Education Leaders

Today, I'm tackling a topic that's a familiar to all leaders in the world of international education: teacher turnover. As school leaders, we often find ourselves at the crossroads of staff transitions, balancing both professional requirements and parental expectations. Whether you're leading a school in Shanghai, Doha, or New York, this episode provides actionable insights on how to navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of teacher turnover without capsizing the ship of trust you've built with parents.Key Quotes"Don't hide it. If there's a change in staff, notify the parents as soon as possible.""We can embrace individual teaching styles, but we can maintain that continuity through our curriculum and the educational philosophy that guides the teaching practice.""Sometimes it actually means picking up the phone or inviting the parent in and having a one-to-one conversation.""It's all about creating a community where turnover is not seen as a disruption, but as a natural and often enriching part of the international school experience."Whether you're grappling with unexpected staff changes or strategizing for the annual shuffle, these insights will guide you in sustaining a strong relationship with your parent community.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate leadership development enthusiast with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I interview Dr. Kathy Weston about how to build strong parent partnerships to support student achievement. We discuss evidence-based strategies to increase parental engagement, empower families, and cultivate collaborative relationships between parents and schools.Topics covered include:- The importance of parent involvement for international school student outcomes- Practical tips to boost parental self-efficacy and confidence in supporting learning- Aligning home and school environments through clear communication and vision sharing- Using research evidence to inform parent engagement initiatives and school programs- Creating a test-and-learn approach to find what works for your parent community- Setting the tone and building trust through authentic conversations with families- Resources for international school leaders to equip staff and parents with the latest knowledgeThis episode provides reflection questions and actionable ideas for international school heads, principals, and leadership teams aiming to optimize parent partnerships and increase student success. It’s a useful leadership coaching episode for international school heads and principalsKey Quotes:"We know from the literature on parental engagement, which is quite established and substantial, that parents are a significant influence over their children's lives. And we need to remember that.""If we can help boost and develop parental self-efficacy, it's a game changer. So we need to help parents have more confidence in their own skills to support and help their child.""Ideally, they would understand … the evidence that's very, very strong as a basis for reading. The school would share particular points about the evidence base around particular initiatives. Why are we doing this? How can you help at home?""I've never even as a parent thought I'm sending my child into school and I'm hoping they're going to transform them. I think what have I done to support the school? What can I do?""we know that it can be quite difficult for academics and researchers to disseminate their work. So we see ourselves as a conduit."You can learn more about Tooled Up Education on their website: tooledupeducation.comIf you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m delving into a critical aspect of education: goal setting. As we begin the school year, the need to set professional and developmental goals is at the forefront of educators' minds. While SMART targets (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) have been the go-to method, I explore why this might not be the best approach.I discuss the challenges of using SMART goals and introduce a promising alternative: PEERS framework (Powerful, Easy, Emotionally Compelling, Reachable, Student Focused). With its student-centric focus, practicality, and emotional resonance, PEERS aligns with what education should prioritize.Join me in exploring this new approach to goal setting that may better resonate with teachers, leaders, and most importantly, benefit our students.Key Quotes"SMART is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound. It's one of the most popular acronyms for setting targets. And it's pretty good... but some argue that something is really missing and problematic with these goals.""One of the big areas that's leveled against smart targets is they're not connected to any sense of emotional connection. You're not necessarily having to be emotionally invested in the target.""PEERS goals start with a really strong focus on making a real difference on students' lives... powerful, easy, emotionally compelling, reachable, and student-focused.""By connecting to our emotions, the peers goal really drive our motivation and sustained effort in a way that the more analytical smart goals might not.""Take a moment to step back as a leader and reflect on those goal-setting procedures in your school... is your goal setting procedure helping teachers and staff to set emotionally compelling goals?"If you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneAdditional LinksLink to the study mentioned in the episodeWhether you're a teacher, a school leader, or simply passionate about education, this episode offers a fresh perspective that may change the way you view goal setting. My exploration of PEERS goals is essential listening for those who wish to align their objectives with the true mission of education. Feel free to reach out to me on social media platforms to share your thoughts or ask any questions.Keywords: Goal Setting, SMART Goals, PEERS Goals, Education, School Leaders, Teaching, Professional Development, Student Focus, Intrinsic Motivation, International School Leader, Global Ed Leaders Podcast.