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Erma Anderson
Erma Anderson
Biography
Erma Anderson is a former high school physics and mathematics teacher and Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellow in the United States Senate. She was a Senior Program Officer with the National Research Council assisting in the development of the National Science Education Standards and a Christa McAuliffe Fellow with the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education. She was Associate Project Director for the Council for Basic Education’s Schools Around the World project, developing and implementing the Evidence to Excellence protocol, professional development that used student work from participating countries to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics and science.
She has considerable experience developing and facilitating workshops, on site and online with multiple national and international entities. Currently, she is a Mathematics consultant working with international schools on implementing the AERO Mathematics Standards. In addition, she facilitates the Math Specialist in International Schools (MSIS) and Math Fellows in International Schools (MFIS) initiative. In the past 20 years, she has facilitated conversations around K12 math and science curriculum, instruction and assessment in over 150 international schools and facilitated hundreds of parent presentations on the teaching and learning of mathematics.
On many occasions, she has been recognized for her work in the international education community. In 2012, she received the Near East South Asia (NESA) Association of International Schools, Finis Engleman International Educator of Year Award. In 2015, she received the Mediterranean Association International Schools (MAIS) International Educator of Year Award.
James Abela
James Abela
Biography
James Abela, Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship at Garden International School, combines his extensive industry experience with a passion for education. Since 2012, he has been instrumental in shaping the UK computing curriculum. He is the author of Creating SwiftUI Apps in Playgrounds, Parenting and Teaching in the Age of AI, The Gamified Classroom and the Oxford University Press IB Diploma Computer Science book. As the founder of the Southeast Asia Computer Science Teachers Association (SEACSTA), James has become a key figure in computer science education. His accolades include being named 21st Century Teacher of the Year in 2014, an Apple Distinguished Educator (Class Cork 2012), and a finalist for the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award in 2023. James also runs workshops and writes curriculum resources, inspiring students to pursue their passions and attend world-renowned universities such as Harvard, Cambridge, Imperial and Carnegie Mellon.
Ewen Bailey
Ewen Bailey
Biography
Ewen is an experienced international leader in education who supports teachers and leaders to build resilient, collaborative teams that focus on continuous improvement. Nothing brings Ewen more joy than enabling others to thrive.
Ewen has directed whole-school professional development for one of China's top IB World schools, where he fostered a collaborative culture of student-centered professional learning. He has led numerous whole school strategic improvement initiatives, including ICT integration, professional growth & evaluation, leadership development, and staff on-boarding. During the pandemic, he lead an innovative project with England's Department for Education and Oak National Academy that delivered high quality online training resources for thousands of initial teacher trainees and early career teachers.
Ewen started his teaching career in Manchester, England, in 2009 with the prestigious Teach First leadership development program. After becoming a Teach First Ambassador in 2011, Ewen pursued an international career, teaching and leading in CIS and IB accredited schools in Oman, China and Singapore. In addition to extensive experience of teaching MYP, iGCSE sciences and IBDP Biology, Ewen understands the complex nature of schools from his extensive pastoral and academic leadership experience, as well as whole school executive leadership of professional growth and evaluation.
Aaron Beighle
Aaron Beighle
Biography
Dr. Aaron Beighle is an internationally recognized scholar of physical education and school-based physical activity promotion at the University of Kentucky. Beighle regularly collaborates with schools and organizations interested in physical education as well as youth physical activity promotion. He has written over 100 research-based and practical articles and six books, most notably Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children. Aaron recently contributed to making this book's widely used lesson plans available via dynamicpeasap.com. Dr. Beighle presents nationally and internationally on strategies for maximizing the impact of movement to address the physical, mental, cognitive and social needs of students. In addition, Aaron works with many educational organizations to address well-being via whole-school physical activity promotion for the entire community. Beighle holds a steadfast commitment to helping physical education guide ALL students on a journey that makes physical activity a meaningful part of their lives.
Joel Birch
Joel Birch
Biography
Joel Birch is an educator, learning designer, facilitator, and conscientious objector to ever fully growing up.
As a Certified Facilitator of LEGO Serious Play, Joel uses the power of play, stories, and solving problems by thinking with our hands to help individuals and teams to craft deep understanding, rich communication, and creative solutions. Why work on a challenge when you could play with it instead?
Building on a successful career enabling and developing the creativity of children and their teachers in schools in Perth and overseas, he now works across a wide range of industries, with groups ranging from youth to senior leadership.
