24

In this Pearl, Loretta says, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, to do more, to be more, and to do better, then you are a leader…” ..more

Know Yourself as a Leader Before Trying to Lead

By Khaldoon Al Ababneh
23-Oct-24

This Pearl explores how self-awareness not only enhances communication but also enables leaders to inspire and support their teams more effectively... ..more

Reflect, Rest, and Reset

By Claire Febrey
09-Oct-24

In this Pearl, Claire shares her insights on the importance of self-reflection and rejuvenation and shares practical strategies for implementation... ..more

The Value of Navigating Blind Spots

By Jenny-Lee Moore
25-Sep-24

We need to invest in seeing each other as we truly are. As diamonds hide in the dark, the true value in our teams may not be visible until we look for it… ..more

Beyond the Conference Sessions

By Gavin Kinch
11-Dec-24

From a conference I attended somewhat recently, I took away two major lessons, neither of which had anything to do with the sessions I attended... ..more

International School Security and Operational Readiness

By Mike Mills
11-Dec-24

Five pointers for international school Heads to consider when assessing the operational readiness of their school's security and emergency procedures... ..more

Setting the Stage for a Stable Board

By Erin Gerba and Ann Marie Awori
11-Dec-24

Without stability, the board’s effectiveness, leadership continuity, and the ability to provide a consistent strategy for achievement is impacted… ..more

Norms

By Pete Goodman
14-Aug-24

In this Pearl, Pete shares that it’s important to create norms that acknowledge experience while also considering the context we’re in now… ..more

Are You Measuring Your Impact as an Instructional Coach?

By Kim Cofino
20-Nov-24

By developing sustainable and consistent practices for collecting data, coaches can reflect on interventions that make a positive impact on learning… ..more

Transcripts: Melbourne Metrics and Ecolint Learner Passport

By Ellen Heyting, Irina Lupu, and Paul Magnuson
20-Nov-24

If our goal is reshaping secondary education, the end is graduation and, often, admittance to a university or additional program... ..more

Expanding Horizons: Advancing Your Global CV With International School Expertise

By Barry Cooper and Anna Peak
20-Nov-24

In this episode, Anna highlights the challenges and rewards of working with diverse cultures and the importance of adaptability and resilience in teaching… ..more

Building Bridges Between International Schools Around the World

By Art Charles
20-Nov-24

The International Teacher Exchange Consortium creates professional development opportunities by facilitating an educator exchange between schools… ..more

The 200 Percent Dilemma

By Melinda Bihn
06-Nov-24

How does anyone considering the Headship prepare to spend their time in a sustainable way... ..more

Misk Schools Diploma Sets New Educational Standard

By Dr. Steffen Sommer
06-Nov-24

The diploma is built around four core components: Leadership, Internships, International Academic Studies, and National Academic and Identity Studies… ..more

Episode 1: Sheena Nabholz - AISH

By Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes
23-Oct-24

This inaugural episode discusses the importance of connectedness, the integration of AI in schools, and the critical need for equity and inclusion… ..more

Lessons From Being Queer in Leadership: Bring Your Authentic Self to the Table

By Ange Molony
05-Jun-24

In this Pearl, Ange shares her leadership journey and what it looks like for her to show up authentically with her colleagues and students… ..more

Building Collective Efficacy

By Suzie Boss and Ben Marsh
09-Oct-24

The International School of Myanmar responds to its Director’s call to “show me the data”… ..more

Making Instructional Coaching Irresistible

By Kim Cofino
09-Oct-24

We want to build a culture of coaching where educators choose to opt in to coaching experiences because it is seen as valuable, purposeful, and relevant… ..more

Reframe Complaints as Requests

By Ligia Diniz
19-Jun-24

To improve relationships and morale, instead of looking at somebody and assuming they were complaining, transform the complaints into requests… ..more

Reception, Insertion, and Integration of Ukrainian Refugee Students in Luxembourg

By Dr. M. Laura Halladjian and Dr. Lindsay Redinger
14-Aug-24

This case study can set a precedent for successful and efficient management of the reception and integration of refugee students on a large scale… ..more

Shaping Lives and Building Legacy

By Sheena Nabholz and Jeff Paulson
09-Oct-24

This role extends well beyond the classroom, shaping a community and laying a foundation that can positively impact students and teachers for years to come… ..more

Eight Tips to Start the School Year Right as an Instructional Coach

By Kim Cofino
11-Sep-24

The first days and weeks of the school year are always a whirlwind, but they’re a great opportunity to start the year well in your coaching role... ..more

Be Intentionally Caring and Present in Relationships

By Kustave Heino
08-May-24

In this Pearl, Kustave shares his journey and three aspects that he tries to intentionally work on to build relationships… ..more

A Conversation with Stacy Stephens, Director of The International Educator (TIE)

By John Mikton and Dan Taylor
09-Oct-24

Exploring TIE's rich history, its mission, and how it connects to international schools and educators... ..more

The Synergy of Coaching and Lifelong Learning

By Dr. Niki Melanidou
14-Aug-24

Lifelong learning serves as the cornerstone of adaptation and growth, enabling educators to stay relevant, innovative, and effective in their roles… ..more

Lead with Kindness, Empathy, Brain Tricks

By Dina Sonbol
24-Apr-24

In this Pearl, Dina she shares how difficult conversations are better discussed when the brain is not in panic mode... ..more

Tes Survey: More Safeguarding Concerns as Confidence Grows

By Elliot Tohver-Kirby
14-Aug-24

A survey by Tes reveals educational respondents believe there’s a rise in safeguarding concerns; however, confidence in reporting by staff and pupils is up…. ..more

Looking Back To Move Forward Into Our New School Year

As we embark on another school year, it's beneficial to reflect on strategies that enhance our school culture and support our staff... ..more

Why Does Having a Sound Board Policy Manual Matter?

By Erin Gerba and Ann Marie Awori
17-Jul-24

A strong policy manual helps the school board hold the school in trust so that the school is in good standing for future generations of students… ..more

Looking Back To Move Forward Into Our New School Year

A look back on some articles that share ideas, discussions, and resources to support creating an enriching and nurturing environment for all our students… ..more

Is Your Governing Body Safeguarding Your Safeguarding Practice?

By Tiffany Farrell
19-Jun-24

Three reasons to actively educate and involve Governors in your school’s safeguarding practice... ..more

The Plop, the Pink, the Possibilities

By Kathryn Rymarz
10-Apr-24

In this Pearl, Kathryn shares a personal experience where she discovered that there are lots of good things to learn from making mistakes… ..more

The Future of Classroom Digitalization

By Dr. Matt Glanville and Yoon Byun
05-Jun-24

A conversation on the future of digitization in the classroom including benefits, limitations, and challenges… ..more

Five Reasons Instructional Coaching in International Schools Is So Complex

By Kim Cofino
08-May-24

International school instructional coaches need to deeply understand the ways to advocate for, plan, and implement a successful coaching program… ..more

Kyiv, Ukraine

By Gavin Kinch
10-Apr-24

“What would you do if you were Principal of a school in Kyiv when Russia invaded?” Gavin talks with the former Director of Pechersk School International… ..more

Asking Just the Right Questions as an Instructional Coach

By Kim Cofino
10-Apr-24

Coaching conversations are about holding space for your coaching partner to reflect and recognize their own capacity… ..more

It’s Time To Upgrade Our Recruiting Practices

By Stacy Stephens
27-Mar-24

Schools should engage in Evidence-Based Recruiting because it provides more accurate and in-depth information on a candidate... ..more

Leading A Future-Ready International School

By Rachel Hovington
27-Mar-24

In this episode, Tim Kelley, International School of Stuttgart, discusses international school leadership and building schools for the future… ..more

Designing an Innovative High School Diploma Together

By Corey Topf
13-Mar-24

Instead of individually shouldering the burdens of designing student-centered learning experiences, we want to design a collaborative, innovative diploma… ..more

Take a Deep Breath

By Joe Cloutier
13-Mar-24

In this Pearl, Joe encouragingly reminds us that “you can handle any crisis that happens at your school…” ..more

Reflections on Belonging: My Journey and Call to Action

By Lianne Dominguez
13-Mar-24

Together we can shape a future where belonging is not just a buzzword but a lived experience that enriches the lives of individuals and communities… ..more

A Global Support Network: Reflection on the AAIE Conference

By Stacy Stephens
28-Feb-24

Educators from all over the globe stepped out of their day to day focus and came together to discuss the progress of international education as a whole... ..more

Conquering Imposter Syndrome in Leadership

By Lianne Dominguez
14-Feb-24

Five tips and a series of anecdotes to help fellow accidental leaders overcome this pesky feeling of inadequacy… ..more

Creating a Hello Culture

By Gavin Kinch
06-Nov-24

School leaders should foster a "hello" culture, intentionally promoting belonging for each student through simple acknowledgements… ..more

Coaching Skills Aren't Just for Coaches: Coaching As Leadership

By Kim Cofino
14-Feb-24

The skills and habits you develop in your instructional coaching role will serve you well in any future position, including formal leadership roles... ..more

Why TIE? Why Now? A Message From the Director

By Stacy Stephens
31-Jan-24

I want to be a part of something that looks to the future of education, that strives to make a better and more impactful stance on the profession... ..more

The Value of Compassion

By Gavin Kinch
09-Oct-24

How do we as teachers and school leaders create nurturing environments that cultivate relationships that matter and persist through times of difficulty… ..more

Coaching for Leaders: Four Misconceptions

By John Roberts
31-Jan-24

There are persisting misconceptions about what executive coaches actually do in a school setting. It’s important to raise awareness and set the record straight… ..more

