International Education and Schools Fair Autumn 2021: Meet the Speakers | Great International Education & Schools Fair
8 min read
MONDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2021
Mark O’Donoghue, CEO and Executive Head, King’s InterHigh
Mark O’Donoghue is CEO and Executive Head of King’s InterHigh. He has a background of over 20 years in digital education spanning online learning, university counselling and apprenticeships.He has led online learning in digital skills with AVADO, forging partnerships with Google and Tableau. He ran Hotcourses, a web service helping students find the right course for themselves (bought by IDP Education the world’s largest education consultants). He leads Inspired Education’s online schools, King’s InterHigh and Academy 21. His primary passion is how online school can provide an education that simply works better for some children. Watch his webinar hereAmy Oswalt, Head of Global Division and Director of Innovation, The Lab School of Washington
Amy has been working with children with language based learning differences for over twenty years. Before joining Lab School to lead and create the Global Division, Amy worked in schools on three continents.Her experience has varied from teaching and leading in public schools in the states to teaching and leading in private schools both in the states and internationally. Amy has spent significant time teaching and leading in International Baccalaureate schools and has guided two schools through the IB authorization process. As a former school head, Amy understands the importance of new program development and the need to design solutions for students and families. Amy believes that all children can be successful academically if they are provided with the tools that are right for them. Amy has degrees in Linguistics, Special Education, and Education Administration, and is widely regarded as a creative, visionary, and innovative thinker and educator. Watch her webinar hereAleka Bilan, SPAN Safe Passage Across Networks
Aleka Bilan is a Certified education transitions coach who helps children, their parents and educators navigate cultural transitions around the world and is currently based in central Oregon, USA.Safe Passage across networks (SPAN) is a not for profit organisation that helps to build transitions care practices around the world, particularly for schools and organisations.Watch her webinar hereMelodi Jordan, Head of Lower School, TASIS The American School in England
Melodi Jordan is currently the Head of Lower School at TASIS England. She has served as an international educator for over 20 years, holding positions in Lithuania, Italy, the UK, and the US. Melodi has worked as a New England Association of Schools and Colleges Lead Accreditation visitor, supporting schools as they improve practice. Melodi is passionate about maximizing opportunities for deep, authentic, and meaningful learning for all students.She has significant experience in the areas of child development, curriculum design, and data-informed instruction. Melodi originally comes from America, but now lives in England with her husband. Carmen Powell, children’s author and professional educator
As a professional educator, with a passionate belief in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) philosophy and approach Carmen Powell established productive relationships with stakeholders, collaborating across all professional levels and with parents. When educating young children, it is vital to incorporate parents into the learning process. Ofsted noted her relationship with parents as ‘exemplary,’ which is a true point of pride for her. She has three children’s books published, ‘Matthew and the Magic Goat’, ‘Sprite and the Two Talking Turtles’ and ‘Sprite’s Christmas Flight’. The books focus on inclusion, to support children’s personal, social and emotional development as well as their communication and language skills.Service has always been very important to her. She volunteered at the Bulembu School in Eswatini, assisting with curriculum development. She also volunteered at Epsom RDA, supporting disabled children. Currently, she is a trustee for an educational charity.Watch their webinar hereCarmen Powell, children’s author and professional educator (see above).Watch her webinar hereRuth Van Reken, author and speaker on globally mobile families
Ruth Van Reken is a second generation Third Culture Kid* (TCK) and mother of three adult TCKs. She is co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd ed., and author of Letters Never Sent, her personal journaling seeking to understand the long-term impact of her cross-cultural childhood.For more than thirty years (pre-covid!) Ruth travelled extensively speaking about issues related to the impact of global mobility on individuals, families, and societies. She is co-founder and past chairperson of Families in Global Transition. In addition to her two books and many articles, she has written a chapter in other books including Strangers at Home, Unrooted Childhoods, and Writing Out of Limbo. In 2019 she received an Hon. Litt.D from Wheaton College for her life’s work. Ruth is currently Chairperson of the Governing Board of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN). She now lives in Indianapolis, USA with her husband, David. Watch her webinar here
Tuesday 16th November 2021
Jeff Farrington, High School Principal at The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL)
