Invited Guest Presenters

Jennifer Abrams is a communications consultant who works with educators and others on building healthy, professional learning cultures, being generationally savvy, effective collaboration skills, and having hard conversations.

Jennifer’s publications include Having Hard Conversations, The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate & Create Community, Hard Conversations Unpacked - the Whos, Whens and What Ifs, and Swimming in the Deep End: Four Foundational Skills for Leading Successful School Initiatives.  Her newest book is Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work.  

Jennifer has been invited to keynote, facilitate and coach at schools and conferences in across North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.  She is honored to have been named one of the “18 Women All K-12 Educators Should Know,” by Education Week’s ‘Finding Common Ground’’ blog.  More about Jennifer’s work can be found at her website, www.jenniferabrams.com, and on Twitter @jenniferabrams. 

Warren Apel is the Director of Technology at The American School in Japan.

Javier is the Founder and Executive Director of COGx, a research and development firm in applied cognitive science. In partnership with global experts on human learning, COGx translates learning science into evidence-based programs that improve teaching and learning. COGx works with school systems and organizations that strive to make learning success a priority and are interested in improving traditional schooling through science-based approaches that foster equity, digital inclusion, and develop lifelong learners.

Javier leads product development the organization’s global strategic partnerships. COGx has been recognized as a leading company innovating to improve learning outcomes by the US Government (TEDCO), and Ministry of Education in United Arab Emirates (Dubai Future Accelerator) and Stanford University (SLEI).

Javier is a frequent speaker on the topic of modernizing education, addressing the needs of marginalized communities, cognition and learning and translating cognitive science research to improve learning outcomes. Javier has published over 40 articles and essays and presented at the numerous global conferences including: TEDx; World Government Summit; BETT Education Conference (Asia); Learning & the Brain (US); Future of Education & Technology (US); ECIS (Europe); AMISA & ASOMEX (Latin America); Middle East Special Needs Conference; Festival of Learning (Abu Dhabi); Global Positive Education Conference, among others. Javier has also been interviewed by CNN and other global news outlets.

“Some of the most complex people and talent problems are easy to resolve if the executive can have a thought partner who helps them relax, step back and look at the problem differently.”

Terence’s primary goal is applying everything he knows about industrial psychology to make the workplace a better and more productive environment. He does this by digging in deep to the problems at hand, while helping executives develop engaged and more effective talent pools. Having lived overseas for three years, Terence particularly loves serving CMA’s international clients.

Early in his career, Terence worked as an internal consultant in an academic medical setting before joining the CMA team. Trained in both clinical and industrial/organizational psychology, he holds a Bachelor of Science from The College of William and Mary, a Master of Science from Bucknell University and a Doctorate from Saint Louis University.

He is a licensed psychologist in Missouri and is repeatedly published as the principal author in international, peer-reviewed journals on issues of stress management, personal resiliency and psychological wellbeing. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the Society for Consulting Psychology.

He lives with his wife and two daughters, and he loves to run every day.

Angie Browne is a former education leader and the director of Being Luminary, a global diversity, equity, and inclusion consultancy company. With a track record of delivering transformational equity strategies in organisations worldwide, Angela has become a luminary in her field. Her work with hundreds of leaders and her successful programmes, including the Being Luminary Programme and a middle leadership initiative, have profoundly impacted organisations seeking profound and sustainable change.

In addition to her role at Being Luminary, Angie collaborates with organisations such as FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) and BSME (British Schools in the Middle East) to develop bespoke region-specific training. Her commitment to ethical leadership is evident through her extensive research in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Angela has a Diploma in Transformational Life Coaching (Animus / ICF) and is currently working on her second book. Her new equity programme for service providers, coaches, and consultants will launch in 2024.

Angie's career spans 23 years, during which she worked in diverse educational settings. From serving as a Head of English in inner-city schools to her role as Interim Deputy CEO of a semi-rural multi-academy trust, Angela's experiences give her a unique perspective on the shared challenges leaders face across various sectors in today's society.

Interactive Components:

• Equity Maturity Evaluation Activity: Participants will engage in a guided activity using the equity maturity approach to assess their school's current DEI climate and identify key strengths and areas for growth.

• Timely Inquiry Workshop: With facilitated discussions and self-assessment exercises, attendees will learn to ask the right questions at the right time to enhance their DEI leadership.

• Inclusive Practices Exploration: Participants will learn about and discuss inclusive policies and practices that can be implemented to support diverse student and staff populations.

• Community Engagement Strategies: Interactive exercises to explore strategies for engaging the broader school community in DEI initiatives and fostering a sense of belonging for all.

• Overcoming Challenges Discussion: A facilitated discussion on common challenges and resistance to DEI initiatives, with shared strategies and solutions among participants.