One School's Journey With Phone Free Policies

By Francesca Mulazzi
14-Aug-24

There is clear evidence that smartphones impact students' mental health, behavior, focus, and relationships. Urgent interventions are needed to support students… ..more

Navigating Stormy Waters: Using Human-Centered Principles in Difficult Conversations

By Lianne Dominguez
17-Jan-24

By approaching difficult conversations with empathy and understanding, you can turn them into opportunities for growth and resolution… ..more

Transitioning Between the Three Stances of an Instructional Coach

By Kim Cofino
17-Jan-24

Switching between these three stances within a single coaching conversation is a complex skill. There are four elements to help you navigate… ..more

Snowballs and Soccer Games

By Bruce Gilbert
19-Jun-24

“Somebody could get hurt” playground rules are misguided. Play is essential for children’s physical development and wellbeing… ..more

Clarify the Purpose of Discussion

By Sally Wen
28-Feb-24

In this Pearl, Sally shares that there two ways of having dialogue: conversation to increase understanding and discussion for making the decisions... ..more

The Win-Win Strategy

By Ngozie Okorie
31-Jan-24

Relationships are important and valuable. When faced with certain leadership challenges, the win-win strategy is effective... ..more

Value of Relationships, Listening, and Applying Intercultural Skills

By Erika Egawa
17-Jan-24

Listening as a leader is different than listening as a friend or colleague. In this Pearl, Erika offers advice for those new to leadership… ..more

Roadmap to Action

By Jaya Ramchandani and Cary Reid
27-Sep-23

Steps to inform and inspire the next phase of educational transformation, fueling collective action that spurs more reform. ..more

On Learning, Leading, and Loving in Complex Times

By Tim Logan
22-Nov-23

A conversation with Brad Kershner, Head of School at Kimberton Waldorf School… ..more

Building DEIJ into AISA School Culture: A Leadership Pathway

By Dr. Peter Bateman
06-Dec-23

In the DEIJ journey, leadership is both the compass and the keystone, guiding and cementing in place the structural change required… ..more

Support and Sustenance

By Ryan Persaud
13-Sep-23

Taking a multi-pronged approach to supporting and sustaining the DEIJ work in your school will lead to a greater chance of long-term success… ..more

Hierarchy in International Schools

By John Frame
11-Oct-23

If schools are serious about social justice, they might start by applying to faculty and staff the same values and expectations they do to students… ..more

Leading Strategic Change: Building a Culture of Inclusion

By Johanna Cena, Cheryl Hordenchuk, Nitasha Crishna
16-Aug-23

UNIS Hanoi’s insights into multi-tiered systems of support… ..more

Deconstructing and Reconstructing Systems

By Ryan Persaud
24-May-23

Deep, critical work that leads to meaningful change is what is required for the betterment of our school communities… ..more

College Counseling Countdown: Part Four

By Shwetangna Chakrabarty
15-Mar-23

Data management and a whole school college counseling program are two key components to being an effective college counselor… ..more

Our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Journey

By Stacy Shipman, Shan Ahmed, Emma Ahmed, John Powell, and Chris Frost
22-Nov-23

AISL's commitment to inclusivity led to the adoption of the Multi-tiered Systems of Support framework which is being implemented with data-driven decision-making… ..more

The Super Team: How To Build Exceptional and Sustainable Teams in Schools

By Eloïse Engel
13-Sep-23

Strategies for building a strong team and an environment that values collaboration and builds trust... ..more

An Education for Peace and for Human Flourishing

By Conrad Hughes
19-Jul-23

An education for peace can only take root in a whole institutional culture of peace, from what happens in the classroom to the staffroom to board meetings… ..more

Resolving Class Divisions in International Schools

By John Frame
22-Nov-23

To challenge this at schools espousing a commitment to social justice, the most privileged among us must strive for solidarity with the most oppressed… ..more

Leading Change in International Schools: Embracing Authenticity and the IB Learner Profile

By John Bray
06-Dec-23

A reflection on two articles that support the idea that authentic leadership and the use of the IB Learner Profile lead to successful change… ..more

The Three Key Roles of an Instructional Coach

By Kim Cofino
22-Nov-23

Being able to recognize these three stances and choose them intentionally in coaching conversations is essential to leveling up your coaching practice… ..more

Hidden in Plain Sight: School Culture's Unspoken Truths and Bold Fixes

By Dr. Yael Cass
08-Nov-23

As we align perception with experience and foster a more equitable school culture, let's explore some strategies that can serve as catalysts for change… ..more

International Athletic Directors “State of the Industry” Survey 2023

By Nick DeForest
08-Nov-23

The results of this year’s AD “State of the Industry” survey show some familiar results, as well as some new ideas for improving the profession… ..more

The Catalyst for Change: Why We Chose to Implement International School Standards

By Lianne Dominguez
25-Oct-23

Adopting the international school standards of practice is our collective testament to prioritizing holistic growth… ..more

Three Elements of a Thriving Coaching Program

By Kim Cofino
25-Oct-23

Bringing the elements of clarity, consistency, and community into place is the first step to building a thriving coaching culture… ..more

Elevating Student Learning: The Impact of Standards-Based Growth and Appraisal Systems in International Schools

By Sue Easton
11-Oct-23

In the ever-evolving landscape of international education, the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning is a fundamental goal... ..more

Helping International Students Settle Into School Life: Why a Good Beginning Is Vital

By Mark Wilson
11-Oct-23

Schools should not adopt a one size fits all approach to onboarding international families… ..more

Five Reasons Coaches are Essential in Schools

By Kim Cofino
27-Sep-23

When coaching is done right, coaches can do so much more than “just” improve student learning… ..more

Cohesive Communities

By Edward Pearce
27-Sep-23

When building a positive, unified school culture, look no further than your mission, vision, and pillars, and lead with values-based decision-making… ..more

You Don’t Need a Title To Lead

By Michael Iannini
16-Aug-23

International schools have set ambitious goals for this year. How can you align your professional growth agenda with your school’s development objectives… ..more

A Radical Proposal: Eliminate Competitive Sports From International Schools

By Bridget McNamer
19-Jul-23

There are plenty of ways schools can incorporate physical movement and sporting activities without emphasizing the super-competitive aspect… ..more

Creating Spaces for Belonging in Schools Through Courageous Leadership

By Ariane Baer-Harper
10-May-23

The framework for creating the right spaces for belonging begins and ends with good organization and communication... ..more

How Schools Can Support Teachers’ Reflective Practices

By Tristan Reynolds
19-Jul-23

School leaders can take several steps to create a culture of reflective practice that can improve both teacher and student performance… ..more

Agency and Action

By Ryan Persaud
21-Jun-23

Any initiative or change that we may be trying to move forward is going to take buy-in and a collaborative effort… ..more

Building the Foundations of a Coaching Culture

By Kim Cofino
07-Jun-23

The final five steps in my 10 steps to getting started as an instructional coach… ..more

Artificial Intelligence and Education: The Need To Reform Assignments

By Conrad Hughes
24-May-23

Using technology and not trying to ban it is not only a preference but also a necessity… ..more

A Movement to Change the Way the World Learns

By James Dalziel, Richard Henry, James McDonald
24-May-23

In this episode, Kam Chohan talks with the hosts about the importance of her work in DEIJ and child protection and her commitment to social justice… ..more

The Interview Question Men Rarely Get Asked: Female Leadership and Family Life

By Kim Cofino
10-May-23

Has pursuing a leadership pathway been impacted by, or influenced women’s decisions about, raising a family… ..more

Umoja: A Regional Conference of Unity

By Shwetangna Chakrabarty
25-Oct-23

At the recent AISA conference, Umoja (unity) was not only an idea but a movement, a culture of community that would spread throughout the participants… ..more

In Your Own Backyard: Keeping Relevance Post-Hiring Season

By Kenya J. Washington
12-Apr-23

Now that the hiring season is almost coming to a close, we can re-group and re-think how our current faculty and staff are faring in our school environments… ..more

A Recruiter's Interview Toolbox

By Kenya J. Washington
01-Feb-23

During the interview process, there are some approaches we may want to hold on to, some we need to avoid doing, and others we may want to move towards… ..more

A Call to Action: Part One

By Debra E. Lane and Ann Marie Luce
26-Apr-23

There are actions we can take, possibilities we can reimagine, and networks to fix workplaces and create equitable, safe, and productive spaces for all… ..more

Artificial Intelligence and the Automaticity of Skill Development

By Conrad Hughes
26-Apr-23

Victorian-styled tasks built on regurgitating memory should be replaced by those requiring more distinctly human traits of intelligence... ..more

Leadership and Creating Culture Through Student Voice

Dr. Jaime Brianna Pustis
07-Jun-23

School leaders serve their communities by developing a positive school culture that nourishes, creates space for, and supports student voice… ..more

Finding Clarity

By Kim Cofino
12-Apr-23

Five steps focused on finding clarity in your coaching program… ..more

A Framework for Your DEIJ Work

By Ryan Persaud
29-Mar-23

The first in a six-part series providing a step-by-step guide that can be employed by schools to frame their work… ..more

From “English-Only” to Dual Language

By Stephanie Drynan, Dr. Esther Bettney Heidt, and Jon Nordmeyer
26-Apr-23

A reflection on developing a dual language program with hopes of informing how to move toward more inclusive approaches to language education… ..more

What Are International School Principals Talking About?

By Bambi Betts
29-Mar-23

In our role as leaders, what do we do to address the five core questions at the heart of the daily endeavors in a school... ..more

How Accurate Is International School Enrollment Data?

