Leading School Culture: Why Change Begins with the Invisible

A Reflection from Harvard GSE – Leading the Change (CSML) As part of my studies in the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, I recently completed Module 3 of Leading the Change, which focuses on one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—forces in schools: culture. Like … More Leading School Culture: Why Change Begins with the Invisible

Developing Teachers and Teacher Leaders: Lessons from Harvard’s Leading the Learning (Module 3)

Reflections from the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), Harvard Graduate School of Education Introduction One of the most powerful insights from the Leading the Learning course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is that school improvement does not happen through leadership alone. While strong systems, clear structures, and aligned goals are … More Developing Teachers and Teacher Leaders: Lessons from Harvard’s Leading the Learning (Module 3)

Translanguaging in the Classroom: Turning Multilingualism into a Learning Resource

In classrooms around the world, students bring with them a rich tapestry of languages, cultures, and experiences. For many years, schools often expected students to separate these languages—using only the official language of instruction in academic settings. However, growing research in language education challenges this idea and instead highlights the power of translanguaging as a … More Translanguaging in the Classroom: Turning Multilingualism into a Learning Resource

Building a Strong Instructional and Caring Culture in Schools

Lessons from Harvard’s Leading Learning (HGSE – CSML) One of the most powerful insights from Module 2 of Leading Learning in the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) program is that excellent schools integrate academic rigor with a culture of care. They intentionally build systems that support both instructional … More Building a Strong Instructional and Caring Culture in Schools

Technical vs Adaptive Work: What School Leaders Must Understand

Technical vs Adaptive Challenges in Schools Reflections from Harvard’s Leading the Change Leadership in schools is rarely about a lack of effort.It is often about a lack of diagnosis. One of the most powerful distinctions I have encountered in my recent studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, in the course “Leading the Change” … More Technical vs Adaptive Work: What School Leaders Must Understand

Rethinking School Feedback: From Data to Dialogue

Reading and watching Alan Smith’s insights on data literacy sparked a deep reflection on how data—particularly feedback—is used in educational contexts. Schools, ironically the institutions meant to model learning and ethical inquiry, often become arenas where data is collected uncritically, analyzed selectively, and then wielded to support decisions already made. In other words: feedback, once … More Rethinking School Feedback: From Data to Dialogue

Embracing a Culture of Growth: My Three-Year Journey with Benchmarking at ISH

A New Role and a Bold Mission Three years ago, I stepped into the role of Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator at the International School of Hellerup (ISH). Almost immediately, our Board presented me with a clear and challenging mandate: implement a schoolwide benchmarking system to track student progress. It was a bold mission, especially … More Embracing a Culture of Growth: My Three-Year Journey with Benchmarking at ISH

Behind the Dream: The Silent Struggles of International School Teachers

From the outside, the life of an international school teacher often looks like a dream — traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, teaching bright young minds in well-resourced classrooms. Many even imagine the picturesque life that follows: marrying a local partner, settling down in a European city, raising multilingual children, and perhaps buying a home. … More Behind the Dream: The Silent Struggles of International School Teachers

Nurturing Positive Environments: Breaking Free from Silos in Education

In my role as a workshop leader, I’ve been fortunate to visit schools around the world and engage with educators from diverse backgrounds. One recurring theme that has struck me is the unfortunate pattern of discord in many educational institutions. This discord often stems from a toxic leadership culture that seems more focused on criticism … More Nurturing Positive Environments: Breaking Free from Silos in Education