Nyssa Brown
Nyssa Brown
Biography
Nyssa Brown is an international arts education consultant with Music Ed Forward who works with educators around the globe to build student-centered, concept-based, inquiry-driven arts curriculum. With 25+ years of teaching experience with both students and adults, Nyssa empowers learners of all ages to build on their current knowledge and envision new possibilities. Ms. Brown served on the writing committee for the National Core Arts Standards and is an Erickson and Lanning Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Certified Trainer. She was a finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year and received a prestigious Milken Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. Passionate about global contexts, Nyssa taught at American School of the Hague and the International School of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, The American Embassy School in New Delhi, India and in both Namibia and South Africa, through a fellowship offered by the Eastman School of Music's Umculo: The Kimberley Project.
Daniel Budd
Daniel Budd
Biography
Daniel is an Apple Professional Learning Specialist and Apple Distinguished Educator from Perth, Western Australia, currently serving as the School-Wide Technology Team Leader at Hong Kong International School. At HKIS, Daniel spearheaded the design and development of an inclusive and modern Computer Science program by integrating it into the NCAS Media Arts Standards. A strong advocate for the pedagogical integration of technology, Daniel focuses on the transformative potential of STEM education, robotics and the evolving role of AI in shaping teaching and learning approaches. As a Speaker, Author and International Educator, Daniel has written extensively on Coding, App Development, and the impact of emerging technologies on education. He has delivered keynotes and workshops across Australia, South-East Asia, China and USA, inspiring educators worldwide to embrace innovation in their teaching practices.
Kim Cofino
Kim Cofino
Biography
Kim has been an educator in international schools since August 2000. Having lived and worked in Germany, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, Kim has had a variety of roles in international schools, including (her favorite) instructional coach. Now based in Bangkok, Thailand, Kim is the Founder and CEO of Eduro Learning, Executive Director and Founder of the Association for the Advancement of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (AAICIS), author of Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (Routledge), and host of the #coachbetter podcast.
Find out more about Kim and Eduro at: https://www.edurolearning.com
Michelle Cummings
Michelle Cummings
Biography
Michelle Cummings is the chief academic officer (CAO) at Brisk Teaching, a role she previously held at Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT). She is the author of The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide, 5th ed published by Jossey-Bass in 2024. With an extensive career in K-12 education and ed tech, Michelle has taught secondary English and social studies in the U.S. and Switzerland. She served as an elementary principal, high school principal, and assistant superintendent. AASA honored her with the Women in Leadership award. Michelle graduated from Brown University and earned her Ed.M at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Born and raised in New Orleans, she now lives in New York City.
Clyde Gaw
Clyde Gaw
Biography
Clyde Gaw (he, him, his) is a teacher, artist, researcher and caregiver. Gaw is known for his professional development work with Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB). He is a member of the National Art Education Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness and Art Education Association of Indiana where he has been advocacy advisor since 2005. Gaw began teaching in 1984 at Indianapolis Public Schools and has taught at New Palestine Community Schools for the past 39 years. Since 2014, he has served as professor of continuing studies at Massachusetts College of Art and Design where he is studio manager of the TAB Institute. Gaw is a two time co-editor of School Arts Magazine, three-time artist in residence at the Indiana State Museum and has written numerous articles and book chapters including "Inside Communities of Studio Practice," “The Secret Art of Boys,” and “In Search of Generative Experience.”
Leslie Grant
Leslie Grant
Biography
Leslie W. Grant is an Associate Professor of Education in the Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership Department. Her research interests focus on classroom-based assessments and international comparisons of teaching and learning. She is involved in several research projects, including international comparative case studies of award-winning teachers in the United States and China and the efficacy of development assessment literacy in pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and educational leaders. Dr. Grant began her career in education as a middle school teacher and later served as a test developer, content editor and item writer for the California Testing Bureau (CTB/McGraw-Hill).
Dr. Grant is the co-author of several books and articles, including West Meets East: Best Practices from Expert Teachers in the United States and China (ASCD, 2014), Teacher-Made Assessments: How to Connect Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Learning (Routledge, 2015), and Student Achievement Goal Setting: Using Data to Improve Teaching and Learning (Routledge, 2009). She is a past president of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and of the Consortium for Research on Educational Assessment and Teaching Effectiveness (CREATE), serving on the board of directors for both organizations. Dr. Grant frequently works with schools and school districts, both within the United States and internationally, and presents at international, national, and state level conferences in the areas of classroom-based assessments, the use of data to improve student learning, and cross-cultural comparisons of effective teaching practices. In addition, she consults with state education agencies and international schools on the development of assessment systems.