By Dr. Jitka Stiles and Langa Ndiweni
29-Mar-23

What factors affect the accuracy of enrollment data and how can we improve precision… ..more

Onboard the Corporate Express

By John Frame
15-Mar-23

Education already has enough of its own jargon with which teachers need to grapple without corporate language infiltration adding more complications… ..more

Making the Move to Leadership

By Kim Cofino
15-Mar-23

Four ways you can consider using your current experience as a bridge into formal leadership… ..more

Prioritize What Will Most Impact Learning

By David Gates
06-Dec-23

In struggling with prioritizing, “We have to prioritize the outcomes that are going to have an actual effect on student learning and teacher performance"... ..more

What is School Leader Burnout and Why Does it Matter?

By Dr. Helen Kelly
15-Mar-23

Around half of international school leaders say that work-related stress affects their ability to do their job well… ..more

Leaders Don’t Always Need To Be Fixers

By Abenaa Uttenthal
22-Nov-23

What we need to do is create space for other people to step in and rise to the occasion… ..more

Who Are We, Who Do We Serve, and What Do We Do?

By Lee Fertig
01-Mar-23

What do we need to do as stewards of our educational institutions to prepare international schools for the next 20-30 years… ..more

Student Voice: What Drives Change?

Dr. Jaime Brianna Pustis
29-Mar-23

Developing and engaging student voice in schools is an incredible opportunity for students to drive the change they need in a rapidly evolving world… ..more

Five Key Roles of an Instructional Coach

By Kim Cofino
15-Feb-23

As coaches in busy schools, we wear many hats and sometimes it’s hard to know which are most important… ..more

The Role of the Coach: Where Professional Learning Meets Professional Sports

By Margareta Tripsa
01-Feb-23

When professional learning is accompanied by coaching, the learner receives the support they need to apply their learning and make a positive difference… ..more

Language Policies Should Be a Part of Our DEIJ Conversations

By Alysa Perreras and Matt Hajdun
01-Feb-23

Guiding questions to invite schools to analyze their current language policies with a DEIJ lens… ..more

Leadership and Ethics

By Conrad Hughes
01-Feb-23

The single most important thing a leader can do is to model ethical behavior. Speeches are important, but it is behavior ultimately that will speak the loudest... ..more

ChatGPT: A Partner in the Future of Learning in Schools

By Dr. Megel R. Barker
18-Jan-23

School leaders are compelled to reflect on future-facing strategies to embrace AI in their schools and provide a sustainable platform to reap the benefits… ..more

Leadership is a Practice

By Ellen King
27-Sep-23

In this pearl, Ellen shares that “growth doesn’t happen when you’re in your comfort zone”... ..more

Overcoming Two Common Mindsets Holding Women Back

By Kim Cofino
18-Jan-23

It’s not actually a lack of qualifications or confidence that holds women back from leadership. Let’s tackle the mindset challenges and concrete advice... ..more

College Counseling Countdown: Part Three

By Shwetangna Chakrabarty
18-Jan-23

For college counselors, it is the time of the year to reflect on the successes and channel students to overcome challenges… ..more

Promoting Teacher’s Growth With Instructional Rounds

By Monica Bennett
18-Jan-23

Teachers can learn a lot by watching other great teachers in the building, observing strengths and embracing new ideas and opportunities for growth… ..more

Empowering Others to Succeed

By Ana Leticia Daza
16-Aug-23

In this pearl, Ana shares the importance of having and being a strong, empowering leadership example… ..more

Artificial Intelligence and Society: Implications for Educators

By Conrad Hughes
01-Mar-23

What strikes me is less the fact that just about everybody is on their phones and more what they are doing on their phones... ..more

The Stay Interview

By Tim Rogers
10-May-23

In this pearl, Tim shares practical advice for creating a culture of trust and increasing teacher retention… ..more

Understand, Care, and Grow Together

By Eda Go
15-Mar-23

In this Pearl, Eda encourages us to ask clarifying questions before assuming intent and inspire growth instead of reflecting on defeats… ..more

Community Building

By Kristen Dickhaut
18-Jan-23

If you build up the people, the programs will be successful… ..more

A Better Way to Talk About Money When Considering Salaries

By Diana Rosberg
07-Dec-22

Applicants want to know how far their salary will go and how much they can save. Schools can easily provide high-quality, high-utility information… ..more

A Seat at the Table: Who’s Invited to the (Hiring) Party?

By Kenya J. Washington
23-Nov-22

Inclusion in your hiring practices can only yield buy-in, stronger morale, and shared accountability in how a new member is supported once hired… ..more

Keys to Supporting Teacher Growth and Development

By Monica Bennett
23-Nov-22

The difference between stagnant, complacent teachers and transformative, rapidly growing teachers comes down to promoting a positive growth environment… ..more

Challenging Curriculum

By Stephen Dexter Jr.
07-Dec-22

For reasons that are complicated, we are uncomfortable with leveraging the opportunity that a once in a generation global catastrophe has gifted us... ..more

Building a Thriving Coaching Program: Eight Steps to Success

By Kim Cofino
23-Nov-22

In some schools coaching is a huge success, and in others it fizzles out and fails in just a few years. What makes the difference… ..more

Leadership and Mission Alignment

By Conrad Hughes
23-Nov-22

Leading from the mission is leading with purpose and alignment. It harmonizes all components of the school mission… ..more

Allow Them To Try, Fail, and Bounce Back Using Regular Formative Assessments

By Ingrid Delange
23-Nov-22

Schools must create a safe environment where teachers’ evaluations are individualized, differentiated, and human... ..more

Educational Athletics: A Playbook for Success

By Nick DeForest
23-Nov-22

At its core, education should be dynamic, progressive, and at the forefront of today’s changing landscape. School athletic programs should be no exception… ..more

Let’s Talk About the EAL Fee

By Jon Nordmeyer
09-Nov-22

Understanding the implications of EAL fees on students, teachers, classrooms, and overall equity helps us move toward improving this system… ..more

Creating a Culture of Data-Informed Conversations

By Richard Harrold
09-Nov-22

Without a deeper understanding of how to use Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) data-generated reports, meetings often fail… ..more

Five Dispositions of Effective Teaching and Learning Teams

By Yujiro Fujiwara
09-Nov-22

Recommendations for administrators for increasing the effectiveness and accountability of the learning team in schools… ..more

Managing External Perceptions of Leadership

By Kim Cofino
26-Oct-22

Recognizing, owning, and being able to articulate your leadership skills are important first steps in taking action.. ..more

Running a School in a War Zone – Life as a Head in Ukraine

By Dan Worth
09-Nov-22

Keeping education going must remain the top priority, whatever the situation… ..more

Leadership and Culture

By Conrad Hughes
26-Oct-22

At the end of the day, all the mission statements, logos, and quotations in the world will not be as important as the concrete actions that are taken… ..more

College Counseling Countdown: Part Two

By Shwetangna Chakrabarty
26-Oct-22

This guide to November and December will focus on the most important purpose of a counselor’s job, guiding students to the right university… ..more

Sidecar Summits Celebrate Female Leadership While Offering a Vision of Harmony for All

By Bridget McNamer
12-Oct-22

Daring women leaders from around the globe gathered to celebrate strengths and reimagine a leadership landscape that values and supports female attributes… ..more

Ten Reasons Instructional Coaching Is the Key To Sustainable Professional Growth

By Kim Cofino
28-Sep-22

When teachers grow, they model growth-mindedness for students… ..more

Do the Math!

By Damian Bacchoo
26-Oct-22

The question of “what can we take away” has been a priority for school leaders since (at least) the Industrial Age... ..more

A Summer of Learning With the PTC

By Sue Easton
12-Oct-22

The PTC approach of intense, focused in-person learning, and relaxed, job-embedded virtual learning continues to elevate international education... ..more

Governance Matters!

By Chip Barder and Bambi Betts
12-Oct-22

International school board members and school heads gather in person for fresh new approaches to international school governance... ..more

Getting Our House in Order: Creating an Effective Hiring Environment

By Kenya J. Washington
28-Sep-22

If a potential hire were to ask the faculty about the culture and morale of our school would their reply hinder or support the hiring efforts and processes… ..more

Successful Onboarding of New Teachers

By Cindy Adair
12-Oct-22

Our induction program aims to foster friendships and a support network among the new staff cohort… ..more

Leadership and Innovation

By Conrad Hughes
28-Sep-22

It is critical that leaders in education embrace an innovator’s mindset, not for the sake of change, but in order to contribute to the global movement… ..more

A Week in the Life of an International School Job Seeker

By Mary Noble
14-Sep-22

A middle school principal shares the tiring process of an international school job search and offers strategies for schools and leaders in the recruitment process… ..more

Building Resiliency

By Jennifer Abrams
14-Sep-22

To continue on the journey of growing (up) and becoming an even more effective professional requires another skill set… ..more

A Leadership Journey

By Conrad Hughes
17-Aug-22

An experienced international leader shares his insights and knowledge to inspire new and seasoned leaders... ..more

Lessons in Leadership Learned from the Coaching Launch

By Art Charles
12-Oct-22

It is as much the challenges we overcome as a community as the opportunities we are given that bring us together as a team… ..more

A Conversation With Dr. Helen Kelly

By John Mikton
17-Aug-22

Dr. Helen Kelly shares learnings from her research, work, and workshops on wellbeing... ..more

Taking Responsibility for Your Communications

By Jennifer Abrams
13-Jul-22

Taking responsibility for our communications is an inside job related to reliability and a strong awareness around contributing positively to your team… ..more

The Buoyancy of Hope

By David Blair
13-Jul-22

We owe it to our communities to face the challenges we encounter with clarity, candor, and “the buoyancy of hope” … ..more

