DR. DANIEL WILSON
Director of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)
Lead to SucceedYou can connect with Dr. Daniel Wilson at a full day pre-conference experience or at the main conference.
KEYNOTE: PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
Friday 3 May 2024
9:00AM – 9:45AM (approx)
This keynote will open the conference with a call to action for responsible leadership. Based on the recently updated version of “Impactful Five (i5)” Learning in Leadership Education, which is a collaboration between the United Nations and over 800 signatory institutions of higher learning.
- Make learning Meaningful
- Facilitate Active Engagement
- Design for Iteration
- Develop supportive Social Interaction
- Foster Joy and Well-being
These principles were developed for global business schools but apply equally well to the world of schools.
Educational leaders are undeniably one of the most important agents to create sustainable positive development for the world. In the wake of a global pandemic, rising inequalities and environmental disasters, it has become increasingly clear that leaders with a holistic skillset are in scarce supply. These humanitarian catastrophes have surfaced ‘wicked problems’ where no predefined methods exist to solve these transnational challenges and where the call for novel innovative solutions, and ‘minds-on/hands-on’ multi-disciplinary approaches are critically in demand. Today, there is an urgent need for leaders who can leverage interconnected, dynamic and holistic skills to tackle the global challenges society faces.
In order to develop effective leaders with the relevant skills to address today’s challenges, leadership education needs to be focused on different approaches that aim for holistic skill and mindset development.
PRE-CONFERENCE: LEADING LEARNING THAT MATTERS
Thursday 2 May 2024
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
How can school learning be expanded to matter more in learners’ lives? How can school leaders shape an institution to stay true to its core commitments and thrive as a center of contemporary learning? Leading Learning that Matters offers a flexible process to help school leaders and their communities construct a vision of what learning really matters for the lives their learners are likely to live and then make that vision a daily reality in classrooms.
This full day workshop is based on the 2021 book and is informed by research by researchers from Harvard Project Zero.
- guide you through the four key dimensions of the Leading Learning that Matters (LLtM) process – creating shared vision, developing collaborative structures, supporting individual development, and sustaining progress
- provide tips and tools for building and refining a vision of learning that matters for your students, and for organizing and tracking the progress of the LLtM process
- show what Leading Learning that Matters looks like through pictures of practice from schools that have embarked on the LLtM process
Leading Learning that Matters is for any school leader who wants to ensure that their school is preparing students to thrive in the contemporary world and is ready to explore what that looks like through a collaborative process.
Adrianna Mahoney
Principal, Elementary, DSC International School
Lead to SucceedImposter Syndrome and Women In Leadership
This presentation will explore imposter syndrome, bias within education and how it can be impacted by the intersectionality of different identity markers. Personal anecdotes will be provided to help ground the conversation. This presentation will also explore the duality of experiencing bias as women in leadership, while holding ourselves accountable to our own biases.
Melanie Sylvester
Saigon South International School - Elementary School Principal
Lead to SucceedThe 51% Advantage: Empowering Middle-Level Leaders for Educational Success
In this presentation, we will explore the transformative power of middle-level leaders in elementary schools. We will discuss how these leaders positively impact student learning, aligning with a school’s mission statement and strategic goals. Additionally, we will delve into the profound effects of leadership training, emphasizing its role in cultivating a positive school culture and fostering highly productive teams. By recognizing the pivotal role of middle-level leaders and investing in their development, we can create an educational environment that promotes academic excellence, student growth, and overall school success. Participants will receive information about our system structures and implementation in the Elementary School of Saigon South International School, enabling them to take back actionable ideas to their own educational settings.
Glen Karlsson
Independent Curriculum Specialist, Karlsson Consulting Services A.B.
Lead to SucceedStrategic Evaluation: Monitoring and Enhancing Your School’s Learning Program
As school leaders, your role extends beyond administration to shaping a dynamic learning environment. Join us for an insightful session tailored to school leaders seeking to develop an effective process for monitoring and evaluating key aspects of their learning programs. This workshop is designed to equip you with the tools to confidently address questions and concerns about your curriculum. You’ll gain a framework to assess program effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and foster continual growth within your institution.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the significance of ongoing monitoring and evaluation in enhancing learning programs.
