ISS EDUlearn: Ask Me Anything

What’s the impact of implicit bias on the hiring process within schools? Welcome to this episode as we delve into breaking barriers, building awareness & addressing blind spots in the hiring process with our guests Alan Phan & Aparna Sundaram. Alan is the Founder of Diversity Collective and General Principal - at North London Collegiate School HCMC while Aparna is the COO of Recruitment &a...

How can educators engage with people with disabilities in the community, understand the challenges they face & increase the accessibility of disabled students in international schools?  In this episode, Jourdie Godley joins us as we delve into disability practices for the betterment of disabled students in international schools. Jourdie is a Fashion Consultant & Digital Content Creator spe...

Schools face numerous challenges and uncertainties, but with strategic planning, schools can navigate those challenges by identifying strengths, weaknesses & opportunities ( SWOT analysis). In this episode, Tom Hawkins, an educational leader with a wealth of experience in strategic and action planning in international schools and vice President for school start-up management & operations a...

Are you looking towards online learning with a classroom feel? ISAOnline, owned by ISS & International School of Aruba, is a high-quality curriculum that enhances personal learning, integrates technology & empowers students to achieve their full potential and thrive in a digital world. In the session, Theresa Montenrello, director of ISAOnline, expounds on the curriculum, from how the scho...

Are yo an educator seeking innovative resources or a student eager to make a difference? Inspire Citizens creates transformative learning experiences for teachers & students through innovative curriculum resources and professional development workshops. In this episode, Aaron Moniz, Co-founder of Inspire Citizens & Scott Jamieson, Global Collaboration Lead at Inspire Citizens, join us on t...

Lori Boll joins us in this episode to expound on the Special Education Network & Inclusion Association (SENIA). Lori is the Executive Director of SENIA, an accomplished & compassionate leader in the field of special education with more than 25 years of teaching experience in international schools. She also has a 23-year-old son diagnosed with Profound Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2003. In t...

A basic need for every human being is to be seen or heard, and conferring is a great way to leave a message!  In this episode, Laura Benson joins us to share conferring strategies & practices with children. Laura is an experienced, knowledgeable, and inspiring speaker with over 40 years of experience in teaching & leadership and a co-author of Standards and Assessment: The Core of Quality...

Are you preparing for a successful teaching career anywhere in the world? Welcome to this episode as we speak with Joseph A. Pearson, a professional development specialist at Moreland Universit y, on innovative online programs to prepare you for a successful career in teaching. Joseph expounds on the two programs available for educators at Moreland University , the requirements for certification,...

In this episode, Matt Kelsey & Ken Simonds join us on the show as we discuss how K through 12 schools can build, maintain, and extend tools and systems for self-service data analytics to support a culture of data use. Matt is the Director of Technology at the American School of Dubai with over five years of experience working with off-the-shelf data analytic systems, as well as developing in-h...

Competition is quite high for international schools. What makes your school unique to stand out? How can you leverage SEO & Google Ads to increase website traffic and generate qualified leads? In this episode, Chandler Clayton joins us on the show to share insights on increasing the quality and quantity of YouTube school website traffic and how to utilize Google Ads & SEO best. Chandler is...

Alysa Perraras joins us on the show to share insights on inclusion & identity. Alysa is a multilingual career educator passionate about ongoing learning and consistent engagement in Equity, Inclusion and radical Possibility. In this episode, Alysa explains how her experience growing up turned into a personal passion and later a professional pursuit as a DEIJ Consultant. She also shares her exp...

Learners' identities are complex & multi-dimensional. How do we empower our learners to create their own identities and gain deep respect for others? Daniel Wickner joins us on this episode to share his insights on Identity-Centered learning (ICL). Daniel is the founder of ICL, dedicated to empowering learners to explore & embrace their identities while giving respect for the identitie...

So many things can go wrong while making transitions. How can educators & students navigate transitions in schools for optimal productivity? In this episode, Ettie Zilber joins us on the show to share insights & strategies to make transitions in international schools a little smoother & meaningful to everyone. Eddie is an experienced educator & consultant who has helped schools and...

Welcome to this episode with Ricardo Urbina as we discuss insurance for international schools & breath workouts. Ricardo is an insurance broker specializing in helping international schools protect their students, staff & assets, and a certified breathwork instructor. In the session, we delve into Ricardo’s career journey in insurance, the types of insurance covers available for internatio...

How can international schools elevate their marketing to the next level, find potential new eyeballs & create an online community? In this episode, Alon Abraham joins us as we explore ways to utilize Facebook advertising for marketing in international schools. Alon is an industry expert in digital marketing & co-founder of TAG Direct, a digital agency specializing in customer acquisition a...

How does design thinking create more engaging, successful learning experiences for students? In this episode, John Burns joins us as we expound all about design thinking & its impact on international schools. John is the Chief Innovation Officer at ISS, focusing on sparking creativity & innovation across ISS learning communities. In the session, we define design thinking as a problem-solvi...

In this episode, Joel Llaban, an Educator, Speaker, & Consultant specializing in culturally responsive learning in international schools, joins us to discuss the importance of developing a Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Learning Environment. In this incredibly thought-provoking session, we delve into how learning leaders can work with peers to develop transformative actions on curricul...

Design thinking provides the student with the skills they need to navigate an ever-changing world. How can International Schools adopt design thinking in inquiry-based learning? Welcome to this episode as Nneka Johnson (Director of Innovation & Strategic Development @isdakar, International Ed) & Niassa Harris-Henry join us as we explore design thinking & PYP (Primary Year Program). In...

For most curriculums worldwide, outcomes based on knowledge retention are diminishing rapidly and replaced with outcomes based on skills, competencies, and understanding. In this episode, Damian Cooper, the author of Rebooting Assessment, A Practical Guide for Balancing Conversations, Performances, and Products, joins us on the show as we explore a balanced approach to assessment for learning. In...

Handling complaints is vital for all school leaders, teachers & staff, but how well are schools prepared to handle complaints? In the episode, Lis Belai joins us on the show as we explore handling complaints efficiently. Lia is a Human Resource Consultant for International School Services with experience in listening to complaints & having customers feel satisfied at the end of the day. In...

Implementing a Standard Based Grading & Reporting Program can be a rewarding & challenging process that supports learning & growth. What are some of the best strategies for implementing SBGR in secondary schools? In the episode, Dana Watts, an accomplished curriculum designer and podcast co-host, joins us on the show to share her insights & knowledge in implementing the SBGR progra...

Creating learning spaces that are engaging and budget-friendly is a critical task in any educational institution. John Burns joins us on the show as we explore creating innovative learning spaces that best support students & educators without breaking the bank. John is an educational architecture & design expert with years of experience creating & engaging & practical learning spac...

Determining grades in Grades 6 to 12 is a complex & multi-faceted process that requires careful consideration of learning goals, performance standards & student behavior. How can teachers provide unbiased feedback to promote student success? Ken O’Connor joins us on the show to share deep insights on how to report behaviors & determine grades accurately. Ken is a renowned Author &...

There are no bad children. They are children who make bad choices. How do we help that child not to make bad choices? In this episode, Laura Benson, ISS curriculum and professional development director, joins us on the show as we discuss conferring as an essential skill for educators. In this episode, we discuss the importance of listening & affirming kids' feelings, why punishment is not...

In this episode, Adrienne Waller, the founder of Worldwide Educator and Assistant Principal at Cayman International School, joins us on the show as we expound on empowering educators worldwide. In the session, we discuss Adrienne's journey to becoming an assistant principal, a unique interview process for the position, the importance of mentorship, the representation of women in leadership rol...