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I speak with Thomas Thompson, co-founder of Eduaide.ai, about the responsible integration of AI in education. We explore whether AI could make teachers obsolete, as well as AI's potential to enhance teaching and learning.Key Topics DiscussedHow Eduaide empowers teachers to become stronger instructional designersExamples of using AI ethically to supplement teaching, not replace teachersThe importance of developing proactive policies around classroom AI useCommon pitfalls to avoid when implementing education technologyPrinciples for leveraging AI to boost human flourishing in schoolsWrestling with existential questions posed by advances in AIKey Quotes"What AI does is it exposes teachers to techniques they may not have previously considered.""AI is not a panacea. It's not gonna solve all of our problems.""Skepticism is good. But you cannot allow skepticism to be paralysis.""If you prohibit something, students will find ways around it.""The goal is to create a collaborative human-AI model.""AI can provide personalized and differentiated resources.""AI is not the end of the world. Use it to support your mission."If you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the significance of humility in leadership roles, debunking myths about its compatibility with assertiveness. Learn practical strategies like seeking feedback, admitting mistakes, and embracing diversity. Discover how humility can bridge cultural gaps, enhance school practices, and foster inclusive atmospheres in international schools.

In this episode, Headteacher Neil Renton shares insights from his book "New School Leader, What Now?" on the journey of school leadership.Neil emphasizes leading with humility, curiosity and seeking input. He suggests having "allies" on your team who can support and advise you.Building trusting relationships is key - Neil talks about the concept of "bench stories" to foster human connections with all staff members. Neil reflects on the weight of responsibility leaders feel and says it gets more comfortable over time as you learn how to mobilize your team.He provides tips on school culture, including setting a positive narrative, language and modeling desired behaviors. Neil critiques the notion of "strong leadership" as too simplistic - he suggests reflecting on multiple leadership attributes to develop across.Making decisions takes energy and effort to do properly - leaders should gather perspectives, reflect carefully and then act decisively. Neil stresses the importance of leader visibility through presence and human relationships.He talks about using "Kopfkino," the cinema in your head, to imagine scenarios and plan for the future.The episode emphasizes leadership as an ongoing journey of growth, requiring courage, humility, self-awareness and human connections.Key Quotes"Leadership is about the professional will to drive change and humility”"If you can carry a calf for every day of its life, you can carry a cow.""Great things happen when you sit on a bench and you speak to a colleague or a friend.""Trust is a performance amplifier.""Setting up your culture is the number one thing in an international school you need to think about.""Morning is always wiser than evening."Pre-order your copy of ‘New School Leader, What Now?’ at www.criticalpublishing.com/new-school-leader. You can get 20% off using the code SCHOOL2023.Please remember to share the episode and spread the word if you found this episode useful. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I discuss the importance of having an effective staff induction process at international schools. I talk about key elements to focus on, including:Pre-arrival communication and logisticsOrientation program content and balanceCultural sensitivity training and community integrationOngoing mentorship and professional developmentI also emphasise creating a supportive environment and minimizing staff turnover through induction and share a free PDF resource with a checklist, ideas and tools to help design an induction system.LinksDownload the free induction resource PDF: https://bit.ly/schoolinductionKey Quotes"Pre-arrival is probably the most important part of welcoming new staff to your school.""Don't cram the timetable so full that staff aren't able to get the things that they need personally and professionally as a teacher.""By not focusing on community integration, this led to feelings of isolation and ultimately was a contributing factor to a very high turnover rate.""We need to be thinking about all the way from pre-arrival, plotting a timeline, all the way to that ongoing professional development piece."Please remember to share the episode and spread the word if you found this episode useful. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring challenges in teacher retention worldwide, including workload management and autonomy. Insights from UK Festival of Education. Recommendations for international school leaders to improve working conditions and support teacher autonomy. Importance of avoiding excessive standardization and focusing on workload management and coaching models impact on teacher retention.