Matt Harris
Matt Harris
Biography
Matt Harris, Ed.D.’s experience and expertise lie at the nexus of technology, learning, and the global education landscape. Currently, Dr. Harris is the Co-Founder and CEO of ChildSafeguarding.com, an eLearning company that offers child abuse prevention education to support staff and parent volunteers in all schools around the world. The course meets the needs of all learners regardless of literacy level, geography, or language. Previously, Dr. Harris worked as an educational leader and teacher in schools and universities in North America and Asia. He served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Jeremy Holien
Jeremy Holien
Biography
Jeremy Holien is the Visual and Media Arts Education Specialist at Minnesota’s Perpich Center for Arts Education and an international arts education consultant. He empowers educators to design innovative, cross-disciplinary arts experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and visual/media literacies across K-12 and post-secondary education.
Expertise & Contributions:
Curriculum & Standards Development
Co-authored the National Core Arts Standards in Media Arts.
Led the integration of media arts into Minnesota’s Academic Standards, shaping arts education across the state.
Professional Learning & Leadership
Develops and delivers professional learning for visual and media arts educators.
Advises schools, districts, and universities on curriculum, assessment, and program development globally.
Served as Director of the National Art Education Association’s Supervision and Administration Division (2021-2023).
Arts Advocacy & Innovation
Advances visual and media literacy as essential components of 21st-century education.
Integrates emerging technologies to expand creative possibilities in arts learning.
Leverages data-driven approaches to enhance arts programs and strategic planning.
Recognition & Global Impact
Honored with the Art Educators of Minnesota Distinguished Service Award, PBS Digital Innovator Award, and TIES Exceptional Teacher Award.
Delivers international professional development on conceptual learning frameworks, curriculum and assessment design, and leadership in arts education.
Holien champions the transformative power of the arts, equipping students with the skills and artistic literacies to navigate an increasingly visual and media-driven world.
Michael Iannini
Michael Iannini
Biography
Michael Iannini is an Author, ACAMIS’s Leadership Development Facilitator, Board Member for Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN), Co-founder of PeerSphere, and a Council of International School’s (CIS) Affiliated Consultant with the following areas of expertise:
Appraisal and Professional Development
Leadership Training
School Governance
Strategic Planning
Michael's first book, Hidden in Plain Site: Realizing the Full Potential of Middle Leaders, is the foundation for all his leadership development work. Since writing this book he launched www.peer-sphere.com, where he regularly engages with a variety of school leaders in different peer learning communities.
Joel Jr Llaban
Joel Jr Llaban
Biography
Joel Jr LLABAN | (siya, he, him) is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice of the International Schools Services (ISS). He is a learner and an international education leader who is committed to our collective work for the transformation of international education grounded on anti-racism and DEIJ. Prior to his current role, he was a Learning Specialist, Instructional Coach, and schoolwide DEIJ Lead at The International School of Kuala Lumpur.
Joel has been in education for 20 years. He worked at the International School of Brussels, International School of Beijing, and Cebu International School as a classroom teacher, department coordinator, and accreditation coordinator. He has led schoolwide initiatives in curriculum, assessment, professional development, innovation. Joel has been involved in accreditation as a team evaluator during team visits representing NEASC and CIS. He leads various professional learning for international schools and organizations.
Joel served in an advisory role of the CIS Board Committee on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Anti Racism. He is also a member of the Editorial Team of The International Educator. Joel holds a Master of Education in International Education Administration from Endicott College in Massachusetts and a Certificate of International School Leadership from The Principals Training Center, where he also teaches a PTC course Leading DEIJB in International Schools. Joel is a program lead for DEIJ Learning to Action at ISS and facilitates AIELOC/SUNY DEIJ Leadership Certificate Program. He is a proud member of AIELOC and Diversity Collaborative. He is a dog parent to Frida, a poodle, and Asgier, a schnauzer.
Matt Lynch
Matt Lynch
Biography
I am a third-culture kid, born to an Irish father and an American mother, raised in France, and now living in Amsterdam. I discovered my passion for theatre on the streets of Penang, Malaysia, working with Teater Muda, a youth theatre company. There, I witnessed firsthand the power of theatre to transform, uplift, and bring together people from diverse backgrounds. Inspired by this experience, I trained directly under Jacques Lecoq and became a founding member of Diehard Players Paris.