- Learn a process for evaluating various components of your school’s learning initiatives.
- Consider methods to collect meaningful data and insights to inform decision-making.
- Acquire techniques to implement evidence-based improvements that align with your school’s goals.
Charting the Uncharted: Cultivating Skills, Values, and Dispositions in Curriculum
Amidst the challenges of embedding skills, values, and dispositions into curriculum, schools are stepping into new territory. Join us for a workshop designed to provide educators and school leaders with a roadmap for navigating uncharted waters. Delve into strategies that bridge the gap between traditional instruction and cultivating holistic student growth. This session will empower you to unravel the complexities, from designing comprehensive learning overviews to ethical considerations of measuring dispositions.
Key Takeaways:
- Explore practical structures to identify and align essential skills and values within academic standards.
- Learn techniques for creating vertical learning overviews that foster trans-disciplinary growth.
- Gain insights into developing scales for measuring progress in areas traditionally difficult to quantify.
- Address ethical considerations surrounding the measurement of dispositions and values.
Stacy Stephens
Consultant, VSI Collaborative
Lead to SucceedRe-Visioning Growth and Evaluation Systems
To what extent are our teacher growth and evaluation systems aligned to the mission and the vision of the school and to what degree does your current system support teacher growth and development? As many of our schools have adopted progressive approach to instruction, we often have not updated our growth and evaluation systems to support the implementation of these practices. This session will explore new approaches to growth and evaluation with a focus on developing systems in alignment with the school’s mission, vision, and strategic direction. We will explore new progressive teacher development systems based on research-based instructional practice with a strong focus on implementation science for impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Explore recent research on the greatest sources for teacher growth and development.
- Examine how articulation of expected instructional practices in a school can inform a bespoke growth and evaluation system.
- Consider how a re-vision to your system can have an impact on school culture and develop core language to speak about teaching, learning and growth.
Developing Trust in Schools
Trust in schools is of paramount importance because it forms the bedrock of a healthy and effective educational ecosystem. In a trusted school environment, everyone feels valued, respected, and supported, which is essential for the holistic development of students and the long-term success of educational institutions. Trust in schools not only enhances academic outcomes but also contributes to the overall well-being of students, educators, and the community they serve.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the key components of trust in organizations.
- Explore the Trust Triangle and identify your potential wobbles and what can be done to stabilize your Trust Triangle.
- Consider ways to monitor and improve trust in your school.
POST CONFERENCE: Moving Forward: Consolidating Learning and Planning Next Steps
This 3 hour workshop is designed to help participants synthesize and consolidate their key takeaways from the two day leadership conference. The session will begin with small group discussions that enable participants to reflect on their biggest insights from the event and share lessons learned with peers.
Participants will be introduced to Implementation Science Theory and taken through a process to support goal setting, planning, and monitoring implementation. You will leave with a set of concrete action items and implementation plans to support your continued leadership growth and development.
The interactive facilitated format will solidify participants’ conference insights, while equipping them with tools and strategies to drive change. Participants will gain clarity and confidence to move forward applying leadership best practices for maximum benefit at an individual, team and organizational level.
8am – 11am, Sunday 5 May 2024
Led by Stacy Stephens & Jen Delashmuttd
Jennifer DeLashmutt
Director of Curriculum & Professional Learning, International School Bangkok
Lead to SucceedCultural Shifts: From Inclusion to Belonging How different schools are implementing Universal Design for Learning ( UDL)
Do you want to be an inclusive school, or do you want to belong? Using a design thinking process, we inquired into our inclusive practices to identify and enhance what effectively supported student growth and achievement and illuminate our challenges and opportunities as a school community.
