You've landed the international school job! 🎉 This "Grit Summer Series" episode, with Mike Pierre, Dana Watts, Greg Smith, Joel Jr. LLABAN, and Katlyn Darling, unpacks the practicalities, cultural nuances, and emotional journey of transitioning well into a new international role. Get invaluable advice on pre-departure paperwork, expat life, well-being, and building community to truly thrive in your new global home 🌍.

💬 Key Quotes

• "The sheer quality of friendships... you end up finding friends for a lifetime." – Dana Watts 💖

• "You just need to trust the process." – Greg Smith ⏰

• "Be quiet. Learn the customs... if you're constantly referring to your old school, people tend to think that it is, you feel like that was a better school." – Dana Watts 🤫

• "Expect the roller coaster, and it's so incredibly well worth it." – Dana Watts 🎢

• "Bring a painting, or a picture, or something that you feel grounded to your to your country... and bring a bottle opener." – Greg Smith 🖼️🍾

📌 Key Insights

• Document Everything (Digitally & Physically!) 🗄️: Digitize all certificates, but remember many countries require original, unlaminated documents, including police clearances. Start early!

• Embrace the New, Release the Old 💡: Avoid constant comparisons; adapting fosters trust and quicker integration into your new community.

• Prioritize Family & Dependent Transition 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦: Actively help children/partners transition emotionally and socially by leveraging school counselors and maintaining familiar traditions.

• Cultivate Community Beyond School 🤝: Proactively seek social groups outside of work; a well-rounded social life is crucial for well-being.

• Communicate & Utilize School Support 🤗: Speak up if struggling; schools have robust onboarding and buddy systems to help you thrive.

• Anticipate the Emotional Rollercoaster 🎢: Expect normal moments of homesickness or feeling "in a funk"—it's part of the international transition.

• Personal Grounding & Familiarity 🏡: Bring personally meaningful items that connect you to home for emotional stability.

• School Leaders' Responsibility in Transition 🏫: Leaders must proactively anticipate new recruits' needs throughout their first year, designing comprehensive support systems.

🛑 Conclusion

Transitioning to an international school is dynamic. Success hinges on both your proactive approach (preparation, adaptation, self-care) and strong school support. Embrace the "rollercoaster" to ensure a successful and deeply enriching experience abroad 🌟.

The ISS EDUlearn AMA podcast explores the latest trends in international education. In this special "GRT Summer Series" episode, hosts Mike and returning educators Dana Specker Watts, Katlyn Darling, and Celiah Bunsie, along with Dr. Nadine Richards, dive deep into the practicalities of teaching overseas. This segment offers crucial advice on navigating employment contracts, understanding the nuances of housing, tuition benefits, global healthcare, tax implications, and various insurance types. The episode concludes with powerful personal reflections on how teaching internationally transforms lives, offering unparalleled professional and personal growth—essential knowledge for a smooth transition to life abroad.

🗣️ Key Quote #1: "Don't get bullied into something. Make sure you have the time and space to make choices, because how you live is important to how you... how you work." – Katlyn Darling

🔄 Key Quote #2: "It's really important to get to know the culture and what criterias are accepted and not accepted. Pets, etc." – Dr. Nadine Richards

🤝 Key Quote #3: "I've had amazing healthcare overseas. Incredible. Some of the top... I would say, higher quality, easier access..." – Dr. Dana Specker Watts

🧠 Key Quote #4: "Teaching internationally gave me access to a future that I didn't know existed both professionally and personally." - Katlyn Darling

🌍 Key Quote #5: "At least once in your life, if you can have the experience of teaching abroad, living abroad, it just gives you so much more perspective on... things and on life." - Celiah Bunsie

Key Insights:

• Cultural Fit & Family: Beyond salary, investigate cultural norms and acceptance criteria for all family members, including pets. Regulations and community reception for animals vary greatly and can impact your decision.

