Join us for a unique conversation with Bridget and Trae, international school leaders currently navigating the complexities of leading their respective school in a region embroiled in geopolitical conflict. They share insights on leading and maintaining a school in these challenging circumstances. Listen as they recount their experiences, the challenges they face, and the valuable lessons they are learning in supporting their community of staff, parents, and students during these extraordinary t...
Jan 20, 2024•56 min•Ep. 122
Dan and John spend time together reflecting on the past year and looking ahead for 2024. A conversation about what we have been up to in 2023, PD, branding, professional transitions, mentoring, and the wisdom and generosity of our guests. A special thank you goes out to the team behind the scenes Jane and X for all their work and making the podcast possible. Wishing everyone positive thoughts for 2024 and we look forward to our upcoming conversations in 2024. John Mikton on Social Media LinkedIn...
Jan 14, 2024•51 min•Ep. 121
Navigating the intricate maze of Middle Leadership in schools is akin to mastering the art of balancing on a tightrope. These leaders stand as vital bridges between their peers and senior leadership teams, spearheading curriculum development, championing pedagogic transformations, and breathing life into a school's vision and mission. Join Nancy and Helen, two experts in this realm, as they unravel the multi-layered dynamics, hurdles, and the avenues schools can harness to empower Middle Leaders...
Jan 06, 2024•57 min•Ep. 120
Matt shares the journey of founding and running ChildSafeguarding.com. The company’s Child Protection courses and bespoke eLearning platform support schools, educators, staff, volunteers, parents and organizations that work with children. We explore the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned in developing this platform and the critical importance of child safeguarding in any organisation or international school. About Matt Harris Ed.D. Matt Harris, Ed.D.’s experience and expertise lie at ...
Dec 22, 2023•55 min•Ep. 118
Dive into a compelling one-hour live discussion that navigates the recent pivotal changes in the world of artificial intelligence, particularly focusing on the educational sector. This engaging session will shed light on the implications of major industry shifts, including Altman's notable departure and Bard's significant advancements targeting younger demographics. Key aspects of the discussion will include: Understanding the impact of recent leadership changes in the AI industry and their broa...
Dec 16, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 119
Three educators from around the world, share their expertise, approach, perspectives, and guidance on how this area of learning continues to be an essential ingredient to supporting students and schools, and in some ways even more in an age of 24/7 connectivity About Leticia Carino PYP (Primary Years Program) PE teacher at the International School of Phnom Penh, Cambodia 20 years teaching Physical Education from EY to high school. Also taught bilingual kindergarten (Spanish and English) and Grad...
Dec 09, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 117
A conversation with Kirstin of Gaia Learning sharing her experience in supporting and mentoring neurodivergent learners. Kirstin shares how in her organisation they have been leveraging technology to create a nurturing and caring community of learners in an online school. With a personalised approach Gaia Learning supports students and parents around the world. A chance to discuss the challenges and opportunities of her work and community. About Kirstin Coughtrie Navigating the educational lands...
Nov 25, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 116
#internationalschoolpodcast Dan and John periodically get together and have a bonus episode on a topic or theme, and share some reflections. In this episode, we share and explore virtual over face to face events, teacher recruitment, different dynamics international schools engage with in this process and related thoughts. John Mikton on Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton Web: beyonddigital.org Dan Taylor on social media: LinkedIn: ht...
Nov 17, 2023•52 min•Ep. 115
Ken shares his perspective, experience and work focused on supporting companies, educators and schools in building an inclusive culture that also supports meaningful cross-cultural connections and building a responsive service learning program that goes beyond performative gestures. Looking at how International Schools can include these perspectives and approaches in a meaningful manner. Ken also works extensively on Organizational Leadership and School Transformation. About Ken Shelton Ken (He/...
Nov 11, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 114
In this episode, Nalini Cook talks about the data, intelligence and trends on the international schools market gathered by ISC Research, the leading provider of English-medium K-12 international school data. ISC Research has been collecting market intelligence and data on international schools throughout the world since 1994. Nalini will explore some of the key trends, possible future trajectories and how ISC Research provides this important service to international schools. About Nalini Cook Na...
