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The IB Curriculum, Belonging & What Truly Matters  — A Conversation with Barry Dequanne, Director of ISZL

In this enlightening episode of FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+, co-hosts Sandra Hueskes and Pascale Baumgartner sit down with Barry Dequanne, Director of the International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL), for a deeply thoughtful conversation about what it means to lead a school community with purpose, integrity, heart and the value of kindness.

Barry shares his love of learning and curiosity, why trust and belonging are the foundation of any great school, the value of an IB Curriculum, and how ISZL is rethinking what student success really means in a changing world.

📌 Highlights from Barry Dequanne:

• Why kindness lies at the center of ISZL’s mission — and how a sense of safety enables students to thrive
• Why encouraging curiosity, engagement and resilience are fundamental to learning and growth
• How education is a shared endeavor between parents, teachers, students and community
• How self-awareness and being accountable for your learning is a gift that keeps on giving
• How ISZL and the IB Diploma fosters global citizenship, personal development and skills beyond academics
• How schools can nurture both academic achievement and student well-being
• Barry’s reflections on community, character, and the power of nature

Barry’s wisdom, humility, and clarity of purpose make this a powerful episode for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about education done thoughtfully and well.

🎧 About learning: “The classroom is not just in the school building, it's everywhere.”

🎧 About AI: “We have to have the courage to ask questions. We have to think about the future... We cannot lose our humanity in this process. We have technology to support our humanity, not replace us, not diminish us."

Barry’s Recommended Resources, Readings & Inspirations

• Barry's Blog
• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Johnathan Haidt
• Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman
• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Follow ISZL

🌐 Website
📷 Instagram
💼 LinkedIn
📘 Facebook
▶️ YouTube

About Us:
We’re Sandra Hueskes and Pascale Baumgartner, education consultants at FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL, Switzerland’s leading school consultancy. We support families in choosing the right public, private, international, or boarding school across the country. From workshops and one-to-one support to corporate partnerships, we’re here to help families make informed and confident decisions about schooling in Switzerland.

Schooling. Parenting. Stories. Insights. Support. Just for you.

Follow Find My Swiss School

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🌐 Website
💼 LinkedIn

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FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+ Podcast

Education, Connection & Community — A Conversation with Dr. Barbara Bush, Principal of The British School Bern

In this inspiring episode from FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+, host Sandra Hueskes sits down with Dr. Barbara Bush, Principal of The British School Bern, to explore what it truly means to educate with purpose and heart.

From her beginnings in community colleges in California to leading an international school in Switzerland, Dr. Bush shares her remarkable journey — shaped by her father’s influence, her Swiss roots, and her deep belief in the power of education to open doors.

📌 Highlights from Dr. Barbara Bush:

• The differences — and surprising similarities — between public and private education in Switzerland
• How international schools can bridge cultures while staying rooted in their local communities
• Why trust, connection, and curiosity are essential ingredients in every classroom
• The evolving role of technology and AI in education — and how schools must adapt thoughtfully
• The joy of teaching, and how giving children “space to be curious” can change everything

Dr. Bush’s reflections on community, compassion, and the beauty of lifelong learning make this a must-listen episode for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about the future of education.

🎧 “You have to like people, and you have to like the world,” she reminds us — a powerful message for our times.

🎧 “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall

BARBARA'S RESOURCES & BOOKS

• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere
• Harvard Kennedy School’s online basic flipping kit. Steps to a Flipped Learning Experience
• ETH Zürich provides this excellent orientation for flipping a classroom
• Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams, including this article, Flip Your Student’s Learning, on ASCD’s website

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+
Schooling. Parenting. Stories. Insights. Support. Just for you.

Follow The British School Bern

• 🌐 Website
• 📷 Instagram
• 💼 LinkedIn
• 📘 Facebook
• ▶️ TikTok

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• 📷 Instagram
• 🌐 Website
• 💼 LinkedIn

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NEW EPISODE – FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+ Podcast

In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with Joel Radvanyi, the CEO and visionary founder of TechLabs. Joel shares his big vision for TechLabs and shows us how tech can teach life skills that go far beyond the screen. 

Join us as we discuss the art of failing in order to succeed, Harry Potter wands, developing grit and persistence, digital safety and values, and the vibrant TechLabs community—a place where young people of all ages can collaborate, innovate, and discover their potential. 

TechLabs is based in Basel with innovation centers in Zurich, Geneva and Zug and with partners and programs across Switzerland. If you are a public or private school looking for a STEAM/MINT program for your school, a teacher looking to learn, a parent seeking programs for your child, or a corporation seeking a team building or corporate event partner, then TechLabs could be exactly what you are looking for.