Never Assume

By Clara Swinehart
23-Nov-22

Never assuming applies to our own experiences, interactions, and exchanges with our students, parents, and teachers… ..more

The Landscape of International Leadership

By Catarina Song Chen, Dr. Wallace Ting, and Lindsay Prendergast
22-Jun-22

The Global Leadership Stories series showcases real case studies from the new publication International Education Leadership: Stories From Around the Globe.... ..more

Developing Vision

By Kathleen Naglee
08-Jun-22

Develop your vision, practice and hone it in experience, and most importantly, wield it for the betterment of your community... ..more

Top 10 Skills for Aspiring Female Leaders

By Kim Cofino
08-Jun-22

10 frequently mentioned themes for the most essential skills for emerging leaders today represent a well-rounded and likely non-traditional leader... ..more

Three Transformative Outcomes Achieved with Mentoring

By Michael Iannini and Claire Peet
08-Jun-22

A leader’s most important responsibility is to develop leaders... ..more

Strategic Policy: A Missing Link in International School Governance

By Chip Barder
25-May-22

Strategic policy development is a critically important but often overlooked responsibility of international school boards... ..more

Suspending Certainty: Own Your Limits

By Jennifer Abrams
25-May-22

Suspending certainty asks us to remain open to multiple possibilities and multiple points of view, to not rush to judgment... ..more

Follow Your North Star

By Vickie Swann
25-May-22

Practical ways to be S.U.R.E. you take the necessary steps to find your north star within an organization while staying true to self... ..more

What Are International School Principals Talking About?

By Bambi Betts
11-May-22

Amidst the complex, ever-changing landscape they navigate daily, principals and curriculum leaders have been reaching out to each other in a big way... ..more

Looking for Your Next Leadership Book?

By Kristen MacConnell
11-May-22

At the Principals’ Training Center (PTC), a group of school leaders from around the world created a “Must Read” list, sharing some of their favorite books on leadership and learning... ..more

The Magic Sauce

By Nicholas Alchin
11-May-22

Strong trust is fundamental for any organization to be successful. Without it, little is possible - with it, remarkable things are within reach... ..more

We DON’T Need to Supervise Our Teachers

By Kevin Bartlett
27-Apr-22

I don’t know about you, but I never did good work because someone was “supervising” me. We do good work for its own sake, or perhaps even more significantly, for the sake of the learners. ..more

Nine Essentials to Guide Search Committees to a Successful Hire

By Dr. Deborah Welch
27-Apr-22

A high-functioning Search Committee is key to running a successful leadership search. Use these best practices to help ensure the best outcome for your school community. ..more

Advice to My Younger Self: A Letter to Keryn

By Keryn Dowling
13-Apr-22

Keep learning, keep being open to opportunities, and keep supporting others. Although I still have so much more to learn and grow from within leadership - there are a few things I wish I could tell my younger self. ..more

Protecting Your Investment - Why Induction Matters!

By Mark Symmonds
13-Apr-22

The induction of teachers and staff to a new school in a new country is a vital part of the success for the teacher, their families, the school, and its students. ..more

Is Your School’s Mindfulness Initiative Working?

By Andrew Mitchell and Eleni Vardaki
27-Apr-22

A genuine sense of care for your students’ wellbeing, as an educator, and for the members of your community, as a leader, is needed for mindfulness initiatives in schools to work. ..more

The Timing of Strategic Planning

By Diana Rosberg
13-Apr-22

We often feel pressure to have a Strategic Plan in place “yesterday.” Building one today could be a mistake. ..more

A Guide to Acing a Headship Interview

By Dr. Deborah Welch
30-Mar-22

You’ve made it to the semi-finalist interview stage. Use these three tables to organize and focus on the “presentation” aspect of interviewing. ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: Having Empathy for Those in Your School Community

By Philip Cogbill
13-Apr-22

In this Pearl, Philip reminds us of the Maya Angelou quote, “People will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ..more

Staying in Wonderland: The possible futures of education

By Colleen Broderick
16-Mar-22

This provocation to expand what is possible for the future of school is a curated collection of resources organized to provide fodder for a very different conversation about change. ..more

Shaping a Culture of Wellbeing in Schools: Leading by Example

By Kim Cofino
16-Mar-22

As leaders we have the challenge of managing time and priorities to find space for personal wellbeing and also the responsibility to model strategies for wellbeing for others. ..more

What Are International School Principals Talking About?

By Bambi Betts
02-Mar-22

Whether they are in the world, international school principals share some very similar challenges and issues. Find out what topics are being discussed most right now... ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: Applying What You’ve Learned

By Jill Stubbs
02-Mar-22

In this Pearl, Jill talks about applying the knowledge and skills you gain from professional learning opportunities like the Principals' Training Center. ..more

What Happens to the Experience of School When the Masks Come Off?

By David Willows
27-Apr-22

What was the experience of school now that faces were back on show? And what were some of the most important lessons that our students had learned throughout the pandemic? ..more

Seeing the Big Picture

By Kim Cofino
11-May-22

70 successful women share strategies that help busy leaders manage the demands, needs, and priorities of a school or division... ..more

Know Your Identity

By Jennifer Abrams
13-Apr-22

Our ability to collaborate and our willingness to engage respectfully with one another matters for the health of the school and the collective well-being of all within it. ..more

How Busy Leaders Prioritize and Find Focus

By Kim Cofino
13-Apr-22

Balancing competing priorities can become overwhelming if you don’t have a strategy to deal with them. 70 women in leadership roles share insights. ..more

Advice to My Younger Self: A Letter to Nancy

By Nancy J. Lhoest-Squicciarini
02-Mar-22

I was not sure how to navigate a career as an educator and most importantly as a person... so a “Soundtrack of Advice” has been created to share guidance and encouragement. ..more

Honour All Learning: Why a Coalition?

By Conrad Hughes
02-Mar-22

Conrad outlines some of the issues facing students at the end of high school. Join a discussion with 17-year-old students Meghana and Laeticia. ..more

We DON'T Need to Educate Our Parents

By Kevin Bartlett
02-Mar-22

As a school leader, that phrase, “We need to educate our parents” always jarred with me. So, when it comes to parents, and learning, some new perspectives... ..more

Finding a Space of Wellbeing in a Busy Leadership Role

By Kim Cofino
16-Feb-22

Finding a space of wellbeing in a busy leadership role is no easy feat. After living through two years of almost constant crisis, it almost seems an unfair expectation to have. ..more

The Short Guide to Preparing for a Headship Interview

By Dr. Deborah Welch
16-Feb-22

Whether you are a new head or a veteran, it can be daunting to anticipate what sort of questions you’ll be asked. These two actions steps can help guide your preparations. ..more

Teacher Morale and Practices to Sustain Morale

By Blake Roberts
16-Feb-22

This executive summary on practices to sustain teacher morale is an easy to implement toolbox for school leaders looking to improve their school’s morale. ..more

There Is an “I” In Team – Being a Better Team Player

By Jennifer Abrams
02-Feb-22

Our ability to collaborate and our willingness to engage respectfully with one another matters for the health of the school and the collective well-being of all within it. ..more

A Conversation with Liz Free, CEO and Director at International School Rheintal and Viki Stiebert, Director at International School of Bergen

By The International Schools Podcast
02-Feb-22

In this episode, Liz Free and Viki Stiebert share their journey as international school educators and school directors ..more

Raise Her Up Scholarship For Sidecar Summit 2022

By Kimberly Cullen
02-Feb-22

Raise Her Up and Sidecar Counsel are partnering to sponsor two women leaders at the Sidecar Summit in July 2022. ..more

Navigating the Transition from Teacher to Teacher Leader

By Kristen MacConnell
19-Jan-22

A common challenge voiced by new teacher leaders is navigating the transition from team member to team leader. Teacher leaders share which factors contributed to their current leadership success. ..more

Being Prepared for Confrontation as Women in Leadership

By Kim Cofino
19-Jan-22

The secret to feeling confident and capable in a confrontation is both understanding the process and practicing your actions until there are very few surprises left. ..more

Advice to My Younger Self: A Letter to Viki

By Viki Stiebert
19-Jan-22

In this new series, school leaders write an intimate and personal letter sharing the advice they would give to their younger selves for others to read and learn from their experiences. ..more

Eye-Catching Résumés for a Headship Are Accomplishment Driven

By Dr. Deborah Welch
19-Jan-22

More often than not, as a job seeker your résumé precedes you. It is the first impression a potential school has of you – and is usually a quick one. ..more

Don’t Just Learn About the Bike, Ride the Bike!

