Leading into the Future with Fearless Inquiry: The Big Questions Institute

Summary

In this episode of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, hosts Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes engage with Homa Tavangar, a renowned education, leadership, and global citizenship expert. They discuss the evolving vision for education, emphasizing the need for relevance, mental wellness, and joy in learning. Homa shares insights from her work at the Big Questions Institute and their newest ebook edition, “12 Big Questions Schools Must Answer To Imagine Irresistible Futures,” highlighting the importance of asking critical questions to guide educational practices. The conversation also touches on the challenges of leadership in education, the role of hope and optimism, and the significance of equity and inclusion in schools. As they explore current trends in international education, they reflect on the need for a renewed focus on global citizenship and the legacy educators leave behind.

Takeaways

Links

Sound Bites

"What does a blue sky vision of school look like?"

"We want to ask more questions than give answers."

"What is your story?"

"What is your legacy as an institution?"

"Hope is a discipline anchored in action."

"What is sacred in your school community?"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Blue Skies Leadership Podcast

02:53 Exploring the Vision for Education

06:09 The Big Questions Institute and Its Impact

08:57 Navigating Leadership Challenges in Education

11:49 The Role of Hope and Optimism in Education

15:11 Utilizing the 12 Big Questions for School Improvement

18:00 Trends in International Education

20:56 Addressing Equity and Inclusion in Schools

23:52 Future Directions and Global Citizenship

27:07 Conclusion and Future Engagements

Keywords

education, leadership, global citizenship, equity, inclusion, Big Questions Institute, school improvement, optimism, trends, international schools

In this episode of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, hosts Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes engage with Jane Larsson, Executive Director of the Council of International Schools (CIS). They discuss the evolving landscape of international education, the importance of socially responsible leadership, and the innovative initiatives implemented by CIS to enhance educational practices.

Key topics include the moral responsibility of schools to provide international education, the need for empathy in leadership, and the introduction of competency-based assessment frameworks. The conversation highlights the significance of adapting educational practices to meet the diverse needs of global communities and the exciting future of international education.

Takeaways

Sound Bites

"Every school should be providing an international education."

"We have a moral responsibility to help young people."

"International education is really all education."

"We need to be aware of trends in population and immigration and their relationship to education. They are intertwined.”

"We're creating socially responsible leaders."

"It's an exciting time to be in international schools."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Blue Skies Leadership Podcast

02:50 The Role of CIS in International Education

03:43 Vision for International Education

06:07 Leadership Development for Social Responsibility

08:28 Trends Shaping International Education

13:34 CIS's New Framework for School Evaluation and Accreditation

15:31 Innovative Partnerships and Initiatives

20:33 Competency-Based Assessment in Education

23:54 The CIS Pedagogy Playbook

26:17 Future Directions for CIS and International Education

Summary

In this episode of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, hosts Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes engage with Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini, who shares her extensive experience in middle-level leadership within international schools. The conversation explores the importance of teacher efficacy, the need for intentional collaboration, and cultivating a healthy school culture. Nancy emphasizes the significance of psychological safety, trust-building, and the role of middle leaders in fostering a positive educational environment. The discussion also highlights practical advice for aspiring leaders and the key traits that effective middle-level leaders should possess.

Takeaways

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Blue Skies Leadership Podcast

01:59 The Importance of Middle-Level Leadership

03:27 Blue Sky Thinking in Education

08:59 Cultivating a Healthy School Culture

14:19 Promoting Collaboration and Distributed Leadership

20:57 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

25:16 Key Traits of Effective Middle-Level Leaders

30:50 Connecting with Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini

In this episode of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, hosts Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes engage in a profound conversation with Dr. Derek Gay, a global expert on diversity and inclusion. They explore the complexities of understanding diversity, the critical role of belonging in educational settings, and the importance of cultural context in implementing diversity initiatives. Dr. Gay emphasizes that creating a culture of belonging requires strategic change management and active engagement from all community members. The discussion also highlights the need for representation within international schools and the vision for a future where belonging is integral to the educational experience.

Dr. Derrick Gay is a globally recognized Belonging and Intercultural Strategist, dedicated to fostering cultures of dignity and respect. With multifaceted expertise as an international speaker, author, researcher, educator, and university lecturer, Dr. Gay empowers individuals and organizations to deepen belonging and empathy by cultivating shared language, raising awareness, and fostering inclusive personal behaviors and organizational practices and policies. Dr. Gay’s work spans numerous industries, including schools, businesses, non-profits, and arts organizations.