• Tuition Benefits: For those with children, scrutinize tuition benefits carefully. International school tuition is often high; understand the percentage or number of children covered as it significantly impacts your overall compensation.

• Healthcare & Insurance: Overseas healthcare often rivals or surpasses quality in home countries, with easier access and affordability. Verify if your health insurance is local or global. Other insurance types (car, contents) are also often more affordable and comprehensive abroad.

• Tax Implications: Understand tax obligations in both your host and home countries. While favorable rates or exemptions exist, your tax status can change with residency over time. Consider specialists experienced with expatriate income.

• Transformative Growth: Teaching internationally offers profound personal and professional transformation, broadening perspectives, strengthening teaching craft, and providing unique leadership opportunities beyond traditional constraints.

Conclusion:

This episode provides essential practical considerations for international educators, emphasizing that a deep understanding of your contract—covering living arrangements, benefits, healthcare, taxes, and insurance—is paramount for a successful and happy experience abroad. It highlights proactive research, leveraging support, and personalizing your relocation strategy, ultimately illustrating that teaching overseas offers unparalleled personal and professional growth and a global outlook.

Unlock Your Global Teaching Journey!
Ready to leap into international education? ISS is your gateway to exciting opportunities:

🌍 Explore Careers Worldwide: Connect with top international schools at ISS’s virtual and in-person job fairs.
📚 Grow as an Educator: Advance your skills through Moreland University’s innovative programs at www.moreland.edu.
🤝 Build Community: Join SENIA International at seniainternational.org to collaborate on inclusive education.
💡 Inspire Global Citizenship: Discover transformative resources from Inspire Citizens at inspirecitizens.org.

Learn more at iss.edu and take the first step toward a global teaching adventure!

📝 Episode Description: Join host Mike P. and leadership search guru Celiah as they welcome Maymouna Sakho, a passionate educator, inclusion and equity advocate, and systems builder. Maymouna, founder of Sakho Learning Consultancy, shares her journey and insights on innovating and implementing equitable and inclusive practices in education and beyond. Drawing from her experiences growing up between cultures (Senegal and The Bronx), Maymouna discusses the importance of valuing diverse learners and building systems that support all students.

💬 Memorable Soundbites! 🎤🔥

• "When you are multilingual, and you are able to think in so many different languages... I think that is such a superpower that we need to celebrate as much as we can."

• "Always equity over equality. When I think about my students with needs... we're not always starting at the same place, but if we build a system that we can get to the same place, regardless of how our identity markers or our background..."

• "I need more training [on AI]. I feel like I'm ready to already be cloned. But I need... more training to understand how I can best use AI for my personal and professional work, and to support other people with their work."

• "I decided a year ago that I'm going to be purposeful about who I spend my time with and how I spend my time... in terms of protecting my energy."

• "We always need to be on the right side of history. History is always going to change, but we need to always be, in my opinion, on the right side of history."
  

📌 Key Insights:

• Maymouna's Journey & Inspiration: Her experiences as a multilingual student in The Bronx, who wasn't always recognized for her assets, fueled her passion for equitable education.

• Sekho Learning Consultancy: Founded in 2020, the consultancy initially focused on broader DEI but now centers on inclusion for students with disabilities and diverse learning needs.

• Differences in Educational Contexts: While acknowledging her privilege, Maymouna notes differences between US and African schools, including a potentially stronger sense of community and value for multilingualism in some African contexts, and a different level of student engagement.

• Successful Systems-Building Initiative: Maymouna highlights her work in lobbying for and helping to build an inclusive program at her current school, now serving around 700 students through universal screening, aligned admissions, and community connections.

• Staying Updated in the Field: Maymouna utilizes podcasts, LinkedIn, books, and further education (certifications in instructional design and AI) to remain current in her industry, despite a busy schedule.

• Personal Time and Self-Care: Maymouna prioritizes spending time with loved ones, staying active and plant-based, practicing yoga, working with a therapist for grounding, and finding opportunities to laugh.