By Dr. Michael Johnston
14-Sep-22

Leaders need to challenge the systems and structures that hold them back from offering students authentic learning experiences… ..more

Strategies and Skills for Handling Confrontation

By Kim Cofino
08-Dec-21

Here are five strategies that you can use “in the moment” during a confrontation or difficult conversation to diffuse the situation and hopefully get to a point of compromise. ..more

Revisiting and Revamping Recruitment Practices in International Schools

By Dr. Rachel Previs Ball
08-Dec-21

By carefully considering what factors matter to teacher candidates and designing a recruitment plan that meets the needs of desired applicants, schools will be poised to more successfully hire quality teachers. ..more

Modeling Ethical Leadership: Meet Hannah Wilson

By Kyra Kellawan, The PilotEd Podcast
08-Dec-21

Hannah Wilson is an independent consultant and facilitator who specializes in leadership development and training. Hannah was one of the founding members of the Women in Education Leadership movement WomenEd in the UK. ..more

Reflecting on My Entry Plan

By Tania Mansfield
08-Dec-21

Using the PTC Effective Leadership course as a guide, I reflect on my entry plan into a new school community with hopes of sharing my knowledge, objectives, and experience with others. ..more

Supporting Teacher Leaders

By Diana Rosberg
24-Nov-21

Every school has its “official” leadership structure ... But somewhere, deep in the fabric of the school, we always find a ready crew, people who just get things done. ..more

Moving Together on DEI Issues

By Nicholas Alchin
24-Nov-21

The aim of our discussions should not be victory, but better understanding of other views. That’s the long-term work, the hard work. None of us have a monopoly on truth... ..more

The Need for Standards of Excellence

By Daniel Slevin
24-Nov-21

Standards of excellence for the international educator can create shared understanding between generations and nationalities. ..more

The Unintended Consequences of Long Recruitment Lead Times

By Bridget McNamer
24-Nov-21

So much can change in the reality of a school and school leaders in a two-year span ...With that in mind, let’s take a hard look at recruitment lead-times and recognize that longer is not always better. ..more

10 Lessons Learned from Leadership Interviews

By Kim Cofino
10-Nov-21

Women leaders share what’s different about a leadership interview (in particular a Head of School interview) than what we may be used to in terms of teaching middle level leadership. ..more

Architect of Environment

By Nicholas Garrison
10-Nov-21

What is the impact of architectural design on the way students feel about the schools they attend? Welcome? Important? Loved and respected—or “just a brick in the wall?” ..more

Leaders as Coaches: Empowering Professional Growth in Schools

By Kimberly Cullen
27-Oct-21

The pandemic highlighted the need for leadership which is empathic, compassionate, vulnerable, and emotionally intelligent - who can tap into their greatest assets - their teachers and staff. ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: Owning Success and Being Vulnerable

By Sylvia Johnston
24-Nov-21

In her Pearl, Sylvia says it’s important to “own your successes, share your problems, never be afraid to expose yourself in front of the staff and be vulnerable.” ..more

Alternative Leadership Models

By Robert van der Eyken
27-Oct-21

Schools from around the world have found creative ways to ensure leadership tasks are addressed by focusing on and empowering their teachers. ..more

The Power of Mentorship for Women in Leadership

By Kim Cofino
13-Oct-21

If, a a woman, you feel isolated in your leadership journey, you’re not alone! Many aspiring women leaders feel exactly the same way. Trying to find a mentor isn’t always easy. ..more

Reflections on the Past

By Robert Van der Eyken
29-Sep-21

In consultation with AISH school leaders from around the world, it is clear that efficiency and effectiveness start at the top. ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: Being a Resilient and Purposeful Leader

By Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher
13-Oct-21

“As leaders we need to know that the journey is not easy. We need to be resilient, hopeful, and be very clear on what our personal purpose is" ..more

Facing Impostor Syndrome: It Happens to Successful Leaders Too!

By Kim Cofino
15-Sep-21

Experienced women in education described feeling some level of imposter syndrome. Even though they were accomplished and demonstrating their leadership, they still didn’t quite feel like leaders. ..more

Control + Alt + Delete: Rebooting School Leadership

By Megel Barker
15-Sep-21

The Control + Alt + Delete metaphor provides a metric to perform organisational self-study ..more

The International Schools Podcast with Dr. Kristen MacConnell, Director of the Teacher Training Center Programs

By John Mikton and Dan Taylor
15-Sep-21

Kristen shares her experience pivoting the TTC courses to an online format. The learnings, opportunities, and pinch points of moving hundreds of educators to this new venue and approach. ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: Handling Overwhelming Emotions

By Sajitha Chacko
15-Sep-21

A practicing international school counselor offers a helpful, practical strategy for helping students struggling with difficult emotions. ..more

National Distinguished Principals 2021, Secondary Schools

By National Association of Secondary School Principals
01-Sep-21

Three International School educators have been selected for the 2021 National Distinguished Principals Award for Secondary Schools. ..more

Seoul of a Leader

By Margaret Park
01-Sep-21

Seoul of a Leader is committed to leadership development and equipping others to become stronger leaders who would make positive change in their spaces. ..more

Captains Board First: Leadership Lessons

By Meghan Svenonius-Lydon
01-Sep-21

Maximizing teacher effectiveness is a vital element of improving teaching and learning. It is also one of the most challenging tasks for international teacher leaders to navigate. ..more

National Distinguished Principals 2021

The U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools
04-Aug-21

Daniel A. Kerr, David Callaway, and Veronica Kaypaghian, were selected as the three International School educators for the 2021 National Distinguished Principals Award. ..more

Pioneer “Sidecar Summit” Brings Vision of Women in Leadership to Life

By Bridget McNamer
04-Aug-21

The Sidecar Summit, a gathering of adventurous women leaders in preK-12 education. ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: Problem Solving

By Nancy Fairburn
01-Sep-21

When a problem presents itself, and it seems to be an ongoing problem, go upstream to consider what’s the bigger issue up there. ..more

Same Game, New Playbook

By Kevin Bartlett
06-Jul-21

The CGC team looked at the current state of play in ‘the learning game’ and saw too many things that didn’t make sense to us. Where there should be connections, we saw gaps ..more

How Good Are You at Baking?

By Kim Cofino
04-Aug-21

When it comes to seeking leadership positions many of those traditional expectations are still prevalent in the international school circuit ..more

Heads Up: Teaching and Learning in International Schools

ISC Research
01-Sep-21

The new Heads Up series hosted by ISC Research kicks off with an insightful discussion about shifts in teaching and learning practices at international schools. ..more

The Association of International Schools of India- Heads Retreat 2021

By Anuradha Monga
04-Aug-21

In this year’s retreat, CAMP and TAISI introduced mediation as an approach to resolving disputes. This was aimed to be part of a larger effort to steer international schools towards mediation. ..more

Pearls of Wisdom: A Call for Champions

By Leda Cedo
04-Aug-21

"Pearl of Wisdom" shared during the PTC summer training session by educator and leader, Leda Cedo addresses personal reflections around diversity, equity and inclusion. ..more

Dr. Arnie Bieber, Head of the International School of Prague, on Leading Innovation

By Edutec Alliance with Arnie Bieber
04-Aug-21

Arnie Bieber, Director of the International School of Prague, shares his ideas and experiences in embedding a strong mission and a solid strategy in schools, leading innovation, and learning for the 21st century. Inspire, engage, empower. ..more

From ‘Oh No!’ to ‘Oh Wow!’

By Suzanne Laong and Liam Hammer
06-Jul-21

Sharing the various approaches in Tenby Schools Johor has adapted to the COVID crisis and thrived as a school community. ..more

The Masks We Wear

By Megel R. Barker
06-Jul-21

School leaders have always had to wear “masks” in order to be successful change makers. Leadership is surely about being honest but isn’t it also about being cool under pressure? ..more

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: The Old Boys Club in International School Leadership

By Kim Cofino
22-Jun-21

The Head of School announcements every year reveal that top leadership positions at international schools often seem to be passed around within the same small circle of mostly white men ..more

Overcoming Barriers, Part 2: Supporting Women Who Seek (and Deserve) Leadership Opportunities

By Kimberly Cullen
25-May-21

At two recent virtual gatherings of international educators, Kimberly Cullen and Debra Lane asked participants to describe the struggles that women leaders face in international K-12 schools and to identify what they are willing to start and stop doing to raise themselves and others up. ..more

It’s Not Pie: Better Understanding the Lack of Opportunity for Women in Leadership

By Kim Cofino
25-May-21

Many Women Who Lead interviewees spoke of a competitive and tense zero-sum atmosphere around female leadership positions, as if there’s a pie and everyone has to frantically grab a piece because it’s in danger of running out. Here's the thing: it is not a pie. ..more

A Year Later, Are We Breathing Yet?

By Doline Ndorimana
12-May-21

A scent is natural and emanates from the environment. A perfume, on the other hand, is an artificial overlay that tends to create a mood yet doesn't linger long. In my experience, DEI work can tend to function like a perfume. What's in the air at your school? ..more

A New Studio Supports Visual Voices Amidst a Pandemic

By Libby Sievert
11-May-21

With Schutz American School nearing its centennial celebration, the design team launched a collective process aimed at re-imagining campus. The visual art building got an extraordinary makeover in the most challenging of conditions. ..more

Overcoming Barriers, Part 1: Changing the Narrative around Gender and Leadership in K-12 Education

By Kimberly Cullen
27-Apr-21

Worldwide, it is clear that “teaching is frequently a female profession with men in charge.” Kim Cullen and her colleague Debra Lane have been thinking, writing, and talking publicly about the many struggles that women leaders in international K-12 schools face. ..more

It Also Takes A Village to Write a Book

By Alec Aspinwall
11-May-21

In a chapter book created with the help of international school counselors, teachers, principals, and heads of school, Grade 5 twins Patrick and Patricia (aka X-Pats) leave their home country and start new adventures abroad at an international school. ..more

A Ferry Crossing from Love to Loss and Back Again

By Kathleen Naglee
27-Apr-21

There is no life now outside of work, confides Head of School Kathleen Naglee, who has stopped trying to pretend otherwise. In the throes of the pandemic, remaining committed to her community of learners and fellow educators has come at a great personal cost. ..more

Facing the Reality of Stereotypes in our Leaders

By Kim Cofino
27-Apr-21

Better understanding both the stereotypes and expectations you may face as a woman in pursuing a leadership role, and having some strategies to deal with them, may help you feel more confident in taking the next steps towards your dream job. ..more

First SISU School® Is Slated for September 2021 Opening

Ikigai SISU School, located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is the first SISU school to open in a global franchise model designed to create world-class K-12 international schools, born of a collaboration between International Schools Services and Lumo Education. ..more

What Have We Learned?

