By Jill McPherson From an early age, I knew I wanted to work with children. I was the child who loved holding babies, the teenager who relished babysitting that parents sought out because their children requested me. I engaged with them, played with them—I was the babysitter my younger self would have wanted. I pursued...Read More

By Bradley Bird At the heart of great schools is one simple but powerful truth: when teachers are engaged – truly engaged – the whole school ecosystem thrives. From stronger student outcomes to healthier culture and sustained innovation, the ripple effects of empowered educators can never be overstated. But this transformation doesn’t happen by accident....Read More

By Jennifer Johnson You run a high-energy drill. You repeat an instruction, again. You urge the team to reset and refocus but nothing’s clicking. You’re left wondering: Why aren’t they getting it? These moments are invitations to pause and reflect on how you’re connecting. Beneath the surface of performance lies a deeper influence on sport...Read More

By Julie Peterson, Principal, Woodford House, NZ I have always seen education as the land of opportunity. The role of teacher is narrowly typecast by those who have passed through their classrooms and people don’t realize how varied teaching positions can be. I started out as an English teacher and have had the most diverse...Read More

By Andy Rodford and Jennifer Johnson Why Trust Matters in Leadership Trust is not an abstract ideal; it’s the invisible thread that holds organizations together. Trust influences everything, from relationships to staff morale, stakeholder engagement, community culture, and team dynamics. Research consistently highlights the role of trust as a key factor in organizational effectiveness.  When...Read More

By Jennifer Johnson  We all remember showing up to Phys. Ed. class with a mix of trepidation and excitement. It was a place to stretch ourselves, both literally and figuratively, share sides of ourself that may not show up in the classroom, interact with others, and have fun. Health and Physical Education (HPE) is a...Read More

by Stephanie Zantingh As IB educators, we continually seek curricula that support our mission to cultivate self-awareness and empathy in students, developing attributes such as care for others, open-mindedness, reflective thinking, risk-taking, and the pursuit of balance. These attributes of the IB Learner Profile, developed in students through the explicit teaching of skills, are essential...Read More

By Mike Anderson As both an elementary school principal and a U17 Girls’ Basketball Coach, I know how important it is for youth to face challenges in positive environments, outside of the traditional school setting.  It gives young people an opportunity to be mentored in a focused way, and it expands their identity and community....Read More

by BRIGHT LIGHT Paul Dwyer   Teaching Students to Be Genuine in Disingenuous Times   Students’ Lens on Reality I am fascinated by how much information we are exposed to each day. Studies say it averages 100GB every day which is the equivalent of watching the entire series of Stranger Things. By contrast, teachers grew...Read More

by James Darling   Being the Director of Character and Leadership Development at Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill, Ontario Canada is my dream job because I get to hang out in the classrooms and in the hallways and think about how we can develop better leadership, character, and values in our students. But the...Read More