• Addressing DEI Challenges: Maymouna expresses frustration with the misconception that students with learning needs shouldn't be prioritized in equitable systems, emphasizing that they often start from a different baseline. She finds support in organizations like AIELOC and the Diversity Collaborative amidst current global challenges.

• Rapid Fire Highlights:

• • Advocacy: Evokes thoughts of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing different approaches to reach the same goal.

  • Equality vs. Equity: Strong preference for equity, recognizing that individuals have different starting points.

  • Artificial Intelligence: Acknowledges the need for more training to leverage its potential.

  • Multilingual: Viewed as a significant and valuable superpower.

  • Paper Book vs. Kindle: Preference for paper books for a more tactile and engaging reading experience.

📝 Episode Description: In this crucial episode, host Mike P. and co-host Katlyn Darling welcome Dr. Cathy White, a specialist in trauma-informed practices and suicide prevention, to discuss the vital importance of addressing these issues in educational settings. The conversation delves into recognizing signs of trauma and distress, implementing preventative measures, and effectively responding to crises. Dr. White shares valuable insights on fostering resilience and safety among both students and staff.

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

• "For young children and for adolescents, the brain is this beautiful, malleable, plastic thing."
• "COVID was hands down a collective trauma, more for some than for others."
• "Teachers generally have a rule of thumb. Seven to ten times, I need to say this, seven to ten times in the classroom... for students to remember what we talked about."
• "Unfortunately, trauma has always been a factor in education, but it's definitely gotten worse in recent times."
• "It's okay to ask, 'Are you feeling suicidal right now?'"
• "You have to put your own oxygen mask on first before you can help others."

📌 Key Insights:

• The Prevalence of Trauma:

• • Trauma has always been present in schools due to factors like poverty, abuse, and family issues.

  • COVID-19 exacerbated trauma through social isolation and potential home instability.

  • Current societal issues, including environmental concerns and political anxieties, contribute to student stress.

• Trauma in International Schools:

• • Despite perceptions of privilege, students in international schools can experience trauma (e.g., generational trauma, neglect, lack of parental support).

  • Money does not eliminate mental health challenges or family dysfunction.

• Impact of Isolation:

• • Isolation is a significant risk factor, increasing anxiety and stress when students lack supportive relationships.

• Relationship Building:

• • Strong relationships are protective factors against trauma and suicide.

  • Relationship mapping helps identify students who lack connections with adults in school.

  • Small, consistent conversations between teachers and students are powerful tools for building connections.

• Responding to Suicidal Behavior:

• • It's okay to directly ask students about suicidal feelings.

  • Validate students' feelings and provide a safe space for them to talk.

  • Connect students with trained professionals (school counselors, gatekeepers, or community mental health resources).

• Supporting Educators:

• • Educator well-being is crucial for a healthy school system.

  • Self-care is essential for teachers to manage stress and avoid burnout.

  • Administrators should support teacher well-being through communication and offering relief.

• Compassion Fatigue:

• • The concept of compassion fatigue is introduced, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sustainable emotional workload.

🛑 Conclusion: This episode highlights the critical need for schools to address trauma and suicide prevention proactively. Dr. White's expertise provides educators and administrators with practical strategies for building supportive relationships, responding to crises, and prioritizing their own well-being. By fostering a culture of care and connection, schools can create safer and more resilient environments for students and staff.

More Resources

• Head over iss.edu to check out ISS website for events and more.

• Sign up for Moreland University to elevate your career as an educator at www.moreland.edu

• Join the community of professional educators considering the role of inclusion in the classroom culture at seniainternational.org

• Check out inspire citizens who inspire schools to live their mission of global citizenship at inspirecitizens.org

📝 Episode Description: Join Mike P., Dana Watts, Katlyn Darling, and Celiah Bunsie as they delve into a crucial conversation with Tricia Friedman about adapting LGBTQ+ support within international school communities. Tricia shares insights on creating inclusive environments, building trust, and fostering genuine conversations. This episode explores the importance of intersectionality, challenging norms, and promoting curiosity and understanding.