• Impact Measurement Basics: An introduction to methods for measuring the impact of DEI efforts and using initial data to drive continuous improvement.

Having served as head of some of the iconic international schools in the world for 20+ years, Tim has been on a quest to discover and share some of the keys to transformational learning. With an eye towards the future of schooling, Tim focusses on building and nurturing learning communities with vivid and motivating visions. Since returning to his passport country in 2017, Tim served as a Senior Advisor with Avenues: The World School, and is now a leadership coach and consultant to schools around the world. 

Mark Church works with schools throughout the world wishing to create cultures of thinking in their classrooms. He believes in the difference teachers can make for students when they strive to make thinking visible, valued, and actively promoted as part of the day-to-day experience of their learners. Mark encourages teachers to become students of their students, and more broadly, students of themselves and the choices they make to leverage the power of making thinking visible. 

Mark is currently a consultant with Harvard Project Zero’s Making Thinking Visible and Cultures of Thinking initiatives, drawing upon his own classroom teaching experience and from the perspectives he has gained working with educators throughout the world. Together with Ron Ritchhart, Mark is co-author of the book Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners (Jossey-Bass, 2011) and The Power of Making Thinking Visible: Practices to Engage and Empower All Learners (Jossey-Bass, 2020).

Kapono Ciotti attributes his educational philosophy to his own schooling experience in a progressive, social-constructivist school during his early years in Honolulu, Hawaii. He taught in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Dakar, Senegal, for over a decade before moving into school leadership. Kapono has led schools in the United States and Egypt, where he put into practice the philosophy of "students making the world a better place," shifting school culture to impact-based education practice. His strong belief in education being an act of social justice drives his work.

Kapono has worked internationally in educational change organizations, leading the work of Deeper Learning and place and culture-based pedagogy, and he is currently the Executive Director for What School Could Be. In these roles, he has trained teachers in over 100 schools and school districts over four continents, impacting hundreds of thousands of students. In addition, Kapono spent 15 years as National Faculty for the National Association of Independent Schools in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, facilitating national and international learning experiences. As a curriculum writer, he has authored multiple curricula for federal and non-profit programs. His work has significantly contributed to the organizations What School Could Be, The Buck Institute, EdLeader21, The Pacific American Foundation, and many others.

Kapono holds a Ph.D. in International Education Leadership from Northcentral University, a Masters degree in Social Change and Development from the University of Newcastle, and a Bachelors of Language and Culture from the Evergreen State College. He currently lives between Hawaii, Cairo, Egypt, and Dakar Senegal.

Bob Connor has served as an Athletics-Activities Director internationally throughout five decades in various countries (Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Chile, & Vietnam); working in both small and large schools. He approached his role with passion, pride and a determination to build strong athletics/activities programs; collaborating with and supporting superb advisors/coaches and building outstanding school-community spirit. 

Since retiring from education in 2018, Bob has transitioned into a new career as a Health & Fitness Coach. Currently, he works with individuals and small groups to improve and enhance their personal well-being. This often involves helping them create healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits, thereby reducing stress and infusing more energy into their daily lives. More about Bob’s current work can be found at his website, www.primalbob.com, and at his facebook group page Energy for Life; www.facebook.com/groups/www.energyforlife.

Bob’s undergraduate degree is from Springfield College, and he completed his master’s degree at San Diego State University in Educational Leadership.

After their many years overseas in international schools, Bob and his wife Claire have returned to the U.S., recently moving to live in a suburb just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

George Couros is a worldwide leader in the area of innovative teaching, learning, and leading, and he has a focus on innovation as a human endeavor. Most importantly, he is a proud father and husband. His belief that meaningful change happens when you first connect to people’s hearts is modeled in his writing and speaking. In his 20-plus years in the field of education, he has worked at all levels of school, from K-12 as a teacher, technology facilitator, and school and district administrator, and is currently an Adjunct Instructor with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. George is also the author of the books The Innovator’s Mindset; Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity, Innovate Inside the Box, the “Because of a Teacher” series as well as his latest book “What Makes a Great Principal.” George is also host of the popular education podcast “The Innovator’s Mindset.” 

He has keynoted hundreds of conferences, including national conferences on five different continents. His work has been translated into multiple languages due to its worldwide impact.

You can learn more about George at his website georgecouros.com

Greg Curtis is an author and independent education consultant.  He is currently based in Canada and has spent much of his career working with international schools around the world in all-school capacities.  Greg has been a technology director, a curriculum and professional learning director, and a strategic planner for international schools in Europe and Asia.  His current publications include Moving Beyond Busy: Focusing School Change on Why, What and How (Solution Tree, 2019), Leading 21st Century Learning: A Playbook for Vision-Driven Schools, Second Edition with Jay McTighe (ASCD and Solution Tree, 2019) and various blogs for the Mastery Transcript Consortium (https://mastery.org/author/gcurtis/).