I believe, as Martin Esslin put it, that theatre is “a form of philosophizing not in the abstract but in concrete terms” - a fun and dynamic way to explore the human(e) condition. As Artistic Director of Opera Armida, a collective of experimental artists, I create operatic installations that merge sound, word, and movement to explore social issues and foster aesthetic epiphanies. Leading devised opera-theatre productions for the Dutch National Opera, I remain committed to creating work that resonate, challenge, and unite.
Ellen Mahoney
Ellen Mahoney
Biography
Ellen Mahoney, CEO of Sea Change Mentoring and an alumna of international schools, founded her organization in 2013 after extensive experience in education and youth development. Certified in mentoring supervision through Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Work, she champions a relationship-centered approach to education, working with schools to strengthen connections between students, educators, and families. Her work focuses on creating supportive educational environments where students can develop strong social-emotional skills and grow into engaged, contributing members of our global society. As the Social and Emotional co-chair of AAIE's Crisis Management Taskforce and a Council of International Schools (CIS) Affiliated Consultant, she continues to shape SEL practices globally. Ellen has contributed to numerous publications on student wellbeing, including authoring research on international school transitions and contributing to the SEL section of the NESA Instructional Coherence Guide and the digital mentoring section of
the US's youth mentoring national standards. Ellen and her team at Sea Change provides crucial support to schools impacted by crisis, having published "Support Students in Crisis: The Educator's Guide for Students Impacted by the Trauma of War and Violence." She hosts The Sea Change Podcast and runs the Global Educator Book Club, exploring the intersection of SEL and international education. Based in Hong Kong, Ellen travels worldwide to support school communities in implementing effective SEL and mentoring programs.
Susie March
Susie March
Biography
A recognised and accomplished thought leader in sexuality education and safeguarding, Susie offers specialised services in preparing international schools to implement Comprehensive Sexuality and Health Education - she believes in Child Protection through Education.
In 2018, UNESCO revised their Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. This document has been widely adopted by international schools. Working with school leadership in over 80 schools across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, Susie has successfully used the UNESCO framework to guide the teams in planning and implementing CSE programs - including policy, curriculum and ongoing teacher professional development.
Using UNESCO’s frameworks, she has developed data-driven tools for Student Voice - the outcomes feeding into decision making on scope and sequence.
She firmly believes in building culturally contextual programs that foster a safe and supportive environment, ones that enable teachers to support students in making informed choices regarding their health, relationships and future decision making.
Susie is a Council of International Schools (CIS) Affiliated Consultant and serving member of the International Task Force on Child Protection. She is a regular speaker and facilitator at educational conferences hosted by organizations such as CIS, ECIS, AAIE, ISCA, and ISS.
Joy Marchese
Joy Marchese
Biography
JOY MARCHESE is a leading global educational consultant, author, keynote speaker, and emotional architect with over 25 years of experience in education and wellbeing. As the Founder of Positive Discipline UK, she has empowered thousands of children, parents, and educators, creating environments where everyone can thrive.
Joy specializes in Social Emotional and Ethical Learning, developing courses and resources that foster social-emotional wellbeing. She is the co-author of Positive Discipline for Today’s Busy (& Overwhelmed) Parent, a Lead Trainer for the Positive Discipline Association, and a trainer for "Training from the Back of the Room." Additionally, Joy serves as a facilitator and assessor for the Bridge Model.
Passionate about positive psychology, parenting, and professional development, Joy offers valuable insights into modern parenting and relationships, helping individuals cultivate a sense of belonging and significance in their lives.
Scott Mcleod
Scott Mcleod
Biography
A Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is on a mission to make students’ day-to-day learning less boring and more meaningful and relevant. Scott is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and is the co-creator of both the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens), and the 4 Shifts Protocol for lesson and unit redesign.
Scott has worked with hundreds of schools, districts, universities, and other organizations and has received numerous awards for his technology leadership work, including the 2016 Award for Outstanding Leadership from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Scott blogs about leadership and innovation at Dangerously Irrelevant and is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at regional, state, national, and international conferences. Scott also hosts two podcasts, LeaderTalk and Redesigning for Deeper Learning.
