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AAIE Leadership Conference 2024
I was delighted to have attended the 2024 AAIE Leadership Conference, where I had the privilege of seeing my esteemed friends and colleagues from all around the globe.
During the conference, I was fortunate to connect with members of my DEIB Leadership Cohort, where 40 American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA) and Tri-Association school leaders engage in sustained inclusive leadership over the course of the 2023-24 academic year.
Many thanks to the school leaders who attended my workshop, the room was packed. During the session, I shared DEIB Leadership Insights gleaned from our 2023-24 collaboration with the International School of Panama.
I am also appreciative of Debra Wilson's keynote, where she highlighted recent wellbeing and belonging data and the critical need for all schools to engage in DEIB efforts.
My heartfelt gratitude to Audrey C. Menard, Ed.D., head of ISP, and Mariela Paredes de Fadul, ISP Board Chair, for graciously sharing their invaluable DEIB leadership insights, and a sincere acknowledgment to Laura Light for extending the invitation to join the conference. I can’t wait for the next conference in 2025.
International School of Panama: Belonging Survey Focus Groups
I returned to Panama last week to spend four days at International School of Panama (ISP) conducting Belonging Focus Groups. Earlier this fall we launched a customized belonging survey, specifically designed utilizing ISP-specific language and belonging and intercultural competency frameworks to measure and provide data and metrics for the ISP Belonging Strategy.
The onsite Belonging Focus Groups are a critical component of our comprehensive data collection process to learn from students, families, and employees regarding emergent themes from the survey.
I have spent a total of ten academic days on campus thus far, during which time we dedicated five days to hearing perspectives, experiences, and ideal outcomes from school constituents.
I look forward to returning in January to share the findings broadly with the ISP community, in addition to continuing our ongoing strategy sessions with administrators, the board, and our Belonging and Community Council.
International School of Panama (ISP): Panama City, Panama
What an inspiring day as I returned to International School of Panama (ISP) to continue our essential work to foster and sustain belonging. I had the privilege of meeting all students from Kindergarten to 12th grade, and it filled me with immense joy. Here's a glimpse of my day:
Lower School Connection
I kicked off the day with a heartwarming session with the Lower School, where I engaged with the youngest members of our community, from Kindergarten to 4th grade. Together, we explored Sesame Street's timeless mission to make kids "smarter, stronger, and wiser," a mission that beautifully aligns with ISP's own mission around belonging, academic excellence, and service.
I also reinforced October as International Bullying Prevention Month and discussed the importance of being upstanders.
Belonging Survey Launch
One of the cornerstone initiatives this year is the launch of a comprehensive belonging survey. This survey is designed to provide every member of the ISP community a voice in shaping the future of belonging at ISP.
Yesterday, I met all 4th-12th graders in divisional assemblies and some parents in a parent education orientation to provide insights regarding survey's rationale, structure, and methodology. The survey was thoughtfully curated by my research team and me, in collaboration with ISP, ensuring cultural alignment, ISP relevancy, and developmental appropriateness. I also shared our plans for facilitating focus groups to secure additional qualitative data and translating survey findings into actionable strategies and a strategic plan.
DEIB Task Force
To conclude the day, I reconvened the ISP DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Task Force for our third onsite session. Our focus remains on mapping current belonging efforts, collective visioning, and establishing subcommittees to address current priorities.
I'm eagerly looking forward to returning to ISP to share the progress we've made and to continue this transformative journey towards a deeper sense of belonging at ISP.
Together, we are creating an environment where every individual's unique story is valued and celebrated within an inclusive environment of dignity and respect.