Abigail DeLessio is an experienced senior executive with over 17 years of success in educational leadership and board relations, Abigail DeLessio partners with independent and international schools to provide strategic direction, focus, and insight, ensuring the identification and implementation of sustainable, strategic goals. Abbi has led two school boards, including chairing the Board of Managers at Hong Kong International School (HKIS), one of the premier independent schools in Asia. Abbi uses her experience in international school governance in her practice, working closely with school leadership to maximize strengths and identify opportunities for differentiation and growth. 

Abbi obtained a B.A. in Economics from Clark University and holds a Certified FT Non-Executive Director Diploma (Level 7). She has served as chair or member of numerous international boards including the Asian University for Women Hong Kong Support Foundation; the Child Development Centre; and the Support! International Foundation. Abbi lives in Tucson, AZ, and New York City, NY.

In August 2022, Debbie Downes joined The International Centre of Missing and Exploited Children as the Director of Global School Initiatives. In this role, she develops and provides child protection training, support, and resources to schools around the world. She has been supporting ICMEC’s work as a regional trainer since July 2020. 

Debbie has worked in international education for 18 years, first as an elementary teacher, then as school principal, and then as Accreditation and Child Protection Lead for Quality Schools International. She developed and revised handbooks, policies, and resources to support child protection efforts at a group of 36 international schools. She also supported schools with on-site and virtual professional development. 

Debbie’s background in child protection includes an MSW from the University of California at Berkeley and several years of experience working in the court unit of Children and Family Services in Contra Costa County, California. 

Dr. Darnell Fine is a middle school deputy principal in Singapore. He is an experienced facilitator of adult learning, focusing on curriculum, assessment, and culturally responsive teaching. He has provided hundreds of workshops and keynote presentations for conferences and educational institutions throughout the U.S. as well as Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. As a curriculum consultant, he reviews manuscripts and curricula for publishing companies, arts organizations, and universities. Darnell is a 2012 recipient of the Learning for Justice Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching and was named a 2021 Emerging Leader by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. After earning his Bachelor’s in Africana Studies and Education at Brown University, Darnell obtained his Teacher Support Specialist Endorsement at Georgia State University and his Master’s in Creative Writing in London. Dr. Fine holds an EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.

Marc Frankel, Ph. D., is a Senior Consultant and partner in Triangle Associates, an international consultancy specializing in higher, independent and international education. A psychologist by training, Dr. Frankel facilitates governance workshops, leadership development programs, and strategic planning for clients around the world, and coaches numerous senior leaders in universities and independent schools. His clients include schools in Europe, Asia and North America, including large and small institutions and Tier 1 universities.

Dr. Frankel is a member of the governing board at the Wildwood School (Los Angeles), and he lives in St. Louis, MO, and Asheville, NC.  Dr. Frankel’s undergraduate degree is from the University of Utah, and he completed his Masters and Ph.D. at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Frankel has been part of Triangle Associates for over 25 years.

Dr. Derrick Gay is a globally recognized Belonging and Intercultural Strategist, dedicated to fostering cultures of dignity and respect. With multifaceted expertise as an international speaker, author, researcher, educator, and university lecturer, Dr. Gay empowers individuals and organizations to deepen belonging and empathy by cultivating shared language, raising awareness, and fostering inclusive personal behaviors and organizational practices and policies.

Drawing from his extensive international experience, Dr. Gay designs meaningful strategies that resonate across a broad range of industries and cultures. His approach, informed by research and practitioner experiences in over 50 countries, facilitates meaningful connections and promotes belonging on a global scale.

Fluent in five languages, Dr. Gay has supported a broad clientele spanning the globe, including over 800 organizations in education, businesses, and the arts. Dr Gay is a proud graduate of Oberlin College, Oberlin Conservatory, Columbia University, and The University of Pennsylvania.

A lifelong educator, Dr. Gay began his career as a classroom teacher and senior administrator, and has served as adjunct faculty/lecturer at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, International Fashion

Academy, Parsons Paris, and Teachers College at Columbia University. He also currently serves on the board of MERIT Music School, having previously served on the boards of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Caedmon School, and Greens Farms Academy.

Finally, no stranger to the region, Dr. Gay delivered a keynote at last year’s EARCOS Leadership Conference and he has led efforts at Hong Kong International School, Canadian International School of Hong Kong,

International Schools Association Thailand, International School of Bangkok, Jakarta Intercultural School, Saigon South International School, Seoul International School, International School of Bangkok, Verso International and at Taipei American School.

Please learn more about Dr. Gay by visiting his website.