Please consider donating to the TechLabs Giving foundation, which provides financial support to families in order to provide transformative educational experiences for all. 

📌 Highlights from Joel Radvanyi

• Why resilience is the hidden superpower in tech learning and life.
• How “failing forward” builds grit and problem-solving skills.
• The creative side of technology—and why it’s not just for “techy” kids.
• How TechLabs builds community and fosters collaboration.
• How corporate partners are essential to making tech education accessible.
• How TechLabs can also be a learning hub for teachers.

🎧 Subscribe now and join us on this journey.

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+
Schooling. Parenting. Stories. Insights. Support. Just for you.

Follow TechLabs

• 🌐 Website: techlabs.ch
• 🤝 Giving Foundation: techlabsgiving.ch
• 📷 Instagram: @techlabs.ch
• 💼 LinkedIn: TechLabs CH
• 📘 Facebook: TechLabs.ch
• ▶️ YouTube: TechLabs Channel

Follow Find My Swiss School

• 📷 Instagram: @findmyswissschool
• 🌐 Website: findmyswissschool.ch
• 💼 LinkedIn: FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL

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Understanding Swiss Public School – What Parents Need to Know

In this episode of FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+, Pascale and Sandra sit down for a candid and informative conversation about Swiss public schooling—what makes it unique, what to expect, and how families can navigate the system with confidence.

We cover a wide range of essential topics, including:

• Swiss school culture and values
• What parents can expect from teachers and schools
• Grading 
• Afterschool care options
• The famous “permeable pathways” 
• Sports and camps
• Cantonal differences
• School rankings
• Swimming classes & more!

Whether you're new to Switzerland or looking to better understand your child's educational journey, this episode is packed with practical insights for international and local families alike.

About Us:
We’re Sandra Hueskes and Pascale Baumgartner, education consultants at FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL, Switzerland’s leading school consultancy. We support families in choosing the right public, private, international, or boarding school across the country. From workshops and one-to-one support to corporate partnerships, we’re here to help families make informed and confident decisions about schooling in Switzerland.

🌐 Learn more: www.findmyswissschool.ch

Support the show

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL 

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NEW EPISODE – FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+ Podcast

What if leadership at home looked more like connection than control?

In this empowering conversation, we sit down with Rebeca Costa Gomes, who is a Parent and Family Coach and Business Coach, to talk about what it really means to lead as a parent. Drawing from the transformative ideas of family therapist Jesper Juul, Rebeca challenges the old scripts of authoritarian parenting and invites us into a new way of leading—as a guide, a protector, and a connector.

Whether you're managing teams or raising children, this episode explores the surprising parallels between great leadership at work and at home. Rebeca shares real-life insights and practical tools for empowering your children while building mutual respect, trust, and emotional connection.

This is for parents, leaders, and anyone who believes in parenting with intention and heart.

📚 Book Recommendations from Rebeca Costa Gomes

Titles by Jesper Juul

• Your Competent Child: Toward a New Paradigm in Parenting and Education
• Family Life: The Most Important Values for Living Together and Raising Children
• Here I Am! Who Are You?: Resolving Conflicts Between Adults and Children
• What Do You Want?: Conversations with Parents and Children

Additional Titles

• The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.

🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts

Subscribe now and join us on this journey. 

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+ 

Schooling. Parenting. Stories. Insights. Support. Just for you.

• Follow @MyConsciousDevelopment to connect with Rebeca Costa Gomes on Instagram or through Linked In
• Follow @findmyswissschool for more expert-led conversations that matter. Or find contact us on our Find My Swiss School Website

Support the show

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL 

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Introducing: FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+, a new podcast from the team at FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL, Switzerland’s leading education consultancy.

This podcast is your trusted guide to the world of education in Switzerland. Whether you’re a parent, student, educator, or simply curious about how schooling works here, we’re here to share the insights, stories, and expert advice that matter.

We’ll explore real experiences and tackle big questions—from choosing between public, private, or international schools, to understanding learning support, transitions, and the pressures students face today. You’ll hear from students, teachers, learning specialists, and parents who’ve been through it all.

At FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL, we support families, corporate HR teams, and school communities in finding the right educational fit—from public day schools to top-tier Swiss boarding schools. We offer personalized consulting, workshops, relocation support, and our Annual Schooling Book, helping families feel informed and empowered at every stage.

So why a podcast? Because education is more than a system—it’s a journey. And we believe in sharing the human side of that journey: honest conversations, lived experiences, and expert insights you can trust.  

Subscribe now and join us on this journey. 

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+ Stories. Insights. Support. Just for you.

Support the show

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL