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Escola Concept: São Paulo, Brazil
My second consultation at Escola Concept in São Paulo, Brazil was filled with meaningful sessions with parents, middle and upper school students, administration, and faculty and staff.
I began by singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," accompanied by physical education teacher and pianist, Marcelo Silveira de Almeida. The collaboration set a powerful tone of belonging and unity that resonated throughout the day. I was so honored to introduce Marcelo and the community to the song, and I was equally impressed that he memorized the song and played without music.
During our parent education session, we delved into the latest data surrounding belonging in Brazilian schools and brainstormed strategies to mitigate stereotypes. The session culminated in an evidence-based case study, equipping parents with concrete strategies to address common belonging issues leveraging a reflection and action protocol that I have designed.
Next, I facilitated a conversation with middle and upper school students from the São Paulo and Ribeirão Preto campuses. I engaged the group in inclusive leadership activities, learned more about their perceptions around belonging- both positive and growth areas- and ended the session leveraging the same reflection and action protocol to address a common belonging case study, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving. The students were incredible!
Afterward, I convened the Leadership Team to review data from the previous consultation, and to share themes from the parent and student workshops to inform Escola Concept’s Intercultural Competency and Belonging Model.
Our day concluded with educators from all three campuses - São Paulo (onsite), and Ribeirão Preto, and Salvador da Bahia via Zoom. Similar to the parent session, we delved into the latest research on stereotypes and processed the same case study as the students, which allowed educators to gain a deeper understanding of how students navigate these issues, while also building educator capacity to discuss and intervene during incidences of bullying and relational aggressing.
One of the most heartwarming moments from the day was the warm welcome from the students throughout the day who remembered me from my previous visit last May. Upon entering the school, I was immediately greeted with a friendly, "Hi, Dr. Derrick! Welcome back." Another student was very curious about which soccer team I root for. My response: "All of them!" This sense of community that permeates the entire campus is truly remarkable.
I look forward to my next visit to Escola Concept. Thank you for opportunity to be part of your inspiring journey.
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.
AMISA 2023 Governance Conference
I just completed an incredible three days at the American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA) 2023 Governance Conference, where I had the honor of delivering the final keynote address and workshop! We had full day of meaningful dialogue and reflection packed with eye-opening insights and invaluable strategic outcomes for heads of schools and board members.
The primary theoretical and experiential framings of the keynote were intercultural competency and cross cultural communications. During the session, we explored the ways in which one's background and identity informs perceptions and interactions with others. These insights were then translated into specific strategies to enhance board communication and effectiveness.
Conference content was robust- including unpacking various forms of identity (ranging from personality to organizational identity) to understanding how our backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures inform our communication styles, decision-making processes, feedback mechanisms, trust, notions of time, evaluation of ideas, and overall board dynamics.
I also incorporated previous conference content around polarity management, building on the previous keynotes led by Dr. Teresa Arpin and Jennifer Abrams, to provide meaningful school-specific case studies to ensure tangible outcomes.
Particularly enlightening was the discussion on LATAM DEIB data that I have collected over the past five years consulting in the region, shedding light on the importance on the strategic and region-specific execution of intercultural competency and belonging efforts in International and American schools across the region. Indeed, there is a paucity of data in this area, so I am proud to provide LATAM educational benchmark data around DEIB linguistic framings, challenges, and opportunities.
What truly made this event special were the participants. We had over 100 individuals representing more than 15 native nationalities, coming together to exchange ideas, experiences, and strategies to improve board communication and better live the mission of our AMISA schools. We left with specific insights and actionable strategies to enhance board communications at specific schools.
Many thanks to the incredibly committed heads of schools and board members who participated in the sessions, bringing your unique perspectives and experiences to the table. And a special thanks for Dr. Robin Heslip, Dr. Dereck Rhoads, and Adam Slaton
for their unwavering support of belonging across the region.
Together, we're forging a path towards more effective and inclusive governance to promote inclusive schools where all children thrive and flourish.
NESA Keynote: From Good Intentions to Informed Practice
I am thrilled to deliver a keynote and workshops at the NESA 2023 Fall Leadership Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. My keynote will provide research-based and pragmatic strategies to frame belonging conversations and efforts in NESA schools.
International school leaders have largely evolved beyond making the business case for diversity and inclusion to now grappling with design and implementation of inclusive practices, policies, and strategy to foster belonging for all school constituents – students, faculty and staff, and parents.