Drawing from his extensive international experience, Dr. Gay designs meaningful strategies that resonate across a broad range of industries and cultures. His approach, informed by research and practitioner experiences in over 50 countries, facilitates meaningful connections and promotes belonging on a global scale. A lifelong educator with over 28 years of experience, Dr. Gay taught in K-12 schools and served as a senior administrator in schools around the world. Most recently, he has served as a senior advisor to Sesame Street while also serving as adjunct faculty/lecturer at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, International Fashion Academy, Parsons Paris, and Teachers College at Columbia University. As such, Dr. Gay engages with the full range of education from early childhood to doctorate students, supporting students, staff, parents, administrators, and boards. During the 2023-24 academic year, he led Belonging and Intercultural Competency efforts in schools and organizations spanning 23 countries and 45 cities.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Diversity and Inclusion

02:49 The Role of Belonging in Education

06:10 Cultural Context and Diversity Work

08:53 Strategic Change Management in Schools

12:08 The Importance of Representation

14:59 Vision for Future Schools

17:46 Engaging the Community in Belonging

21:05 The Journey Ahead for Dr. Gay

In this episode of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, Dan Kerr, Daniel Mendes and Kevin Bartlett discuss the future of education, focusing on the importance of defining learning, the vision for schools, and the journey of the Common Ground Collaborative. They explore the need for systemic change in education, the challenges of teacher evaluation systems, and the significance of building a learning culture that empowers both teachers and students. The conversation emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and the importance of collective efforts in transforming educational practices.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Defining Learning in Education

04:00 The Blue Sky Vision for Schools

15:01 The Common Ground Collaborative Journey

18:47 Transforming Teacher Evaluation Systems

33:11 Clarity in Complexity and Future Directions

Podcast Hosts

Daniel Mendes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mendesd/

Dan Kerr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kerr-b0a82520/

Episode Guest

Kevin Bartlett: https://www.commongroundcollaborative.org/

Notable Mentions

Greg McKeown: https://gregmckeown.com/

Jamie McTighe: https://jaymctighe.com/

Julie Stern:https://www.conceptualtransfer.com/

Tania Lattanzio: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/tania-lattanzio-ige; https://www.innovativeglobaled.org/

Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/

Jim Collins: https://www.jimcollins.com/

Gordon Eldridge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-eldridge-9469021/

Bambi Betts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bambi-betts-a0b3a47/; https://www.theptc.org

Greg Curtis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-curtis123/

Charlotte Danielson: https://danielsongroup.org/framework/

Michael Fullan: https://michaelfullan.ca/

Margaret Wheatley: https://www.margaretwheatley.com/

Chad McGartland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-mcgartlin-3050632a6/

Dylan Wiliam: https://www.dylanwiliam.org/

Martin Skelton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-skelton-87030318/

Summary

In this Blue Skies Leadership Podcast episode, Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes interview Sheena Nabholz, the Deputy CEO of the Academy for International School Heads (AISH.) They discuss the evolving landscape of international education, the importance of connectedness, the integration of AI in schools, and the critical need for equity and inclusion. Sheena shares her blue sky vision on how schools can leverage data to personalize learning and the role of AISH in fostering collaboration among educational leaders worldwide.

Organizations and Resources mentioned

https://www.academyish.org/ - The Academy for International School Heads (AISH) is a vital organization for anyone in the role of Head or Deputy Head of an international school. Founded with the ethos "By Heads, For Heads," AISH is dedicated to supporting and advocating for the professional development of international school leaders.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurynn-evans-2a79984/ - Laurynn Evans from UnConstrainED

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingedgeboston/ - Beth Goldstein - Babson from Senior Director, Academic Strategy for the Babson Youth Impact Lab

https://www.curriculumassociates.com/ - Evidence-Based Instruction to Help Every Learner Grow without Limits

https://www.searchassociates.com/ - Partnering with Quality International Schools and Exceptional Educators to Serve and Enrich Learning Worldwide

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:53 The Future of International Schools

05:48 Connectedness in Education

08:59 Embracing AI in Education

11:58 Equity and Inclusion in Schools

15:00 The Role of Data in Personalized Learning

18:06 The Work of the Academy for International School Heads

20:54 Conclusion and Future Connections