By Robert van der Eyken
13-Apr-21

Students at Academia Cotopaxi's school newspaper asked Director Robert van der Eyken to contribute an article on what has been learned over the past year. In this powerful reflection, he submits that 2021 offers an opportunity to apply lessons learned to future challenges. ..more

New State-of-the-Art School for Bahrain

American School of Bahrain (ASB), the newest addition to Esol Education’s global family of schools, is situated on an expansive 60,000 square meter, state-of-the-art campus. Located in Riffa, ASB is home to one of the most advanced learning environments on the island ..more

Team Building Takes Trust

By Priyanka Jethani
30-Mar-21

Shared leadership is built on trust and honesty, is authentic, sets clear expectations, and empowers others in the community to grow and learn and prosper. But how do we get there? Priyanka Jethani shares the genesis of her own journey. ..more

Exploring the Unique Challenges Women Face in Pursuing a Leadership Position

By Kim Cofino
30-Mar-21

Although we may have the perception that there are more women moving into leadership roles in recent years, the data shows that is not the case. Kim Cofino explores the roots of this ongoing problem in international schools around the world. ..more

The Story of an Advancement Team That Gave Up on Admissions, Communications, and Development

By David Willows
30-Mar-21

A year ago, a team at the International School of Brussels embarked upon a quest to unlearn Advancement. Dismantling such an established part of the school’s administration was bound to be a challenge. A year and a pandemic later, here are 5 ways in which their work has changed. ..more

The Future of Teaching & Leading is in Our Hands

By Priyanka Jethani
03-Mar-21

Priyanka Jethani conducted 15 interviews with administrators from around the world about their perspectives on shared leadership. What is it? Why is it important? What are the benefits? This is the first article in a series she will devote to exploring this topic. ..more

Recognizing Your Potential to Lead

By Kim Cofino
03-Mar-21

Women in leadership positions often appear to have advanced steadily with intention along a clear path towards an ultimate goal. A dozen women leaders shared with Kim Cofino that the reality is often quite different. ..more

The Wellbeing Fingerprint

By Sadie Hollins
16-Feb-21

With the onset of the pandemic, the idea of wellbeing exploded. Schools were simultaneously contested as sites of poor wellbeing and under pressure to actively promote its importance. Sadie Hollins reminds us that wellbeing is individual to each of us, just like a fingerprint. ..more

Beyond the Pandemic: A Principal's Perspective

By Jon Butcher
16-Feb-21

As Principal of Berlin Brandenburg International School, Jon Butcher offers some hindsight on 2020 and thoughts about the toll it has taken on his staff. "We must take care of our teachers," he insists, stressing the importance of offering them our sincere respect and appreciation. ..more

Professional Learning at the PTC- in Full Bloom!

By Bambi Betts
06-Jul-21

What are nearly one thousand international school educators representing 74 nationalities doing as you are reading this? ..more

School of the Nations’ Service Projects: Evolving Virtually

By Lisa Perskie & the UNAtions Team
02-Feb-21

School of the Nations has found that it is possible both to sustain and strengthen its service projects and connections with its sister schools online thanks to friendship, collaboration, and empathy. The trust developed prior to the pandemic helped tremendously. ..more

When It Comes to Distance Learning We’ve Got It in the Bag!

By Angela Beach
02-Feb-21

Dalian American International School Elementary in Dalian, China takes distance learning beyond the screen by offering student toolkits to enhance instruction and add a personal touch—a weekly-refreshed bag of physical supplements to online learning. ..more

How Concordia International School Shanghai Is Bringing Social Emotional Learning to Mainland China

By Ben Fishman and Josh Lange
19-Jan-21

Concordia International School Shanghai has forged a partnership that allows international school students and staff to work together with local Chinese in community development efforts, mainly through education and health projects in rural parts of the country ..more

International School Award Winners 2021 Announced Monday

By Anne Keeling, ISC Research
19-Jan-21

The International School Awards 2021 were live streamed Monday, 18 January to schools around the world. The International School of the Year 2021 was awarded to Branksome Hall Asia, South Korea. ..more

The Vision of Our Founders: Expanding Our Footprint

By Sharon Canadine
19-Jan-21

The student population at Colegio Interamericano in Guatemala City has been steadily growing over the past 40 years. Thanks to a recent expansion project, the school now covers 15.5 acres and includes state-of-the-art facilities. ..more

British Council International School Award Success for Impington Village College

By Sophie Baillie
19-Jan-21

Impington Village College, located on the outskirts of Cambridge in the U.K., has been awarded Foundation level for the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom. ..more

Ways for Leaders to See What They’re Missing

By Kim Marshall
08-Jun-21

Principals know they’re not seeing everything, but because there’s never enough time, they act as if they’re omniscient. “The key challenge for school leaders,” says Rodberg, “is to know that our information is limited and to ask… What am I missing?” ..more

Conflict-Agile School Leaders

By Kim Marshall
11-May-21

Many school leaders turn away from conflict and never realize its potential for promoting growth rather than disorder. When they don’t step up, problems fester unresolved, including mediocre and ineffective teaching, racial microaggressions, and systemic inequities. ..more

12 Lessons in Leadership in a Year to Forget

By David Willows
23-Dec-20

Pandemics don’t read reopening plans, David Willows has concluded. For each month of this seemingly never-ending year, he has extracted some fairly universal and hard-won lessons in school leadership to share with fellow international educators. ..more

You Are What You Eat

By Christopher Niem
23-Dec-20

“Our long-term goal is to be able to influence the culture of school food in Hong Kong, and in other areas of Asia as well. Once parents and children can see the benefits of healthy, sustainable food, we really believe that it can become a movement for positive change.” ..more

New Survey Reveals Worrying Levels of Stress Among International School Leaders

By Dr. Helen Kelly
08-Dec-20

Noting a dearth of hard data about the increased levels of stress experienced by international school leaders since the start of the pandemic, Helen Kelly conducted her own in-depth survey, to which 721 leaders responded. The results are alarming. ..more

International School Governance in the Time of Covid

By Chip Barder
25-Nov-20

No individual or group within our international schools has been spared from the challenges brought on by the pandemic, including the School Board. Those responsible for school governance have been attempting to navigate new and troubling territory. ..more

Principals and Counselors Can Team Up for Student Success

By Tory Potter, Eric Semler, Dawn De Koker, and Ben Fishman
25-Nov-20

Having a strong, positive partnership between school administrators and counselors is critical in supporting student success. Concordia International School Shanghai has taken intentional steps to strengthen this partnership and shares the key elements of its model here. ..more

Transitioning in a Time of Global Transition

Bobbi McDaniel became Director of the American International School of Monrovia in Liberia at the start of the 2020 school year. Briefly setting aside the many demands on her attention, she answered a few of our questions about stepping into this role in this era of uncertainty. ..more

Five Leadership Lessons from the TV Show Deadliest Roads

By Eric Semler
14-Oct-20

What can you learn about leadership and leading during a crisis from the mud and mayhem of a reality show featuring incredibly dangerous roads? A lot, it turns out, if you've ever felt that leading a school can be a treacherous endeavor. ..more

National Distinguished Principals 2020: Melissa M. Schaub and Daniel R. Todd Among the Best K – 8 Principals

By the Office of Overseas Schools
30-Sep-20

Congratulations to Melissa M Schaub, elementary principal of the American International School of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria, and to Daniel R. Todd, elementary principal of International School of Uganda, who were selected for the 2020 National Distinguished Principals Award. ..more

Leader Wellbeing Amid Ongoing Crisis

By Helen Kelly
30-Sep-20

The COVID 19 crisis is increasing the huge levels of stress already experienced by international school leaders. While some are thriving in the face of the challenge, many are overwhelmed and coming close to burnout. Resilience is built through acknowledging our vulnerabilities. ..more

In the Aftermath of the Beirut Explosion Brummana High School Students Initiate Support

By Richard Bampfylde
03-Sep-20

The explosion in early August that rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut left over 200 residents dead, 6,000 injured, and 350,000 homeless. This tragedy compounded existing social, political, economic, and health crises. Brummana High School Students stepped up. ..more

We Go Home on Time: Preventing Teacher Burnout in Sweden

By Jaime Ellenberger
03-Sep-20

Teachers in Sweden tend to enjoy a healthy work/life balance, preventing extensive teacher turnover due to overexhaustion. As an American, Jaime Ellenberger had a lot to learn about walking away at the end of the day. ..more

Moving from an Industrial to a Postindustrial Model

By Julie Wilson
22-May-20

Changing a system is one of the most challenging things to do. If we are saying that we want to support more creativity, collaboration, and appetite for risk in schools, then the organizational structure, systems, and processes must change significantly in order to support and reflect that pedagogy. ..more

Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve

By Bambi Betts, Director - The Principals' Training Center
05-Mar-20

What might the curriculum look like if the primary purpose of school were to prepare all learners to be of service, to make the world better for others? "Primary" being the key word that might significantly inspire movement and potential impact on learning. ..more

Successful Schools Are Run by Effective Leaders

By Forrest Broman
05-Mar-20

The founder of TIE and Director of Children of Haiti and Refugee Projects (COHRP) shares 14 lessons learned during his many years as a school head in at Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel and Escuela Campo Alegre in Venezuela. ..more

AISJ’s Page-Smith Is Superintendent of the Year

By AAIE Board of Trustees
17-Feb-20

Andy Page-Smith has been named AAIE’s 2020 Superintendent of the Year. After ten years as School Director of the American International School of Johannesburg, in July 2020 he will take up a new position as CEO – Executive Director of AISH. ..more

