In this episode of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, hosts Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes engage with Jane Larsson, Executive Director of the Council of International Schools (CIS). They discuss the evolving landscape of international education, the importance of socially responsible leadership, and the innovative initiatives implemented by CIS to enhance educational practices.

Key topics include the moral responsibility of schools to provide international education, the need for empathy in leadership, and the introduction of competency-based assessment frameworks. The conversation highlights the significance of adapting educational practices to meet the diverse needs of global communities and the exciting future of international education.

Takeaways

• Every school should be providing an international education.
• We have a moral responsibility to help young people make sense of the world.
• Empathy is a crucial quality for leaders today.
• International education encompasses all forms of education.
• Understanding demographic trends is vital for future education planning.
• CIS is developing a developmental, differentiated approach to school evaluation and accreditation.
• Competency-based assessment is a new area of focus for international schools.
• Available in 2025, a new, open-source Pedagogy Playbook will guide schools in making pedagogical decisions.
• Socially responsible leadership is essential for the future of education.
• The future of international education is bright with innovative initiatives.

Sound Bites

"Every school should be providing an international education."

"We have a moral responsibility to help young people."

"International education is really all education."

"We need to be aware of trends in population and immigration and their relationship to education. They are intertwined.”

"We're creating socially responsible leaders."

"It's an exciting time to be in international schools."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Blue Skies Leadership Podcast

02:50 The Role of CIS in International Education

03:43 Vision for International Education

06:07 Leadership Development for Social Responsibility

08:28 Trends Shaping International Education

13:34 CIS's New Framework for School Evaluation and Accreditation

15:31 Innovative Partnerships and Initiatives

20:33 Competency-Based Assessment in Education

23:54 The CIS Pedagogy Playbook

26:17 Future Directions for CIS and International Education