Oct 28, 2023•41 min•Ep. 113
Admissions and transition is a critical piece for international schools. How you approach these workflows, with the mindset of the school community and making it engaging is a complex and important process to juggle. We explore with our three guests some best practices and thoughts from their respective research and work in this area. We will also explore the creative tensions impacting admissions teams and the landscape of International School enrollment across different geographic regions and ...
Oct 14, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 112
A conversation with four international school librarians from around the globe, looking at how libraries are navigating accelerated change, amplifying the importance of information literacy, promoting reading, DEIJ collections and the creative tensions brought about by AI and 24/7 connectivity. Together they share their learnings and different approaches in managing a library in an international school setting, and the opportunities and challenges. Tracey Fish Lower School Librarian Internationa...
Sep 30, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 111
LeeAnne shares learnings and reflections on Service Learning and Global Citizenship Education in schools. LeeAnne leverages storytelling as the vehicle by which educators can listen and learn from each other. Her primary focus is on helping individuals and communities use storytelling to create cultures that celebrate global citizenship and sustainability. In our conversation we explore with LeeAnne what does this look like in an international school context. About LeeAnne Lavender LeeAnne is an...
Sep 16, 2023•45 min•Ep. 110
Christina and Charlotte share their extensive experience as Director of Learning Innovation and eLearning and Director of Technology in International Schools in Asia, the Caribbean and Middle East. An opportunity to share their learning in these roles in an international school. Reflecting on the changing dynamics in the age of accelerated change and AI. How to manage, navigate and lead with this accelerated change in a school setting, and what are some learnings and approaches to consider for e...
Sep 01, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 109
Carlos shares his experience coaching and working with leaders around the world, in both an international school context and corporate setting focusing on "bully leaders". Carlos shares some of the learnings, experiences from his work, and combines this with his latest book " Five Brain Leadership ". Exploring how our brains are wired to impact our dispositions as leaders and how to leverage this knowledge in an international school setting. About Carlos Davidovich Carlos has extensive experienc...
Aug 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 108
Small International Schools are wide spread around the world, with their size come different dynamics in the culture, structures, educator and leadership approaches, finances juggling the daily workflows and community building, Jimena, Jeremy and Michael who have started an ECIS (https://www.ecis.org/) "Intentionally Small Schools" special interest group join us and share their experiences as small international school leaders and together we explore the uniqueness of small international school ...
Aug 06, 2023•57 min•Ep. 107
Valérie and Jane share their work, experience and learnings with the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities of transitions for students, parents, educators and schools. Together we explore the creative tensions many international educators and students experience with transitioning between schools and cultures, and how their respective organisations support and provide resources for the positive transition-care of students, families and educators around the world. About Valérie Besanceney Valér...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 106
An opportunity to connect with John Miller of the Agile Classroom, a next-generation learning framework, with a student-centered approach, emphasizing collaboration, communication, self-organization, and social skills . We look at the Agile classrooms approach focusing on real-world approaches that the most innovative companies in the world use brought to a classroom setting. What the structures, workflows and pedagogic strategies for educators to consider when working with this framework. About...
Jul 13, 2023•54 min•Ep. 105
Angela and Peter educators and now entrepreneurs share their journey around the transition to starting a company focused on report writing and leveraging new AI technologies to save teachers time, improve workload and enhance the quality of feedback to students and parents. We explore why such a company, the challenges and opportunities of using artificial intelligence in delivering an educators service and learnings from the experience. About Angela Newton Angela is Co-Founder of Real Fast Repo...
Jun 24, 2023•55 min•Ep. 104
Data and information have become a critical component to leading and managing international schools. Understanding the data and more importantly getting it into a format and visual representation that all stakeholders can understand and engage with comes with challenges and opportunities Chris Smith shares his experiences supporting schools, the technology behind the data, and how this process supports schools to be agile and responsive to changes and needs of the school community. About Chris S...