The Hard Work of Innovation in Schools

By Ewan McIntosh
05-Feb-20

Independent schools are swiftly abandoning traditionally static long-term strategy planning. Instead, they’re adopting agile approaches to designing strategy so that they engage their whole community in changing how they think about what’s possible in school. But this process of agile innovation isn’t all fun and games. ..more

Weighing Risks vs. Rewards in Cultivating School Spirit

By Dave Krocker
03-Jan-20

I do believe it is incumbent upon school leaders to place faith in our students’ and community’s ability to handle something new. Tell them you believe in them, that you trust them, and that you want them to have joyful opportunities and make positive memories of their high school experience. ..more

The Legacies Among Us

By Timothy Veale
03-Dec-19

I believe it will help current and aspiring leaders to learn about international school “lifers”—those having worked in international schools longer than 20 years—and, in so doing, to understand what will continue to drive these legacies and new ones, well into the future. ..more

Using Buyback to Nurture a Culture of Professionalism

By Neil Morgan Griffiths
03-Dec-19

When policies and practices are designed to support and encourage professionalism, they positively impact school culture. Buyback is the medical world’s equivalent of exercise, in that it cures just about everything, and enhances what is already good. ..more

New Cloud Finance & HR Solution Responds to Market Sector Challenges

By Anne Keeling
19-Dec-19

Cloud finance will effectively allow international schools to manage all of their finance activity within their central MIS system, optimizing data management. ..more

ASIJ Receives ¥100 Million Endowment Gift

By Matt Wilce
13-Nov-19

The American School in Japan (ASIJ) has received a gift of ¥100,000,000 (nearly US$950,000) to its endowment from the ASIJ Parent Teacher Association (PTA). “Building our endowment is one of ASIJ’s most important strategic objectives over the next few years." ..more

Lucaya International School Opens After Weathering Dorian

By Meadow Dibble, TIE Editor
03-Oct-19

Lucaya International School had only just opened its doors to usher in a new school year when Hurricane Dorian forced the administration to abruptly slam them shut again and batten down the hatches. Showing resilience and solidarity, the LIS community seeks to recover and help others do the same. ..more

2019 National Distinguished Principal Awards Honor Torres de Pereira and Jobes

By Rebecca Perry
03-Oct-19

Every year, two outstanding principals are selected from the international schools that are assisted by the Office of Overseas Schools of the United States Department of State to receive the National Distinguished Principals Award. ..more

In Memoriam: Kerry Anne Langton

Kerry Anne Langton passed away peacefully on June 14, 2019 at her home on Vashon Island, Washington. For thirty years, she lived and traveled abroad with her husband and family, serving on the board of international schools in Kenya, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Nepal, and India. ..more

Building Capacity in Ghana Through Host-Country Collaboration

By Ngozi Max-Macarthy
10-May-19

The Educators’ Network was created seven years ago by a core group of Ghanaian teachers at Lincoln Community School with the goal of helping to improve student achievement by sharing their knowledge of international teaching best practices with their peers at local schools in Ghana. ..more

ISS Announces Leadership Changes in Asia-Pacific Office

By Michelle Collin
10-May-19

Effective in the 2019—2020 academic year, ISS will change its leadership structure in the Asia Pacific Office. ..more

Post Your Appointment Listings with TIE

To keep you connected with your international school colleagues around the world, TIE encourages you to share news of your new appointments both in our newspaper and on our website. ..more

A Man of Many Names: Remembering Dr. Richard Krajczar

By Shannon Fehse and Josh Krajczar
10-May-19

For the thousands of international educators who have been fortunate enough to cross paths with Dr. Richard (Dick) Krajczar over the years, there remains an element of disbelief that he’s really gone. ..more

Andy Page-Smith to Lead AISH

By Chip Barder, AISH President
10-May-19

Dr. Andy Page-Smith has been appointed the new CEO of the Academy of International School Heads (AISH), effective July 2020. Andy brings almost 40 years of service as a professional educator, including 18 years as a Head of School in Kuwait, Hong Kong, and currently in Johannesburg. ..more

International Schools Services Announces Leadership Changes in Asia-Pacific Office

By Michelle Collin
24-Apr-19

Effective in the 2019—2020 academic year, ISS will change its leadership structure in the Asia Pacific Office. Dr. Dale Cox will step down from the ISS Vice-President, Asia Pacific role to assume a faculty position at Utah Valley University in the U.S. ..more

It Took Someone Saying I Was Leadership Material

By Meadow Hilley, TIE Editor
03-Apr-19

Sheena Nabholz, Head of School at Lincoln Community School in Accra, Ghana, speaks with TIE Editor Meadow Hilley, reflecting on her path toward leadership and the importance of mentors for women of talent. ..more

Redesigning Learning at the International School of Kuala Lumpur

By Norma Hudson
22-Mar-19

Designing its learning environment from the ground up is quite possibly one of the most invigorating and thought-provoking opportunities a school can experience. In envisioning its new campus, the International School of Kuala Lumpur sought to create an environment that supports creative, collaborative, and constructive learning from prep-reception all the way through Grade 12. ..more

The Curse of the Energy Vampire

By Kevin Bartlett
06-Feb-19

In 40 years of school leadership, I’ve learned a lot from reading the work of smart thinkers like Michael Fullan. He’d suggest that it is not so much that we run out of time, but more that we run out of energy. Schools have energy cycles. ..more

Schools Celebrated at International School Awards 2019 Ceremony

By Anne Keeling
01-Feb-19

Winners of the 2019 International School Awards were celebrated at a ceremony in London on Monday night, 21st January. Over 200 senior leaders from international schools and education organizations around the world attended the gala event. ..more

Top Five Tips for Aspiring Heads of School

By Deidre Fischer
03-Jan-19

I have learned from the mistakes I’ve made over the course of my own journey toward head of school, and I continue to learn even as I coach and mentor aspiring leaders as well as established heads. Here, I’ve summarized five key lessons learned along the way. ..more

The Student as Teacher: Putting Theory of Knowledge into Practice

By Shir Shoval-Simhoni, Amanda Dzwairo, and Carolyn Asante-Dartey
01-Mar-19

Let’s face it, the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) class, mandatory for all IB Diploma candidates, is a challenge. We are exposed to so many new ideas, concepts, and vocabulary that it seems sometimes the toughest of our seven IB subjects. ..more

ACS Doha and Al Jaber Group to Build a 2,470-Student Campus in Qatar

By Elisa Rainford
14-Feb-19

ACS Doha, one of Qatar’s leading international schools, has announced a partnership with Al Jaber Group to build a brand new, state-of-the-art student campus in Doha. The new school will have a capacity of 2,470 students and will open in August 2020. ..more

Securing Our Schools Thanks to the MEADOW Effect

By Mike Johnson
14-Feb-19

In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre, schools should consider both appropriate security hardware and technology solutions and commit to the important work of emergency planning management. ..more

Transitioning From Old School to New School

By Patrick M. Carroll
06-Feb-19

in 2016-17, SMIC had just celebrated its 15th anniversary when Principal Kelley Ridings first broached the idea of redesigning our school’s middle school program, which had gone largely unchanged since the school opened. This simple conversation ultimately led to a reimagining. ..more

Making Teaching Standards

Bambi Betts
06-Aug-19

It’s a firmly established fact. The single most influential factor on learning is the quality of teaching. And this begs the questions, what IS ‘quality teaching’, and what tools do we have to ensure every child in every international school gets access to quality teaching? ..more

Leadership, a Powerlift

By Luci Willis
02-Nov-18

I am a relatively new leader. This is my second year as an administrator, and it’s been an especially hard one. It felt like the weight got very heavy very quickly. And I didn’t always feel strong enough to carry it. ..more

Integrating Theory of Knowledge Into Your Curriculum

By Mark McGowan
19-Oct-18

In recent years, the IB Diploma Programme has asked schools to more actively integrate Theory of Knowledge (ToK) into their curriculums. However, some continue to struggle with the how and why of such an undertaking. Here are a few strategies. ..more

What Do You Know? Collaborating to Create a Professional Learning Community

By Sally Richmond and Ming Jin
23-May-18

At Beijing City International School, we believe that we are all lifelong learners and can always learn, grow, and improve in our profession. Concretely, how can we maintain ongoing learning opportunities for teachers and teaching assistants that are conveniently offered onsite and that are both accessible and cost effective? Here are some of the ideas we've come up with to date. ..more

School Leaders: What Type Are You?

By Denry Machin
13-May-18

School leaders—international school leaders especially—must balance the aims of educational and financial effectiveness. How does the born and bred educationalist cope in such an environment? ..more

Founding Principal: Is It All Worth It?