Key Takeaways:
- Participants will reflect on their learning community’s current inclusive practices that can, are or are not leading to a culture of belonging
- Participants will understand the difference between inclusive programs and practices and those that are immersed in a culture of belonging
- Participants will identify next steps using a shared tool kit and initial reflections on where their learning community is in this process
Chris Beingessner
Deputy Principal, Singapore American School
Lead to SucceedCultivating Cohesive Leadership Teams: An Intentional Approach
In the ever-evolving landscape of school leadership, the foundation of a school’s success rests on the cohesion and effectiveness of its leadership team. Join a practical session dedicated to learning about intentional ways to help set your leadership team up for success – whether you are a newly formed group, or longstanding team. Participants will learn about protocols and strategies leaders can use to establish a common purpose, promote vulnerability and authenticity, cultivate trusting relationships, surface and address conflicts, and ultimately create a strong sense of belonging and investment. Time will be given in the session to engage with the practical tools presented, plan how to adjust them to your specific context, and collaboratively plan for next steps.
Liz Cho
Director of Learning Development, Vientiane International School
Lead to SucceedThe Listening Leader: How Active Listening and Positivity Cultivate Effective Leadership
Educational leaders face a myriad of challenges on a daily basis. From managing budgets and policies to supporting teachers and fostering a positive school culture, the responsibilities of leadership can become overwhelming. This 2.5 hour interactive workshop focuses on two essential skills that enable leaders to thrive amidst the complexity of their roles: active listening and maintaining a sense of joy. Participants will learn techniques for deeply listening to the perspectives and needs of all stakeholders, from students and teachers to parents and community members. Discussion will highlight how active listening not only garners valuable insights, but also makes each member of the school community feel truly heard and valued. The workshop will also explore strategies for finding, creating and emphasizing the positive, fun, and meaningful aspects of the important work leaders undertake each day. Participants will leave with concrete tools for listening actively, leading with positivity, and facing challenges with optimism and resolve.
Kristine Mizzone
Consultant Collaboratory Consulting, LLC., International School Counselor Association, Erin Kent Consulting, The College of New Jersey
Lead to SucceedFrom Individuals to Super-Teams: The art and craft of high performing teams
We use the word “collaboration” a lot in schools. So, what does this really mean when we consider the ways in which our team members work collaboratively? Do the individuals on the team recognize that their success is interconnected? How might we leverage each other’s strengths and rely on our collective efforts to accomplish tasks and achieve goals? Join us for a session that delves into the heart of educational success – high-performing teams. In this engaging session, you’ll gain insights into the intricate dynamics that fuel high-performance within school teams. Moving from theory to practice, you will leave with strategies to foster a culture of collaboration, belonging, innovation, and shared ownership. Explore the key ingredients that differentiate high-performing teams from the rest, and learn how to harness the strengths of diverse individuals to achieve collective excellence. Whether you’re a school leader, educator, or a team member looking to enhance collaboration, this session is your gateway to unlocking the art and craft of high-performing teams.
Leading the Way: Championing SEL Through a Whole-School Lens
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has the potential to lay the foundation for lifelong well-being and success, IF done well. And to do this well, we need to take a whole-school approach in order to ensure that students, teachers, counselors, school leaders, and caregivers collectively contribute to fostering emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and overall well-being of the children in our care. Join us as we uncover the pivotal role of leadership in championing SEL efforts. We will take a close look at a multi-pronged approach to cultivate a nurturing and inclusive environment that promotes the holistic development of students and fosters a positive sense of belonging in our learning communities. We will learn from real examples of what this looks like in international schools that are taking a whole-school approach. Let’s explore the culture, systems, programs and leadership that are needed in order to place SEL at the heart of education.
Jennifer Abrams
International Educational and Communications Consultant
Lead to SucceedSwimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives
No matter what role we play in a school (principal, department chair, team lead), we all strive to make our communications successful. And in this time, when uncertainty is the norm, we often move fast and don’t get the opportunity to think about the language we use in our communications. Ultimately, we end up not being as successful as we could have been in getting our messages across.
We need to build up a skill set of messaging capabilities, ‘resistance management’ strategies and for the sake of our health, our ‘stress tolerance.’ This is based on Jennifer’s book Swimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives. This workshop provide support, laugh, and practical strategies to help you communicate more effectively in these unprecedented times.