Jeff is the High School Principal and has been with ISKL since 2014. He has been an administrator for more than 20 years. Jeff began his international education career in 1994 and is actively involved in leading instruction, assessment, and teacher supervision since 2000 (MS Principal, HS Principal, K-12 Director of Learning). He was a recipient of the US-based National Association for Secondary School Principals (NASSP) 2021 Principal of the Year. Jeff holds a Master’s degree in International Education, BEd, and BSc.Watch his webinar hereClaudine Hakim, Head of Advancement, Transitions and Student Support, International School of London
Claudine is currently the Head of Advancement, Transitions and Student Support at the International School of London. She was the founding Head of Secondary at ISL Surrey and leader of the award-winning Crossroads Transitions programme. Claudine leads the Student Support department and is passionate about fostering well-balanced and inclusive international communities.Claudine holds a Masters degree from the University College of London, Institute of Education in Educational Leadership and Management and a BA in Psychology and Counselling from Richmond International University.She is Vice-Chair, Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN).Julia Love, Director of Admissions, International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), Malaysia
Julia Love is currently the Director of Admissions at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Before joining ISKL in July 2012, Julia worked in private school admissions in both the USA and the UK.With over 20 years’ experience in Boarding, Primary, Secondary and International schools, Julia is passionate about and committed to ensuring that school placement meets the requirements of every child.Additionally, having spent a good portion of her childhood overseas attending British, German and International schools, Julia understands first-hand the complex transitional needs of children during international relocation.She has participated in numerous international conferences, having presented and led training sessions on topics relating to school placement and the educational needs of Third Culture Kids (TCK) in Global Transition.Watch their webinar here.
Wednesday 17th November 2021
Tony Piper, Vice Principal and Head of Senior School, Jerudong International School, Brunei
Tony is currently the Vice-Principal – Head of Senior School at Jerudong International School (JIS) in Brunei. This role involves the overall management of the academic, pastoral and enrichment aspects of the Senior School (Years 7-13) at JIS. The Senior School comprises 1,081 students and is home to over 50 nationalities. Tony has been at the school for 12 years and during this time has also been the Head of Humanities and the Head of Sixth Form. Tony is a passionate geography teacher and has taught the subject at KS3, IGCSE, A Level & the IBDP level and enjoys nothing more than understanding the demography of a city or examining the history of a U-Shaped valley.JIS is his first international posting and before arriving in Brunei taught in the United Kingdom for 4 years. Without doubt what continues to inspire him is the students in his care. He tries to create the right environment in a school to inspire the students to be the next generation of socially conscious and environmentally responsible global leaders. When not at work, Tony & his wife enjoy the rainforest life of Brunei as well as trying to keep their three and four year old children in some sort of order! https://www.jerudonginternationalschool.com/
Mireille Rabaté, Head of School, Lycée International De Londres Winston Churchill
Mireille Rabaté’s career has been an international one from the start. She began her career as a French lecturer at Brandeis University, Massachusetts, USA and then continued at the University of Oslo, Norway.Her international experience in pedagogical innovation greatly influenced her career during the following twenty years as Head of schools in France and the USA. After various senior teaching positions in France, Mireille was offered the prestigious position of Deputy Head at the Lycée Rochambeau in Washington D.C. In 2009, Mireille assumed the role of Middle School Principal and Assistant Head at the French-American International School in San Francisco.After thirteen years in the USA, Mireille was thrilled to return to Europe to take on her new responsibilities with enthusiasm and commitment. “Having the opportunity to create and lead the Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill is every Head’s dream!” says Mireille. https://www.lyceeinternational.london/
Kili Lay, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development, American School of The Hague, The Netherlands
Kili Lay is inspired by learning and driven to help create a school where that is a hallmark of its culture. By helping teacher leaders find their voice within a school’s change initiatives, they are more confident and able to contribute to a shared vision where all learners are engaged and inspired by their learning.Leveraging her strengths like zest for learning and perseverance, she blends strategy with planning to guide vertical alignment and elevate the learning experiences within her PreK-12 school. A former high school chemistry teacher, Kili has served as an IB diploma coordinator, accreditation coordinator, taught middle and high school math as well as middle school science in Connecticut, Spain, and the Netherlands. Kili holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in science from Bucknell University, both located in Pennsylvania, USA. She and her family currently reside in The Netherlands.Watch their webinar here
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