By Peter Bird
28-Nov-18

I have taken the plunge and arrived in Chennai, India to repeat the experience of starting a new school in a country that I had never stepped foot in before. Now here I am, busily creating social media buzz and momentum as the countdown clock ticks away on our website... ..more

Hey Educators, Are You Trustworthy? Four Ways to Gauge Trust in Schools

By Jennifer Abrams
19-Apr-18

In schools, it’s the connotation we attach to the word "trust" and the deep reservoirs of associated emotion that determine how we truly define it. Trust is unwieldy, vague, and fuzzy. It’s complex, huge, and complicated. And, by the way, it is essential: research says trust is critical to our schools moving forward. ..more

Book Review: A Guide to Establishing & Maintaining Quality International Schools

By Leila Holmyard
11-Aug-18

Leila Holmyard considers Michael J. Thompson's A Guide to Establishing and Maintaining Quality International Schools the ideal summer read for school owners, board members, and educators new to the international school community. ..more

PISA Reports on Collaborative Problem Solving

By Tiffani Razavi, TIE Staff Writer
13-Apr-18

Collaborative problem solving, as assessed by PISA in 2015, is indicated by “the ability to maintain an awareness of group dynamics, ensure team members act in accordance with their agreed roles, and resolve disagreements and conflicts while identifying efficient pathways and monitoring progress towards a solution.” ..more

John Magagna’s Lifelong Search for Top-Quality Educators

By Meadow Hilley, TIE Editor
04-Apr-18

John Magagna is Founding Director of Search Associates. He spoke with TIE Editor Meadow Hilley at Search Associates' Cambridge fair, held 26–28 January. John will retire in August. Here he shares his wisdom and experience with TIE's readers. ..more

Education Is not a Zero-Sum Game

By Mike Simpson
04-Apr-18

“Sport is, to use the jargon of economics, a zero-sum game: if I win, you, by definition, lose.” But education operates on a different model altogether. It is a game where everyone can win simultaneously. ..more

Recycle Educational Materials: Everyone Wins

By Joy Jameson
04-Apr-18

International schools pride themselves on having the latest educational materials. This process often results in the accumulation of huge quantities of books and supplies that are no longer used. Have you ever wondered what happens to all the obsolete materials? ..more

Why Does It Matter How We Select and Hire Teachers?

By Xianxuan Xu
11-Jul-18

The primary task of human resource management is simple: to choose the right person for the right job. This is especially important in education because the success of a school is determined to a large extent by the effectiveness of its teacher, leader, and staff workforce. ..more

School Identity in a Modern World

By Elena Van Lare
11-Jul-18

International School Yangon recently embarked on a journey, asking: to what extent do we inspire students to be global learners who are fulfilled, confident, and willing to give back to this ever-changing world? ..more

FIS Opts to Maintain Size Despite Brexit Exodus Demand

By Meadow Hilley, TIE Editor
23-Mar-18

Frankfurt International School (FIS) has been getting a lot of attention of late from companies looking to relocate their employees to Germany in the wake of Brexit. Rather than grow, however, FIS has opted to maintain its current size. ..more

Wings and Roots

By Gail D. Schoppert
20-Jun-18

Gail Schoppert directed four major international schools in Kuala Lumpur, The Hague, Warsaw, and Rotterdam between 1978 and 1996. His poem “Wings and Roots” was quoted in two graduation speeches this year ..more

What Data Protection Regulation Means for Schools

By John Mikton
20-Jun-18

For European international schools, due to the implementation of a new law called the General Data Protection Regulation, the personal data of all faculty members, parents, and students will need to be organized and protected in accordance with the new rules laid down by the GDPR. ..more

Who’s Missing at the Table?

By Kathleen Naglee
20-Jun-18

We lead world-renowned schools with highly qualified staff, and accredited programs with U.S. State Department assistance. Yet, there were only three female heads of school in our region in academic years 2016–17, 2017–18. How is this still the case in educational leadership? ..more

Mark E. Ulfers Named AAIE’s New Executive Director

By Kevin Glass, AAIE President
23-Mar-18

On behalf of our worldwide AAIE community, the board of trustees is pleased to announce that Mark E. Ulfers, current head of school of the American School of Paris will become AAIE’s next executive director, beginning July 2018. ..more

The Giants Weigh In

By Deron Marvin
08-Mar-18

In the fall, Deron Marvin will begin his first official international school headship. To prepare the transition, he sought out and interviewed two wise leaders--John Goodwin and Charles Barder--who between them boast 91 years' worth of knowledge and experience in international education. ..more

WBAIS: A Forward-thinking and Vibrant School

By Aviva Rosensweig
22-Feb-18

Walworth Barbour American International School (WBAIS ) in Israel is a very professional, and at the same time friendly, community that embraces new members with great warmth and personal attention. ..more

Pan American School of Porto Alegre Celebrates 50 Years

By Jeffrey Michael Jurkovac
22-Feb-18

In the last decade, the Pan American School of Porto Alegre has doubled its enrollment to 400 students, from preschool through high school. Our community has embraced the idea of creating an international school that forms students with a global perspective of the world. ..more

In Memoriam: Dr. Elsa C. Lamb

By Yolanda Murphy-Barrena
02-Feb-18

Outgoing Executive Director of AAIE Yolanda Murphy-Barrena remembers her predecessor, international educator and leader Dr. Elsa Lamb. ..more

The American School Foundation: Educating Global Citizens for 130 Years

By Nina Blake
14-Feb-18

Besides being the oldest accredited American school abroad still in full operation, the American School Foundation is now considered one of the leading private schools in Mexico, thanks to its competitive K–12 educational programs. ..more

UNIS Hanoi’s Year of Triple Celebrations

By Akofa Wallace
02-Feb-18

UNIS Hanoi celebrates three significant milestones in 2017-18. This year marks the School’s 30th year in operation, 20 years as the first IB school in Asia, and the Head of School’s 10th year at the helm of UNIS Hanoi. ..more

Calling All Schools: Get Involved in #MyFreedomDay

By Kevin Glass an Mike McCarthy
19-Jan-18

Kevin Glass of AIS and Mike McCarthy of CNN International want your school to join hundreds of others around the world in marking #myfreedomday, a global day of action to help end modern-day slavery. ..more

Head of School of Chadwick International Chosen for the Klingenstein Fellowship Program

By Helen Lee
19-Jan-18

Shelly Luke Wille has been chosen to participate in the Heads of Schools program at Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center. This two-week, fully-funded fellowship for heads of independent and international schools offers a unique opportunity to renew vision, passion, and energy for school leadership. ..more

At the Cutting Edge of Micro-Management

By Joy Jameson
13-Jan-18

With the frequent turnover in teaching and administrative staff at international schools, it is not uncommon to find situations lacking in organization and effectiveness. In an effort to bring things under control, administrators sometimes establish a micro-management system. ..more

“City, Bike, Cow, School, Of Course” & Other Lessons in Being Allocentric

By Jennifer Abrams
03-Jan-18

Being allocentric is to be ‘other-focused’ – to try to understand how someone else might see the world differently than you do. In order to collaborate and communicate more effectively, we must be more allocentric. It’s an essential skill and mindset. ..more

Expediting and Sustaining Change

By Jeff Dungan and Jessica Hale
02-May-18

Change is critical in most organizations. International schools attempting to redefine 21st-century education for their students are constantly innovating pedagogies and school structures. However, ask someone what the word innovation in the context of international education means to them and you are likely to get many different answers. ..more

Becoming an IB School

By Ana Leahy
13-Jan-18

The long pathway to becoming an IB school has finally come to an end! We, at the International Programs School, have reached the goal we set four years ago, having completed our last Middle States Association accreditation self-study. ..more

Space, Scheduling, and Staffing: Three Challenges of ESL Programs Worldwide

By Bonnie Billak
03-Jan-18

Three of the most common challenges among ESL programs worldwide are space, scheduling, and staffing. Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of each challenge and explore some possible ways to approach its resolution. ..more

Guess It if You Can! The Quest for the Predicted Grade

By Eddie Levisman
03-Jan-18

Every time I move to a new school—which, admittedly, seems to feel more often as you grow older—I face the early October dread: a new IB coordinator telling me that “at our school we have a policy of non-disclosure; please do not share the predicted grades with the students, thank you very much.” Rationale? None. ..more

TASIS Leadership Academy Explores Entrepreneurship & Service in the Balkans

By Daniel Ware
27-Sep-18

Students from TASIS The American School in England (TASIS England) recently participated in a 12-day trip to the Balkans as part of the TASIS Leadership Academy (TLA) with the aim of exploring political and diplomatic leadership, as well as conflict resolution. ..more

DoDEA Schools Begin School Year 2018-2019

By Elaine Kanellis
25-Aug-18

More than 73,000 students are beginning the 2018-2019 School Year in Department of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools around the world. Here's an update. ..more

Five Questions You Should Ask Your Leader

By George Couros
11-Aug-18

In my opinion, the principal is probably the most important job in an educational organization. Though the following questions were developed for superintendents to ask principals, they are questions any educator, parent, or even student should be able to openly ask their principal. ..more

Foreign Administrators and Retirees Tournament of Sport XXIV Survives Low Turnout and a Day of Rain

By Gail D. Schoppert
28-Jul-18

The Foreign Administrators and Retirees Tournament of Sport XXIV (FARTS) features golfers who headed up or taught in over 50 international schools. ..more

A New Campus for American School of Antananarivo

By Danielle Andriantsiferana
28-Jul-18

The American School of Antananarivo in Madagascar spent a decade planning and preparing to build a new campus, suffering several setbacks along the way, including a coup and having land confiscated. The construction itself took nearly two years. ..more

McCormick Named 2018 DoDEA History Teacher of the Year

By Will Griffin
11-Jul-18

Emily McCormick, a teacher at Seoul American High School, has been named the 2018 Department of Defense Education Activity History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. ..more

A New Campus for the American International School of Jeddah

By Lexi Lee
23-Mar-18

In 2018, AISJ will be moving from its current campus to a new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus. Today, as we begin the second half of our school year, excitement over the opening of the new campus is growing. ..more

Esol Education Opens School in Dubai’s Sustainable City

By Meadow Hilley, TIE Editor
07-Jun-18

Esol Education’s Fairgreen International School was designed with a changing landscape in mind, as climate change looms large. Situated in the heart of Dubai’s Sustainable City, the school embodies in its very structure the principles and practices it seeks to instill. ..more

Always Assume Positive Intent

By Jennifer Wiegman
01-Apr-15

In this Pearl, Jennifer shares a personal story about how adopting the mindset of "always assume positive intent" transformed her professional relationships... ..more