In this episode, hosts, Daniel Mendes and Dan Kerr, celebrate the 20th episode of their podcast, reflecting on their journey and the insights gained from various educational leaders. They discuss the evolving purpose of education, emphasizing the importance of community enrichment and personalizing the educational experience. Tim Carr, a seasoned international education leader, shares his vision for schools as places of safety and self-discovery, advocating for a shift from traditional factory-like models to more humane learning environments. The conversation also touches on the balance of courage and humility in leadership, the significance of coaching, and the trends shaping the future of international education, including the need for collaboration and community engagement.

Takeaways

• Education should enrich both the school community and the wider community.
• Celebrating milestones helps reflect on growth and progress.
• Building relationships is at the heart of effective education.
• Schools should be places where everyone feels embraced and valued.
• The phrase 'best for the world' personalizes the educational mission.
• Courage and humility are essential qualities for effective leadership.
• Coaching can lead to significant personal and professional growth.
• International schools have the freedom to innovate and collaborate.
• Education should focus on addressing global challenges and community needs.
• Seeing others thrive is the ultimate reward for educators.

Sound Bites

"We're in 88 different countries."

"It's all about relationships."

"A place where everyone feels embraced."

Chapters

00:00 The Purpose of Education: Enriching Communities

02:56 Celebrating Milestones: Reflections on the Podcast Journey

05:52 Blue Sky Vision: Rethinking the Role of Schools

09:01 Best for the World: Personalizing Education

12:08 Courage and Humility: Leading Through Challenges

14:59 The Role of Leadership Coaching in Education

18:00 Trends Shaping International Education

21:08 Collaboration and Community: The Future of Schools

23:46 Leadership Lessons: Adapting to Change

27:04 The Impact of Education: Flourishing Communities

30:08 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Goals

TitlesBest FOR the World: Redefining the Purpose of SchoolThe Courage-Humility Polarity: Leading in a Liminal TimeBeyond the Assembly Line: Designing More Humane Learning EnvironmentsIslands of Sanity: Finding Joy in the Future of EducationThe Learning Commons: Reciprocity as a Leadership Edge

education, leadership, international schools, community, coaching, trends, collaboration, courage, humility, future of education

In our first repeat guest on the show, Dr. Derrick Gay discusses intercultural competency—the knowledge, skills, and capacity to communicate and interact across difference with empathy and respect—as a core professional practice in international education to deepen belonging, He examines common misconceptions that reduce culture to surface-level traits, and offers a more nuanced framework for understanding how values, norms, and power operate beneath the surface, including through the cultural iceberg metaphor. The conversation also explores how schools can build staff capacity across age groups and roles, strengthen collaboration among local and international colleagues, and design structures (such as effective committees, shared language, and clear norms) that support adaptive change while sustaining dignity and respect across the community.

Takeaways

• Belonging is a fundamental human need that is scientifically grounded.

• Dignity and respect should be the core values in educational organizations.

• Intercultural competency is not just about exposure but requires understanding and adaptability.

• Effective belonging committees should include wide range of different backgrounds, voices and perspectives..

• The cultural iceberg metaphor helps in understanding deeper cultural norms and values.

• Empathy should be scaffolded in educational conversations to promote understanding.

• Professional learning should involve both local and foreign staff to enhance belonging.

• Children are motivated to be kind and empathic; we should tap into that.

• It's essential to create spaces for courageous conversations about cultural clashes.

• The work of belonging is ongoing and requires commitment from all stakeholders.

Sound bites

• "You're wired to have this sense of belonging."
• "Exposure is not the same as competency."
• "My passion and my vocation are the same."

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Belonging

05:01 Navigating Change and Dignity in Education

09:45 Adapting Approaches for Different Age Groups

16:09 Intercultural Competency and Its Misconceptions

22:00 Building Effective Belonging Committees

26:00 Understanding the Cultural Iceberg

30:02 Bridging Gaps Between Local and Foreign Staff

35:08 Looking Ahead: Future of Belonging in Education

Keywords

belonging, education, intercultural competency, dignity, change management, international schools, community, belonging committees, cultural iceberg, professional learning

Summary

Our Blue Skies Leadership conversation emphasizes the urgent need for education to adapt to the pressing global challenges faced by the next generation. This episode highlights the Global Impact Diploma and the importance of equipping young people with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills and a problem-solving mindset to address issues like climate change, inequality, and economic uncertainty.

How to Connect

https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-impact-diploma/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-topf-0a062464/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-bonnici-ba894b86/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mendesd/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kerr-b0a82520/

Takeaways

• Young people must act now, not just after school.

• Education needs to adapt to current global challenges.

• Addressing climate change with urgency is critical.

• Rising inequality demands immediate attention.

• Wars and conflicts are shaping the educational landscape.

• A problem-solving mindset is essential for youth.

• The next generation should feel a sense of agency.

• Leadership skills are crucial for young people today.

• Global economic uncertainty requires innovative solutions.

• Education should empower youth to lead change.

Sound bites

• "The world feels like it's at a point where young people can't just wait."
• "Education has to follow this shift because there's too much urgency."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Global Impact Diploma

00:32 Getting Involved with the Global Impact Diploma