Jun 10, 2023•52 min•Ep. 103
100 hundred conversations, 100+ guests who have come to share their story, learning, challenges and interests. Dan and I spend a few moments reflecting on how this podcast started in June 2019, some of the themes, focus areas, and reflection of the podcast and the times we live in. Thank you to the generosity and kindness of our guests. A huge shout out to our audience for your support and taking the time to listen, we both are most grateful. Ready for the next 100! Tune in with us! John Mikton ...
Jun 02, 2023•30 min•Ep. 102
Brett shares his journey founding and leading a small international school in Ostrava in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. As Director of the first IB Continuum World School in the country, Brett gives us insights to his struggles with the Czech state school system, and what he has been fighting for as a teacher and educational entrepreneur for over 30 years: Leading a Mission-driven school at a time of great local and global change. About Brett Gray Brett Gray is the Founder and Director ...
May 27, 2023•51 min•Ep. 101
Stefan and Matthew are second generation international school educators, their parents were international school educators, they both currently are international school educators and their children are in international schools The fascinating part is this is all within the same international school. We explore their experience, anecdotes, learnings and also their respective passion for music while juggling the demands of being educators, parents and musicians. Together exploring the impact of be...
May 13, 2023•53 min•Ep. 100
Dan and John spend time exploring the topic of Cyber Security with Dan's work with schools and organisation and John's workshops and trainings on the topic. Dan shares his presentation on Cyber Security with thoughts, reflections and strategies on a topic that often is under the radar for educators and school leaders in International Schools. With more options and flexibility to travel, and working remotely comes with some important steps to consider to ensure the cybersecurity of your devices a...
May 06, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 99
Safa and Louise from Tactical Tech showcase a few of the projects and resources focused on exploring and mitigating the impacts of technology on societies. The programs and events they organise raise awareness and encourage people to take control of their digital privacy, security, and wellbeing, with further resources to train on verification skills. About Safa Ghnaim Safa Ghnaim is Associate Program Director at Tactical Tech. She has contributed to and co-written materials for the Data Detox K...
Apr 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 98
Jamie McKenzie who has supported schools around the world as consultant, speaker and keynote, and written about education technology and information literacy . Jamie is Editor of From Now On - The Educational Technology Journal, a Web-based journal published online since 1991 and was the Director of Libraries, Media and Technology for the Bellingham (WA) Public Schools. Jamie shares his rich professional journey, the importance of questions, information literacy and the ever changing landscape o...
Apr 15, 2023•43 min•Ep. 97
Jeff has worked in International Schools, consultant, founder Learning2, COETAIL, Edurolearning and now Shifting Schools. In this podcast we take the opportunity to learn about Jeff 's new professional interest as a property investor http://www.g3-homes.com/ in the Seattle area . In this podcast we explore the new workflows, how to juggle the education and property professions together and further reflections, with some tips for International Educators thinking of purchasing a property in their ...
Mar 31, 2023•42 min•Ep. 96
In this conversation with Pete Kennedy we take the opportunity to delve into the dynamics of international school recruitment for both educators and school leaders, how recruitment has changed since COVID, what are recruiting organisations doing to engage with DEIJ, and strategies to consider as a candidate. Pete comes with extensive experience as a school head, principal and educator and now working for Search Associates About Pete Kennedy Before joining Search Associates, Pete enjoyed 35 years...
Mar 18, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 95
Dr. Helen Kelly shares her latest book "School Leaders Matter." which explores why the school leaders’ role has become so demanding and what governments, schools and leaders themselves can do to support their wellbeing. We together unpack the different areas of the book, the relationship between stress, workload, community and well being and the significant changes in the role. To better understand the causes connected to Leader and Teacher burnout refer to our last podcast Episode #73 where Hel...
Mar 04, 2023•53 min•Ep. 94
Four educators having worked in Africa, Asia and Europe in education technology in different roles, share their insights and perspective from their respective learning journeys with the question “Does technology integration work in an international school setting, does it enhance student learning and how impactful is it”. An opportunity for us all to reflect on education technology integration, and explore the opportunities and challenges of integration digital skills. Guests: Aisha Kristiansen,...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 93