Chris Gould is an Independent Child Protection Consultant based in Australia. Chris operates 112 Safeguarding, which provides safeguarding input, training and case-based support to International Schools, Embassies and other expatriate communities in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. He was the Founder and Honorary Vice-President of Child-Safe International, a UK registered charity that was concerned with child protection and safety for young people primarily in homestay settings. Prior to his consulting work, Chris completed 30 years of service with the British Police finishing as a Detective Chief Superintendent.

Leslie W. Grant is the Dorman Family Term Distinguished 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.

Jordan Greenbaum is a physician and the medical director of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. She is a past medical director of the Stephanie Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Greenbaum is a board member of the International Society on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) and a past president of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. She has provided training and technical assistance to international school staff, health and mental health professionals, as well as social workers, law enforcement officers and prosecutors globally to improve the community response to child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. She provides training and technical assistance regarding the trauma-informed, rights-based approach to interacting with children and families who have experienced trauma related to sexual, physical or community violence, and forced migration.

Ji Han's professional journey has included positions as Director of Curriculum, Principal, classroom teacher and educational consultant  in many schools and countries around the world.  After 30 years of serving within schools, she is now working as an independent educational consultant and continues to partner with leaders to develop and foster professional growth.  She holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University, and is passionate about supporting schools in developing successful communities  that promote professional growth and agency through pedagogical leadership, shaping school culture, and appreciative inquiry.   She remains active in promoting collaboration and sharing mutual best practice through her involvement as a coach, workshop facilitator, conference presenter, accreditation leader and a member of various professional groups.   Ji has been a leader for the Principal's Training Center since 2008 and has extensive experience as a consultant for international agencies such as the International Baccalaureate, Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.  

Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen is Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education, a member organization that serves as a trusted partner for education philanthropists as they adapt to the changes impacting our world. She brings to the role more than twenty-five years as an educator and advocate working to shift the foundational values and approaches that undergird America’s education system. Ulcca is a first-generation American who began school as an English-language learner; she was the first in her family to complete college and graduate school. Along the way, she lived and studied in other countries, experiencing how different systems approach learning and define achievement. Her own experiences have fueled her desire to interrogate and advocate for an expanded vision of what it means to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education in America.

Ulcca began her career as an elementary school teacher in Newark Public Schools. During her twenty-five year career she has gained experience across the non-profit, public, and philanthropic sectors, in the US and abroad, leading programs, conducting research and crafting policy. She has worked with educators, students, communities, business and civic leaders to support developmentally-aligned, human-centered learning experiences that unlock the unique potential of individual learners regardless of their background, circumstances, cognitive or physical differences. She is especially committed to bringing a racial justice and equity lens to the expansion of this educational approach. An internationally-recognized expert on educational transformation at the level of instruction, assessment, organizational design and policy systems, Ulcca has addressed audiences at conferences including World EduLead, SxSW Education and Aurora Institute’s annual forum, and is a two-time TEDx speaker. Her award- winning book, The Future of Smart, was released in September 2021. The book traces the deep roots of America’s dominant approach to education, illuminates why so many reform and innovation efforts over the last three decades have fallen short of our aspirations for children and proposes a path forward.

Ulcca holds a BA in Philosophy and German from Drew University where she was also licensed as an early childhood/elementary teacher with a focus on special education. She earned her Ph.D. in Education and Philosophy from Oxford University and a JD from Harvard Law School. She has been recognized nationally for

her work in education as a Harry S. Truman Scholar; a British Marshall Scholar; and a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow. Ulcca and her family are based in Denver, CO where her two sons attend Denver Public Schools.

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).

Dr. Stephen Holmes B. ED, MBA, M. ED, PhD (School Marketing/Reputation) is Principal and Founder of The 5Rs Partnership (www.5rspartnership.com), established in 2004 in Singapore, with offices now in Philadelphia (USA) and London (UK).

The 5Rs Partnership are experts in identity, reputation, strategic planning, marketing, and culture change, supporting independent and international schools in every continent with an unmatched client list. https://5rspartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Microsoft-Word-Sample-Global-Education-Clients.docx.pdf

Over the three decades, Dr. Holmes has come to be widely regarded as the most experienced, credentialed consultant in the world in evidence-led strategy for the education sector that leads to both education performance and market success. He is the only full-time practicing consultant with a PhD in the specific field of market and reputation orientation for the sector.

Dr. Holmes has also long been a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and consultant with major international school agencies across the world. In 2023/24 alone, Dr. Holmes has been commissioned for major independent and international school projects and conference keynotes extensively across the US, UK, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe.

Dr. Holmes also undertakes substantive published research, program development training and teaching with school audiences globally – he therefore gains the respect of Heads, Trustees and CFOs of Schools who engage The 5Rs Partnership and might otherwise view consultants in a different light.