Notwithstanding, the context for DEIB efforts has shifted in meaningful ways over the past three years ranging from navigation of a global pandemic; acknowledgment of inclusion issues in international schools; increases in mental health issues among students; ongoing challenges for students navigating technology and social media ; and a politicization of belonging efforts around the world. Moreover, we have also changed, so inclusion efforts resonate in different ways relative to three years ago.
I look forward forward to synthesizing global and regional trends; providing a framework to explore the ways in which personal and collective identity informs engagement and design of intercultural competency efforts; and providing NESA-region best practices, pitfalls, and strategies to design and implement effective DEIB efforts.
Looking forward to reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and engaging in meaningful professional development.
AMISA Governance Conference
I am looking forward to facilitating these critical governance conversations with over 90 American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA) heads of schools and board members.
Many thanks to Dr. Dereck Rhoads and Adam Slaton for their leadership , and Dr. Teresa Arpin and Jennifer Abrams for their thought collaboration!
Exciting News: Inaugural Session of the LATAM DEIB Executive Leadership Cohort!
20 schools
14 countries
40 American and International School Heads of School and Senior Administrators
12 native nationalities.
Today was the inaugural session of our LATAM DEIB Executive Leadership Cohort. Over the next year, participants will convene both virtually and onsite to build inclusive leadership capacity to drive belonging in their respective schools and across the LATAM region. Our curriculum will include pragmatic case studies informed by participant data, relevant intercultural competency content, the IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory), and strategic DEIB development that empowers leaders to drive meaningful change to foster and sustain inclusive learning communities. I am honored to design and facilitate this learning journey for such incredible school leaders!
Meaningful Consultation at International School of Panama
I am grateful for another meaningful two-day consultation at International School of Panama a few weeks ago.
During my second consultation, I led fundamental intercultural competency capacity building with all employees. I grounded the conversation in key concepts of dignity, respect, belonging, and living the mission of the school.
In the spirit of providing multiple linguistic entry points, the first session was conducted in English and Spanish. Afterwards, I facilitated a subsequent session in English, for those who prefer to converse in English, and Spanish, for those who prefer to discuss these topics in Spanish.
During all three sessions, participants were courageous in their reflection and sharing with their colleagues. We concluded the first day by launching our belonging survey for all employees, in Spanish and English.
During the second day, I facilitated three employee focus groups in Spanish and three employee focus groups in English, to learn more about ways that ISP employees describe their sense of belonging and recommendations to deepen belonging for all. I ended the second day by reconvening the Belonging Task Force to design 2023-24 DEIB strategy.
To be sure, on both nights I ate incredible local Panamanian food with my new colleagues. I estimate I must may have eaten between 20-30 patacones (tostones) during my four days in Panama!
I can't wait to return in October to engage with students and parents/caregivers!
Intercultural Competency Capacity Building at Georgetown International Academy
I was delighted to lead intercultural competency capacity building with staffulty, administration, board members, and parents/caregivers at Georgetown International Academy in Georgetown, Guyana last week. As an added bonus, I witnessed the school's ribbon cutting ceremony as the new building was inaugurated.
This is a particularly exciting time to lead intercultural competency efforts in Guyana, as the country's international population has continuously increased since oil was discovered in 2015. The ability to communicate and respect individuals from different cultural backgrounds and viewpoints will be critical as demographics continue to shift.
I look forward to return later this year to work with students! Many thanks to Shauna Hobbs-Beckley, EdS, head of school, for her partnership in these important efforts.
Unconscious Bias & Microaggression Workshop with ILPA
I was thrilled to facilitate a second workshop with Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) employees onsite in Toronto exploring unconscious bias, microaggressions, and upstander strategies.
Many thanks to the entire ILPA team-- and a special thanks to Jyoti Marwaha, MSHRM, PHR, CPCC and Jennifer Carnithan Choi for their leadership and commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable organization.
Here is what Jennifer Carnithan Choi, CEO of ILPA, said of the session.
“Our incredible ILPA team gathered in Toronto last week for our twice-yearly offsite. Every six months, we set time aside as a team to reset, to reflect on our progress and to think creatively about the future of ILPA... our gratitude to Dr. Derrick Gay for an exceptional workshop on Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions - we are, as ever, excited to continue our journey as an inclusive organization. ”
Phantom of the Opera Closes on Broadway
Reminiscing on the bitter sweet moment a few months ago viewing the final Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera.
I was honored to serve as Diversity and Inclusion Strategist for this iconic show that graced Broadway for 35 years and remain hopeful that the show will return soon!