by Dr Kelley Ridings Accreditation Isn’t a Badge; instead, a Battle Worth Fighting A school that dares to call itself high-quality should submit to a truly rigorous accreditation process that validates the claim – no excuses.
After three decades in international schools, leading three and visiting thirteen more, I’ve seen how transformative accreditation can be when a school …
by Rob Daws In exactly one month, I’ll hit 40 and I’m almost certainly having a midlife crisis… Like many people approaching that milestone, I’ve found myself in a period of deep reflection – I look at my life now as an International School Principal in China and then I look back at where it …
by Amulya Malaki Dear Aspiring Leader, If you are preparing to lead an international school today, you are not simply assuming the mantle of academic stewardship.
You are stepping into a profoundly moral role – one that will quietly influence how young people decide what kinds of lives are worth living.
While recently reading Dutch …
What If We Inspire Our Students to Cultivate Moral Ambition? Read More »
by Simon Attwood I landed my dream job.
Of course, one could argue that, just over two months in, it’s still the honeymoon period, but actually, I’m not convinced that there is a honeymoon period.
A school is like a machine – it keeps moving and going, and it doesn’t care what you feel – …
by Alexa Rose Pettinari As a woman working in sustainability leadership within international schools, I’ve had the privilege (and challenge) of guiding students, staff, and communities toward whole-school sustainability.
While students often bring passion and curiosity, I’ve faced pushback ranging from limited resources to scepticism about the feasibility of ESG initiatives.
Navigating these challenges has …
Leading Sustainability: Women Who Make Change Happen Read More »
by Katarzyna Czapor For international school leaders, the call to full inclusion is often framed as an ethical imperative, yet its implementation frequently founders on the sharp rocks of budget and resources.
As the Regional Head of SEND and Inclusion for a diverse group of schools in Malaysia, spanning preschools to IGCSE, across both national …
Is Full Inclusion Actually Sustainable? Defining the True Cost of Ethical Leadership Read More »
by Justin Zhu Comprising China (including Taiwan), Japan, and South Korea, East Asia is well-known for its high academic standards, exam-driven systems, and strongly ingrained Confucian values.
Beyond language barriers, expatriate teachers and principals entering this setting must learn to negotiate unspoken rules, strict hierarchies, and society expectations impacting everything from classroom behaviour to leadership …
Thriving in East Asian School Culture: Why East Asia Calls for Another Cultural Lens Read More »
by Belinda Williams It doesn’t always start with a dramatic outburst or an obvious violation.
More often, workplace abuse begins with silence.
The kind that settles in meeting rooms where no one speaks up.
The kind that wraps around leadership decisions that don’t make sense but aren’t questioned.
The kind that leaves a dedicated professional …
by Dr Megel Barker A few days ago, I shared my reflections in The International Educator on the growing tension around generative AI in schools.
That article, Promoting Responsible Generative AI Use in Schools, was born from real conversations in my school—conversations filled with frustration, uncertainty, and good intentions.
Teachers flagged student work that felt too advanced.
Parents defended …
Building on the AI Indicator: Piloting a Practical Framework for Middle Schools Read More »
by Julia Campbell-Ratcliffe Empowering students to run their own projects, and serving their communities is a key element in (international) education.
As leaders, we encourage our students to take action, to bring their learning to life in the real world.
These initiatives teach them skills that reach far beyond the curriculum and their time at …
The Role of Leaders in Schools Supporting Sustainable Student Action Read More »