After formally entering the USA independent school market during 2023, our 5Rs Partnership unique blend of education and market perspective and expertise has quickly caught the attention of leading independent and international schools and their associations nationally. We have already been commissioned for major school projects and conference speaking right across the USA.

Michael Iannini is an Author, a Leadership Development Facilitator, Board Member for Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN) 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 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.middleleader.com  where he is regularly posting articles on school leadership and interviews with school leadership influencers.

Michael has also partnered with EARCOS, through his company, PeerSphere, to offer Middle Leader Peer Learning Communities to all EARCOS member schools. Visit this web page to learn more about the EARCOS Middle Leadership Communities: https://www.peer-sphere.com/communities/earcos-middle-leaders-communities/ 

Chris is a director and senior consultant with Leadership Lab, where he works alongside organisations in the education, health, social services, and community sectors on a wide range of projects. These include designing and delivering leadership development programmes, change management initiatives, organizational capability, and strategic planning. 

Chris is also involved in executive coaching and regularly facilitates workshops and presentations at conferences with various organisations around New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific, and Asia. Chris is co-lead of the EARCOS Leadership Mentoring and Counsellors Mentoring initiatives and is a regular contributor to the ELM Conference. Chris has facilitated leadership programmes and strategic planning initiatives for over 15 years with international schools in Singapore, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Nigeria, and Tanzania. His qualifications include a PhD in Management and a Master’s degree in Education (Counselling).

Skilled administrator who has worked in a wide range of leadership roles and cultural settings. A strong cross-cultural communicator who demonstrates the ability to bring together diverse teams to create agreed-upon goals and purpose. Strategic innovator who can identify structural issues and coordinate teams in finding and implementing solutions. Effective operational manager with extensive experience in budget, financial procedures, leading strategic technology initiatives and special projects. Reflective academic leader who focuses on differentiated learning, applied learning opportunities, and community service.

Lee Ann is CEO of Lead Inclusion, Clinical Professor at San Diego State University, and a consultant to schools worldwide. She provides support to schools in the areas of universal design for learning, inclusion, intervention, and mastery-based assessment and grading. Before beginning a career in higher education she worked in special education in the roles of teacher and administrator. She is a former full professor and director of International Partnerships in the University of Kentucky's College of Education. Lee Ann leads the International Inclusive Leadership Program, a professional learning and graduate program for educators in international schools in partnership with San Diego State University.

Jennifer D. Klein is a product of experiential project-based education herself, and she lives and breathes the student-centered pedagogies used to educate her. She became a teacher during graduate school in 1990, quickly finding the intersection between her love of writing and her fascination with educational transformation and its potential impact on social change. She spent nineteen years in the classroom, including several years in Costa Rica and eleven in all-girls education, before leaving the classroom to support educators’ professional learning in public, private, and international schools. Motivated by her belief that all children deserve a meaningful, relevant education like the one she experienced herself, and that giving them such an education will catalyze positive change in their communities and beyond, Jennifer strives to inspire educators to shift their practices in schools worldwide.

Jennifer’s first book, The Global Education Guidebook, was published in 2017, and her second, The Landscape Model of Learning: Designing Student-Centered Experiences for Cognitive and Cultural Inclusion, written with co-author Kapono Ciotti, was published in 2022.

Ochan Kusuma Powell is an international educator and consultant to schools worldwide. She presents in the areas of coaching, special education, inclusion and collaboration. Ochan is a founding member of the Design Team for the Next Frontier Inclusion, a not-for-profit organization that supports international schools in becoming increasingly inclusive at a systems level. She is the co-author of several books on inclusion and differentiation. Ochan serves as an Associate Trainer for Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools.

Robert Landau, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, is the son of a screenwriter father and a drama teacher mother. He was educated at University Elementary School (now UCLA Lab School) under Dr. John Goodlad and Dr. Madeline Hunter, where he embraced experiential, project-based learning.

Robert spent much of his career abroad as a teacher and administrator in international schools in Switzerland, Indonesia, the Czech Republic, China, Cambodia, and Singapore. In 2015, after 45 years overseas, he returned to the U.S. to serve as executive director of the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools.

In 2017, he founded Two Roads Education, a consultancy that impacts governance, strategic planning, mission, vision, curriculum, and research and development in education. Landau also established Cambodia’s Future Foundation (CFF), which offers scholarships to economically challenged, capable Cambodian high school students, transforming their lives through higher education. Among many projects, Robert serves as the Senior Global Strategist for Jiaxiang Education Group.

In 2020, he co-founded IMPACT-BOUND, a transformative school design framework. His key strengths—Strategic, Futuristic, Relator, Ideation, and Activator—fuel his dedication to reimagining education within the What School Could Be community.

Robert's newest and most coveted and cherished role is that of grandparent.

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.

