The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning Voice and Choice vs Curriculum Coverage (Replay)
I'm re-airing this episode based on popular demand and a recent study that shows a sharp decline in pupil's happiness in secondary school due to a lack of agency.
Are you trying to build more student agency, but feel boxed in by curriculum coverage?
What if you didn't have to choose between voice and academic rigor?
In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Harvey, secondary principal at Beijing City International School (BCIS), to explore how her team is shifting culture around student agency while still honoring the demands of a rigorous curriculum. From co-creating a three-year vision to redefining personalization in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, Natalie shares the intentional moves that are making voice and choice a lived experience—not just a buzzword.
You'll hear how BCIS is navigating real challenges while building a culture where students know themselves deeply, make meaningful decisions, and drive their own learning.
- How BCIS reframed student agency through the lens of "jaggedness"
- What voice and choice look like in IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) classrooms
- How leadership created a shared language and clear expectations around agency
- Why building trust—and giving teachers choice—is key to sustainable change
Ready to hear how these shifts are playing out in practice and what they might look like in your setting?
Connect with Natalie: Natalie.Harvey@bcis.cn
Link to the Pupil Happiness Study: Pupil Happiness Study by Grade Level
Get the 12 Shifts Book: On Amazon
Natalie's Bio: Natalie is the current Secondary Principal of BCIS and was born in Hanover, Jamaica. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Language Education: English, from the University of the West Indies, a Master of Arts in Education from Wake Forrest University, a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principal's Training Center, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in International School Leadership with Wilkes University.
Before BCIS, Natalie worked in various capacities in Jamaica, the United States of America, Venezuela, and Mexico. She was a Middle School Deputy Principal and Principal at the American School of Tampico for seven years. She has been an educator for 25 years and has a wealth of experience in teaching and leading. Natalie believes that forming solid interpersonal relationships leads to a positive school culture, functional collaborative structures, and exceptional outcomes for students and teachers.
In addition, Natalie is passionate about partnering with parents, promoting student voice, and fostering a sense of belonging and a focus on successful learning outcomes within the BCIS community.