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

• "We are also talking about all students. Right? We recognize that identity is fluid and flexible." 🌈
• "Community can be like, I have a small group. I have a small circle, and that is my community." 🤝
• "How do you approach a conversation that feels hard in your personal life, because I have yet to meet somebody who has not had a difficult family dinner or a difficult coffee with a friend?" ☕️
• "What can I do to like? Queer as a verb, disrupt that notion of good listener?" 👂
• "Are you bridge building or moat building. And how do you know?" 🌉

📌 Key Insights:

• Identity is fluid, and inclusion benefits everyone, not just the LGBTQ+ community.
• Building trust is essential for genuine conversations and creating safe spaces.
• Understanding and respecting local cultural norms is crucial in international settings.
• Leaders play a vital role in fostering inclusive school cultures through vulnerability and active listening.
• The importance of critical introspection and how to continue to grow.
• The idea of conversations being a dance, not a line dance.
• The importance of understanding technology and how it changes relationships.
• Everything is connected and should not be siloed.

🛑 Conclusion: This episode provides valuable insights for educators and leaders seeking to create inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students and staff in international school communities. Tricia Friedman's expertise and thoughtful perspectives offer practical strategies for fostering understanding, building trust, and promoting genuine conversations. Don't forget to connect with Tricia on LinkedIn and explore the resources mentioned in the episode. Like, subscribe, and share this episode to help spread awareness and support for LGBTQ+ inclusion in education! 🚀📚✨

More Resources

• Head over iss.edu to check out ISS website for events and more.

• Sign up for Moreland University to elevate your career as an educator at www.moreland.edu

• Join the community of professional educators considering the role of inclusion in the classroom culture at seniainternational.org

• Check out inspire citizens who inspire schools to live their mission of global citizenship at inspirecitizens.org

📝 Episode Description: Mike P., Dana, Katlyn, and Celiah dive into the transformative topic of AI in elementary education with guest Jason Prohaska. Explore how AI is revolutionizing education, strategies for thoughtful integration, and addressing ethical and safety implications. Discover practical ways AI can support educators and enhance learning experiences in the K-12 setting.

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

• "It really is a unicorn in education, in my opinion, because it's going to change so much in so many ways." 🦄
• "What does this mean for us in terms of our ethical use of it? And ethics includes, you know, the the other AI academic integrity." ⚖️
• "When teachers see the potential that they can offload some of the cognitive load that they go through every day... there's more buy-in." 🧠
• "Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better." ✨

📌 Key Insights:

• AI has the potential to revolutionize education, similar to the impact of the internet. 🌐
• Ethical considerations and data protection are paramount when integrating AI in schools. 🛡️
• AI can help teachers offload administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on relationships and meaningful instruction. 🧑‍🏫
• Playing with AI and exploring its capabilities can lead to innovative teaching and learning strategies. 🎮
• Leadership, strategic planning, and professional development are crucial for successful AI integration in schools. 🏫
• Critical thinking and lateral reading skills are essential for students to navigate information in the age of AI. 🧐

🛑 Conclusion: This episode explores the dynamic intersection of AI and elementary education, offering valuable insights for educators looking to harness its potential. From ethical implementation to practical classroom applications, the discussion emphasizes the importance of thoughtful integration and ongoing exploration. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow educators! 🚀📚✨

More Resources

• Head over iss.edu to check out ISS website for events and more.

• Sign up for Moreland University to elevate your career as an educator at www.moreland.edu

• Join the community of professional educators considering the role of inclusion in the classroom culture at seniainternational.org

• Check out inspire citizens who inspire schools to live their mission of global citizenship at inspirecitizens.org