In this special episode, we depart from our traditional interview format, and instead, bring you a refreshing 5-minute meditation, custom-made for international education leaders by Adele Burdon-Bailey, a psychotherapist from Priory, one of the UK's leading independent providers of mental health care and adult social care.This episode underscores the importance of self-care and reflection in the demanding world of education leadership, highlighting practical mindfulness techniques that can help alleviate stress. It's short, it's calming, and it can be practiced whenever you need a moment of peace and reflection. Here are some key moments and quotes:"As educators, we often experience high levels of stress and we're not always good at self-care. Today, we're going to take a few moments to focus on ourselves rather than others." (01:35)"Now take a slow, deep breath, inhaling gratitude for the relationships you've fostered in your school community, and exhaling any stress or tension relating to that environment." (02:50)"Consider the relationships you've built with students, with colleagues and with parents. Picture these as a network of roads on a map." (04:04)"For a moment, imagine the joy you see in the children's eyes... Be present with this joy. How does it feel in your body? How can this joy be a part of your daily life?" (04:57)"This practice fosters relaxation and stress reduction, grounding you in the present moment and can be done at any time." (07:02)"As we near the end of this meditation, prepare yourself to return to your body. See yourself embracing activities that rejuvenate you and letting go of toxic practices." (07:14)In this powerful episode, Adele guides us through a tranquil meditation, encouraging us to reflect on our roles as leaders, our achievements, our challenges, and the impact we've had on our school communities.It is a much-needed reminder to take a breather, slow down, and give ourselves the care we deserve while navigating the high-pressure world of education leadership.Please remember to share the episode and spread the word if you found this meditation useful. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneIf you enjoy Adele’s meditation, you can find more of her online on Priory’s YouTube channel.International school leader stress management, meditation for educators, mindfulness techniques for school leaders, self-care in education leadership, stress reduction for international school administrators, how to cope with stress in international education, mental health resources for international school leaders, mindfulness in international education, meditation practices for school administrators, wellness in education leadership, mindfulness training for educators, guided meditation for education leaders, self-care strategies for school leaders, improving mental health in education, work-life balance for international school leaders, relaxation techniques for educators, mindful leadership in education, stress relief strategies for school administrators, coping mechanisms for education leaders, teacher stress management practices.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I discuss my recent experience with stress and the unconventional path I chose for recovery.Instead of completely distancing myself from work, I decided to embrace the part of my job that I love the most - this podcast. I dive into the common stress triggers in international schools and introduce the concept of a passion project as a potent tool for stress management.I delve into the major sources of stress in international schools - cross-cultural communication misunderstandings, high expectations and accountability, challenges in staffing and retention, regulatory compliance, and financial management. Also, I shed light on everyday micro stresses such as language barriers, time zone differences, cultural nuances, parental expectations, and local infrastructure challenges that gradually build up over time.While emphasizing the importance of maintaining physical and mental health through conventional methods like exercise, a healthy diet, and mindfulness, I question the widely accepted strategy of completely disconnecting from work to manage stress. For roles like educational leadership, which are profoundly intertwined with personal identity, a more nuanced approach may be beneficial.I suggest leaning into aspects of your work that truly inspire you as an effective stress management strategy. The idea is to use passion as a tool for healing, preventing education from becoming associated with stress, and eliminating the dread of returning to work.In the lead-up to the summer holidays, I encourage you, fellow education leaders, to reconnect with your passion in education. This will not only rejuvenate you but also make the thought of returning to work less daunting.Key Quotes"In occupations like educational leadership, roles are deeply intertwined with your personal identity… completely disconnecting from work might not be feasible and might not even be beneficial for everyone.""Engaging in the work that you really love can contribute significantly to wellbeing.""I suggest leaning into the aspects of your work that you truly love, which can serve as effective stress management strategies. Harnessing passion as a tool for healing is not only therapeutic, but it also prevents education from becoming associated with stress.""The summer holidays present a wonderful opportunity for education leaders to reconnect with their passion in education, which can help mitigate the dread of returning to work."Share the episode and spread the word if you found this episode useful. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.