Scott currently serves as a Senior Fellow for Getting Smart, a Fellow for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, an ISTE Community Leader, InnEdCO Ambassador, and on NAESP’s Professional Learning Advisory Council. He has written or edited 4 books and 170 articles and other publications, and is one of the most visible education professors in the United States. His most recent work focuses on what deeper learning looks like in elementary and middle schools.
Dain Said
Dain Said
Biography
Dain Said was born and lives in Malaysia, spending his formative years in Egypt and the UK where he studied film at Westminster University and has been a practicing filmmaker in Malaysia for 30 years. He works in diverse areas of artistic practices such as Video Art, Documentary, and Films, and is the Director of the SEAShorts Film Festival. He is passionate about teaching and giving workshops to the young and communities in the country and the region.
Ken Shelton
Ken Shelton
Biography
Ken (He/Him/His) is a highly distinguished, multi-award-winning professional and best-selling author in the field of education. He holds a Master’s degree in Education with a specific focus on Educational Technology and New Media Design and Production. His academic background is complemented by over two decades of teaching experience, with a significant part of his career devoted to shaping young minds at the Middle School level. Ken is an esteemed and highly sought-after thought leader in education, particularly in the areas of educational technology, learning experience design, and leadership development. Ken’s expertise also extends to the sphere of policy-making/policy advisement, including being a notable figure on a California State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Education Technology Task Force. A committed advocate for equitable learning opportunities, he regularly imparts knowledge, inspiration, and insights through keynote speeches, personalized consulting, organizational culture/change, school/district transformation, and hands-on workshops. His range of expertise covers an array of topics, including but not limited to, Organizational Leadership, Policy Analysis, Policy Development, School/District Transformation, Inclusive Learning Environments, Antibias/Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Media Literacy, Cultural Intelligence, Design, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and in the emerging technology field of Artificial Intelligence. His most recent impact in the area of AI includes supporting the development of school/district/system policy, advisement, professional development planning, and leading workshops for educators across all levels of responsibility. He is the co-author of a best-selling book on the topic of artificial intelligence titled, “The Promises and Perils of AI in Education: Ethics and Equity Have Entered the Chat.”
Amy Lauren Smith
Amy Lauren Smith
Biography
Amy Lauren Smith currently teaches Health & Wellbeing at Hong Kong International School, where she also serves as Schoolwide Health Coordinator. With over 15 years of experience in curriculum design and international education, Amy works as a consultant with schools looking to align their approach to whole-school wellness, Health, and SEL. She presents at conferences around the world and remains active in the field through her work with SHAPE America and as Secretary of Health for the International Alliance for Health, PE, Dance, and Sport.
You can find her online at thehealthteacher.com
James Stronge
James Stronge
Biography
James H. Stronge is a Heritage Professor of Education, a distinguished professorship, at William & Mary. He teaches doctoral courses within the Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership Department, with a particular focus on teacher and leader effectiveness, human resource leadership, legal issues in education, and research design. Additionally, in conjunction with others, his work at William & Mary has led to externally-funded grants of contracts totaling more than $28,000,000 to date.
Dr. Stronge’s research interests include policy and practice related to teacher quality and effectiveness, teacher and administrator evaluation, and teacher selection. He has worked with numerous state departments of education, school districts, and national and international educational organizations to design and implement evaluation and hiring systems for teachers, administrators, and support personnel. Recently, he completed work on new teacher and principal evaluation systems for American international schools in conjunction with the Association of American Schools in South America and supported by the U.S. Department of State. Stronge has made more than 350 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences, and conducted workshops for educational organizations extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally. Among his current research projects are: 1) international comparative studies of national award-winning teachers in the United States and China, and 2) influences of economic and societal trends on student academic performance in countries globally. His most recent books include What Makes a World-Class School and How We Can Get There (2017, ASCD), Qualities of Effective Teachers, 3rd Ed. (2018, ASCD), Qualities of Effective Principals, 2nd Ed. (2021, ASCD), and International Beliefs and Practices that Characterize Teacher Effectiveness (co-editor) (2021, IGI Global).
Stronge has authored, co-authored, or edited 34 books and more than 200 articles, chapters, and technical reports. He was a founding member of the board of directors for the Consortium for Research on Educational Assessment and Teacher Effectiveness, and was selected as the 2012 national recipient of the Millman Award from CREATE in recognition of his work in the field of teacher and administrator evaluation.
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