PRE
CONFERENCE
9/15
8:45am-4:00pm
Participants can register to attend ONE of the two offerings.
The School Board’s Role in Child Protection: Policy, Practice, and Crisis Management in International Schools
In international schools, child protection is a fundamental responsibility that extends beyond teachers and administrators; it is a critical governance issue. This workshop is designed to provide school board members with a comprehensive understanding of child protection in schools and their role in ensuring a safe learning environment. Using a structured framework inspired by the American Psychological Association’s crisis management principles and work from ITFCP Safeguarding Governance for International Schools, participants will explore their responsibilities in policy development, risk mitigation, leadership support, legal liability, safer hiring, training oversight, committee engagement, and crisis response.
Specific examples will include:
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Providing strategic oversight, but not case oversight
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Appointing Designated Safeguarding Board Member and responsibilities
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Including safeguarding and well-being as strategy
This training will equip school boards with the tools needed to lead with proactive governance, ethical responsibility, and strategic foresight through interactive discussions, case studies, and best practice models. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap for embedding a culture of child protection into school governance, ensuring that policies and practices are effective, enforceable, and aligned with global safeguarding standards.
Transforming Recruitment, Development, and Retention of your most Critical Asset - People
Join this engaging pre-conference session to explore a holistic, human-centered approach to recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent in international schools. Learn strategies to strengthen leadership pipelines, reduce bias, and build positive faculty cultures that enhance satisfaction and performance. Gain insights into overcoming talent shortages and outdated hiring methods to create a thriving, future-ready school community.
International schools operate in a rapidly changing educational landscape, where competition for top educators is fierce, and organizational cultures vary widely across countries. International schools must be places that cultivate and elevate talent.
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Talent Shortages: Recruiting and retaining skilled educators and leaders is harder than ever, affecting every level of the organization.
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Outdated Methods: Traditional talent development practices—personality tests, resumes, cover letters, and standard interviews—are no longer enough to address the complexity of today’s educational needs.
In this pre-conference, participants will understand the evolving global landscape and the unique challenges for international schools in finding, developing, and keeping exceptional educators; identify how aligned recruitment strategies, effective professional development, and empathetic retention initiatives nurture a thriving school community; and discover a holistic approach to building positive faculty cultures that increase satisfaction, performance, and overall retention.
DAY 1
MAIN CONFERENCE
9/16
8:45am-4:00pm
Participants will be able to attend TWO of the workshops offered.
From Fatigue to Fulfillment: Aligning Initiatives with Mission for Lasting Impact
International school leaders often find themselves overwhelmed or accused of creating an abundance of initiatives, thus causing “initiative fatigue,” exhaustion stemming from endless new programs that feel disconnected from the school’s core mission and vision. This engaging workshop unpacks the root causes of initiative fatigue, including the lack of appreciation and celebration and the missed opportunities to link initiatives to student growth and school purpose directly. Through interactive discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and real-world examples, participants will explore shifting from initiative overload to a mission-driven approach that energizes staff and strengthens the school’s impact. Join us to learn practical strategies for aligning initiatives with your school’s vision, fostering a culture of appreciation, and ensuring that every effort contributes meaningfully to student success.
Measuring What Matters: Leveraging Feedback to Bring Mission to Life
At the heart of every international school lies a bold mission and vision statements that inspire yet often leave us questioning: Are we truly making a difference in each child’s life? How do we move beyond aspirational goals to measurable impact?
This interactive workshop explores practical strategies for assessing whether schools are genuinely living their mission. We will examine how qualitative data can provide deeper insights into student growth and school culture. Can AI help us harness qualitative data to determine whether we are on the right path? Additionally, we will explore ways to cultivate a culture of meaningful feedback, where educators, students, and parents actively engage in evaluating progress toward mission fulfillment. Through collaborative discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants will gain actionable strategies to ensure that their school’s mission is more than just words on a website—aligning every initiative with impact and making a real difference in students' lives.
Leading with Impact: Optimizing Board Operations- Roles, Committees & Tools for Success
Strong governance is the backbone of a thriving international school, and an effective board plays a pivotal role in ensuring success. But how can boards move from oversight to impact? This interactive workshop will help board members refine their roles, enhance board committees, and adopt strategies that drive meaningful progress. Through hands-on discussions, participants will explore the key responsibilities of board members, the critical role of committees, and best practices for optimizing board operations. Whether you are a new board member or a seasoned leader, this workshop will equip you with the insights and tools needed to foster collaboration, efficiency, and strategic decision-making at the board level.
Leading with Purpose: Growing and Sustaining High-Impact Boards
A strong and sustainable board is the foundation of a thriving international school. But how do boards cultivate accountability, ensure seamless leadership transitions, and onboard new members effectively? In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how to create a high-performing board that is mission-driven, collaborative, and future-ready. Participants will engage in hands-on discussions and activities to develop frameworks for accountability, succession planning, and onboarding. By the end of the session, participants will gain tools and strategies to: Establish clear accountability frameworks for boards and members, Design effective succession plans for leadership continuity, and Implement onboarding processes that set new board members up for success.
MAIN CONFERENCE
DAY 2
9/17
8:45am-4:00pm
Participants will attend this FULL DAY workshop.
Leading for Well-being in International Schools
Anyone in school leadership or governance has, at some point, asked themselves: Why am I doing this?
Being a school administrator or board member is not for the faint of heart. Schools are communities, which means they’re full of relationships, emotions, conflicts, and power struggles. Any “small” disagreement has the potential to turn into a full-blown crisis, and somehow, school leaders are supposed to handle any crisis perfectly while also making sure the school buses are running on time, the students like the food in the cafeteria, and make sure budgets are balanced.
So, how do you lead without losing your sanity or preserving the capacity to do your job well? How does a school leader navigate all the feelings, politics, and conflicting priorities, and still foster a culture where well-being isn’t just a buzzword, but the foundation of your school community?
Sound familiar?
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Educators don’t feel trusted by parents and are convinced this generation of students is way different from the ones before.
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Leadership doesn’t feel trusted by faculty.
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Students see right through performative acts and the transactional nature of education.
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The tiniest issue has the potential to spiral into an all-consuming, headline-making catastrophe.
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Board members are expected to lead inside the school while also managing their social relationships outside of school (without getting dragged into drama).
What We’ll Do (a.k.a. How to Make School Leadership Less of a Daily Survival Test)
By the end of our day, you’ll walk away with:
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A better understanding of the complexities of international schools and the mindsets of the adults who run them.
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Insight into how young people are actually developing, not just how we wish they were.
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Concrete strategies and tools to help adults and students work together to build a school culture rooted in trust, care, and well-being.
Sessions Include:
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Establishing Leadership for Well-Being – How the board can select and support leaders who prioritize wellness in both decision-making and school culture.
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Activating the Whole Community – Communication strategies to ensure well-being isn’t just a policy document, but an integrated part of daily school life.
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Shaping the Future of Student Well-Being – The long-term impact of governance decisions on student success, resilience, and school climate.
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You didn’t sign up for school leadership just to put out fires all day. Let’s figure out how to lead with less stress, more strategy, and more well-being