Kristin Lowe is an Organizational Development Consultant and ICF-Accredited Coach Trainer/Mentor. She helps international schools strengthen staff wellbeing, performance, and collaboration through Strengths-based, Solution-focused Leadership Development and Positive Peer Coach Training programs. 

Kristin is the founder of Solros Development Group and the Positivity Playground, a global Positive Peer Coaching network supporting international schools around the world.

Rami Madani is the Head of the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Prior to that, he worked in schools in Yemen, UK, Zambia, and India, serving students and faculty at all school levels. He has taught subjects ranging from Mathematics to Music to Theory of Knowledge. He has served in various leadership capacities, including Director of Learning. Rami has designed a variety of professional development and training programs. He is passionate about aligning a school's systems with its mission, and ensuring that teaching and learning are the focus of what schools do. Rami presents at conferences and works with schools on areas related to strategic planning, leadership, growth & evaluation, curriculum, assessment, and instruction. His primary focus is on nurturing minds, empowering everyone, and refining systems and tools to support student and adult holistic growth.

Veronica McDaniel has worked in education for two decades.  Born in France and half-Colombian, and with an International Baccalaureate bilingual diploma, she is trilingual in French, Spanish and English. In 2011 at Atlanta International School, she started facilitating a student-led anti-human trafficking group. She is the teacher liaison for CNN Freedom Project’s #MyFreedomDay where she coordinates schools annually for a global day of action. Last year #MyFreedomDay resulted in nearly 2 billion social media impressions, with students from over 140 countries. She recently created the nonprofit FREEST, whose mission is to prevent human trafficking through education by empowering students to take action. Contact FREEST for collaboration at  veronica@freestinternational.org, visit our website and follow up on Instagram @freest.international

TBA

Dr. Parul Minhas is an accomplished author and researcher. Her influential publications include several white papers and two recent books -- A New Language of School Design and Building Minds – Designing Learning Spaces for Connection & Coherence. These publications reflect her deep commitment to rethinking educational environments and have significantly impacted the industry’s understanding of school design.

Her journey into the realm of children’s well-being and educational environments deepened with the birth of her son, now a teenager. Observing his growth and learning experiences has been both an inspiration and a driving force behind her dedication to creating healthier, more effective learning spaces for all children. Her research focuses on salutogenic design, neuroarchitecture, health-promoting school environments, and biophilic learning spaces, which testify to her commitment to holistic health and educational innovation.

Beyond her research, Dr. Minhas has developed an extensive set of design guidelines and assessment tools that are invaluable for educators and architects who aim to design educational facilities that contribute positively to children’s overall health. She also manages EDI’s suite of technology tools, including innovative apps like SPACE, PATH, and EduSPACE, offering schools valuable resources to maximize the effectiveness of their learning spaces. 

Before joining EDI, Dr. Minhas worked as a Professor of Architecture. She brings a unique blend of skills as a teacher, research architect, author, content creator, conscious parent, and, above all, a compassionate human. This combination enhances her ability to impact the future of educational design and children’s well-being.

She is frequently invited to speak at national and international conferences to share her insights and findings about healthy schools. She also leads EDI’s strategic communications, ensuring that their groundbreaking initiatives reach a global audience.

Aaron Moniz is the Co-Founders and Directors of Inspire Citizens.  Aaron helps schools around the world to develop whole school implementation programs for service learning and education for sustainable development as a means of developing global citizens.  Aaron uses the Inspire Citizens’ Global Impact Schools Self Discovery Tool and Whole School Global Citizenship Roadmap to conduct strategic visioning and goal setting to articulate best practice professional learning approaches and personalize them to the unique context of each school.  Aaron also uses the Inspire Citizens Empathy to Impact Approach to enhance curriculum at any grade level or subject area, and he helps schools to design K-12 scope and sequences, scaffolding the development of service learning and active global citizenship. Alongside the Inspire Citizens team members, Aaron also helps to develop student leadership programs, and supports the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate; an online professional development program for global educators. Aaron is also the Director of the Inspire Citizens Foundation.  Aaron believes that schools can become centers for community impact and strives to help schools see the large-scale impact that they can have by slightly optimizing their existing systems and centering on global citizenship education.

Prakash Nair is a globally acclaimed architect and educator specializing in innovative school design. He has received many international awards, including the A4LE MacConnell Award, the highest honor worldwide for school design.

His international experience is vast, having worked with schools in 58 countries on six continents over the past 23 years, bringing a rich diversity of global insights to his work. This extensive international exposure has greatly influenced his student-centered approach to educational architecture and design.

Today, he serves as the Founding President & CEO of Education Design International (EDI), a company with multiple studios worldwide. His expertise in architecture, education, neuroscience, psychology, and child development has driven EDI to the forefront of integrating research-driven innovations in school architecture. 