Participants will learn how to:
- Learn more about getting more successful in our communication around our key initiatives, the complexity of it all and where we ‘trip up’ in our messaging
- Review research on how others respond and resist change
- Develop a linguistic tool kit for managing the resistance of others
- Develop a set of strategies for managing yourself as you lead this work of change and growth
Communicating Effectively Across Generations - Being "Gen Savvy"
Have you noticed your newer employees feel and look and act differently than novice colleagues you remember? Are you hearing of communication challenges between colleagues of different ages? Are you becoming aware more employees want a life-work balance vs. a work-life balance? Generational factors might be coming into play. Who are these four or maybe now five generations in our workplaces? What are their strengths and needs? What structures and communication protocols should we design to work well with them all? And, what knowledge do we need to help every group thrive? Using Jennifer’s book, The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate and Create Community, this workshop will provide tools, resources on this increasingly intriguing topic.
Participants will learn how to:
- Formulate a better understanding of each generation’s motivations and needs in the workplace
- Prepare tools and structures that will translate into better more effective collaboration for generationally diverse teams
- Become more skilled at creating a climate of inclusion for all generations
- Adapt one’s language skills to communicate effectively with different generations
Having Hard Conversations: Finding Your Voice Around What Matters
As administrators, coaches or colleagues, we often come up against situations where difficult topics must be addressed. What do we know about the best strategies for those moments? What questions should we be asking ourselves before we speak, and what environments are best for when we do speak? Based on Jennifer’s book, Having Hard Conversations, and her work with conflict and interpersonal communication, this session will provide participants with action plans and scripting tools for having those necessary hard conversations.
Participants will learn how to:
- Identify why they hesitate having hard conversations
- Choose questions to ask themselves before they choose to speak up
- Articulate in professional language the challenges they are facing
- Determine the goals of the conversation and write an action plan of support
- Script the conversation avoiding trigger words that put others on the defensive
- Choose the best ‘wheres’ and ‘whens’ for a productive discussion
Amy Lauren Smith
Schoolwide Health Coordinator/Consultant, Hong Kong International School
Lead to SucceedA Systematic Approach to Whole School Wellness
As international schools find themselves in an era of uncertainty and change, concerns around health and wellbeing are on the rise. Without systems in place, however, wellbeing and SEL initiatives risk losing momentum when there is turnover among faculty and staff. During this session, we’ll be discussing the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model- a free tool that helps schools identify resources and initiatives that are working, look for gaps and areas for growth, and align so that everyone in the community is speaking the same language and working towards the same common goals.
Welcome and Intros
- Where is your school currently at in regards to Health and Wellbeing?
- Creating connections
The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Approach
- What is the WSCC?
- How might using this framework help your school move forward?
- Accessing resources and tools for implementation
Gathering Data with a Needs Assessment
- What current initiatives are driving this work in your school community?
- SEL, Advisory and Health: tools for curricular alignment
- Identifying allies and onboarding reluctant stakeholders
Assembling your Team
- Who will you invite to be part of the steering committee?
- Meeting structures and tools for facilitation
- Harnessing the power of student voice
Focused Planning
- Where do I go from here?
- Utilizing your school’s strategic plan
- Policies that support whole school wellbeing
- Forming collaborative groups based on areas of growth
- Brainstorming ideas for implementation
- Creating a PLN focused on health and wellbeing
Shane Kells
School Support and Evaluation Officer, Council of International Schools (CIS)
Lead to SucceedUnlocking Innovation: Strategic Accreditation for School Leaders
In this workshop, we will explore the realm of international school accreditation, uncovering its intricacies and examining strategic methods for school leaders to propel innovation and sustained growth through the accreditation process. This session tailored to current and aspiring school leaders will incorporate group activities and discussions while offering practical examples showcasing how the accreditation process can be leveraged to drive innovation within the school. Walk away with a profound understanding of the leadership’s crucial role in this transformative process.