As a renowned author, Prakash has penned many influential works, including A New Language of School Design, Learning by Design: Live | Play | Engage | Create,  The Language of School Design,  and Blueprint for Tomorrow: Redesigning Schools for Student-Centered Learning, published by Harvard Education Press. His scholarly contributions extend to several published articles in reputed journals and white papers on neuroarchitecture, biophilic design, and outdoor learning.

An esteemed educator, Prakash’s contributions to the Harvard edX “Leaders of Learning” course have impacted over 280,000 global participants. His frequent keynote presentations at international education conferences and his TEDx talk further establish him as a preeminent figure in Innovative School Design.

Under Prakash’s stewardship, EDI has developed a unique suite of apps to enhance learning environments, an innovation that garnered him the prestigious Kelly Tanner Award from the Association for Learning Environments in 2023.

Jon is the School Network Director in the Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An international educator and researcher for more than 30 years, Jon previously served as the WIDA International Program Director and has worked at international schools in China, Ecuador, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Turkey and Thailand. He co-edited the book Integrating Language and Content (TESOL 2010) and has published articles in The International Educator, Journal of Staff Development, International Schools Journal, Educational Leadership, Current Issues in Comparative Education, Teachers College Record and Global Education Review. Jon holds a BA in Classical Archaeology from Dartmouth College, an MA in TESOL from School for International Training and is pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the UW—Madison. Jon’s work focuses on how global networks can support school improvement, both within and across international school communities.

Margaret Park is an education equity consultant who works with organizations to make positive changes for all community members.  She is committed to fostering leadership development with experience in facilitating professional development, training leadership teams, counseling, mentoring, coaching, and curating innovative learning spaces. Margaret is a Fulbright Scholar and received an Education Masters and Certificate of Advanced Studies from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Margaret is particularly interested in thinking about leadership through an Equity and Justice lens.

Craig Randall is the developer of Trust-Based Observations and author of the book by the same name. Craig has spent the last 30 plus years working in education as an elementary school counselor, middle school severe behavior interventionist, college basketball coach, teacher, and school principal. 

Craig now works as a trainer, consultant, and speaker who spends the majority of his time training school leaders all over the globe in the Trust-Based Observations (TBO) model of teacher observation. He works with leaders building TBO mastery, transforming the world of teacher observations to a model of trust and support that fosters growth mindsets, teaching innovation and a school-wide culture of trust. Learn more about Craig’s work at trustbased.com

In addition, Craig hosts the 20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance: On the Road with Trust Based Observations Podcast where he and some of the amazing teachers he encounters engage in meaningful dialog about what makes for good teaching and learning. 20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations) (bepodcast.network)

Lynn currently supports districts, schools, and teachers as a national and international education consultant, providing professional learning through workshops and seminars. Her expertise lies in Learning-Focused Supervision, Data-Driven Dialogue, Leading and Facilitating Collaborative Groups, Mentoring Matters, Cognitive Coaching, and Adaptive Schools. She provides leadership coaching for individuals and teams in private sector organizations, as well as educational institutions serving students from Pre-K to college levels. She frequently presents at national and international conferences.

In 35+ years as an educator, Lynn was a high school teacher, district curriculum specialist, and director of a professional development team. She has guided districts in developing learning-focused supervision models and led groups in reaching consensus and strategic planning. Her consulting work includes working with international schools in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, as well as Canada.

Lynn is a Training Associate for the Thinking Collaborative (Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools), MiraVia, and the Danielson Group. She regularly presents at national and international conferences such as ASCD, NASA, NESA, and EARCOS. She has published with Educational Leadership, Christopher-Gordon, and the EARCOS Journal.

Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, Ph.D. is a Professor of English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research has appeared in several top-tier academic journals. She is co-editor of four books and is co-author of the multiple award-winning book Advancing Racial Literacies in Teacher Education: Activism for Equity in Digital Spaces (2021) where she examines her concept of Archeology of Self ™ in education. For three years in a row, she was named one of EdWeek's EduScholar Influencers -- a list of the Top 1% of educational scholars in the United States -- a highly selective group of 200 scholars (chosen from a pool of 20,000). At Teachers College, she is the founder of the Racial Literacy Project @TC, and the Racial Literacy Roundtables Series, where for 15 years, national scholars, teachers, and students facilitate conversations around race and other issues involving diversity. Yolanda appeared in Spike Lee’s “2 Fists Up: We Gon’ Be Alright” (2016), a documentary about the Black Lives Matter movement and the campus protests at Mizzou, and Defining Us, Children at the Crossroads of Change, a documentary about supporting and educating the nation's Black and Latinx males youth. In 2024, Yolanda was recognized with the prestigious Dorothy Height Distinguished Alumni Award from New York University. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Love from the Vortex & Other Poems, was published in March 2020. Her sophomore book of poetry, The Peace Chronicles, was published in July, 2021. Yolanda opened the 2022 TEDx UPENN conference at the University of Pennsylvania with her TEDx Talk: Truth, Love & Racial Literacy. Connect with Yolanda on Twitter at @RuizSealey and on Instagram at @yolie_sealeyruiz

Gail Seay, Senior Consultant at Educational Consultants Collaborative, brings over 40 years of international education and leadership experience to her role. Formerly the Director of Teaching and Learning at the American School of Doha, Qatar, Gail has also served in international schools in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United States, and her native Australia.

Throughout her career, Gail has authored curriculum at both state and school levels, and piloted state-level assessments. She holds degrees from institutions in the United States and Australia, with her teaching experience spanning kindergarten through grade 12. As Chairperson of the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools' Professional Development Advisory Committee, Gail played a pivotal role in conference planning and collaborated with prominent educational thought leaders. She was a faculty member of the American Education Reaches Out Project from 2004 to 2019, teaching courses at the Summer AERO Institute in English/Language Arts, Curriculum Mapping, and Academic Leadership.

Gail's consultancy work focuses on educational ecosystems, curriculum development, goal setting, data analysis, teacher leadership, strategic planning, and board training in international schools. She also mentors leadership through the WISE Project and has presented at various conferences including the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools, Qatar Foundation Teaching and Learning Forum, American Education Reaches Out Summer Institute, and the Visible Learning Conference. Gail serves as a consultant to several international schools. She is a registered board member through the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently serves on the board of a prominent private school in Queensland, Australia

Dave is the founder of a bespoke consultancy practice built on 30 years of experience in the International schools sector, as both an educator and senior administrator. Dave specialises in the full range of Advancement disciplines, volunteer management, and senior strategic leadership training for International and Independent schools globally. Dave has volunteered as a Board trustee, faculty member, conference chair, and presenter with CASE since 2007 and an EARCOS presenter since 2010. 

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.

Trevor Waddington is a former teacher and school marketing director who founded Truth Tree in 2015. Truth Tree is an award-winning marketing agency providing strategies and solutions for schools. He is a leading expert on school marketing, routinely keynoting and presenting at conferences worldwide. In addition to Truth Tree, Trevor founded two school search websites and a parenting blog, all to fulfill his mission to bring ideal educational opportunities closer to best-fit students. Trevor enjoys time with his two daughters and wife, playing golf and hockey, and reading non-fiction books when he’s not in the office.

Ross Wehner is the Founder of World Leadership School and Co-Founder of TeachUNITED, which partners with a diverse range of K-12 schools to reimagine learning and create next-generation leaders. Ross’ approach to leadership development integrates his work as a journalist, teacher, wilderness educator, and executive coach. As a journalist, Ross covered the end of Chile’s Pinochet regime for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1990. For the next five years, he reported from around Latin America on climate change, human rights, and other topics As a classroom teacher, Ross worked at The Miller School in Crozet, Virginia, The Bush School in Seattle, and the University of Virginia, where he received an MA in Spanish-American literature. Ross has also worked as a wilderness instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Ross is working on a book that explores the global movements towards purpose-driven learning. He leads the annual Salmon River Program for School Heads, which builds off of his long-time work as a coach for Fortune 50 executives with Richard Leider, author of the best-selling Power of Purpose.

Dr. David Willows is Co-founder and Strategic Director at [YELLOW CAR], the world's leading experience strategy training and consultancy firm for schools. Between 2005 and 2022, he was Director of Advancement at the International School of Brussels, Belgium. During this time, he grew to be widely regarded as one of the most innovative practitioners in the field, helping to shape and define the future of Advancement (admissions, marketing & communications, fundraising & alumni relations) in schools. He was recently listed as one of the world’s Top 10 Global Educational Influencers. An author and regular keynote speaker & trainer at international events around the world, David is passionate about helping schools advance in ways that are relevant for today’s educational landscape.

Kendall Zoller, EdD, is an author, educator, researcher, and global consultant. His work in communicative intelligence, presentation and facilitation skills, storytelling, leadership, coaching, and adaptive schools has taken him to 23 countries in person and 60 countries virtually, and hundreds of schools and districts globally. He is co-author of HeartSpace (2021), Voices Leading From the Ecotone (2019) and The Choreography of Presenting: The 7 Essential Abilities of Effective Presenters (2010). Kendall is president of Sierra Training Associates and graduate faculty at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

He has authored over four dozen reviewed book chapters and journal articles on topics of communication, community, and leadership for educators and corporations. Kendall is an Associate Professor at CSU Dominguez Hills and has a doctorate in Educational Leadership, and a Masters in Educational Management. He can be reached at kvzoller@sierra-training.com