The International Schools Podcast

Join us for this conversation on the vital issue of Online Child Protection, spotlighting the leadership and efforts of key figures from the Council of International Schools (CIS). Jane Larson, Executive Director of CIS, alongside Dan Furness, Head of Safeguarding and Wellbeing at CIS, are at the forefront of this work, shaping policies and providing guidance to international schools. We also hear from Leila Holmyard, Global Safeguarding Consultant, researcher and current Safeguarding Lead at Frankfurt International School, who shares practical insights from her PhD research and experience. Together, they address the current challenges in safeguarding children online, tips for prevention and response, and how school leaders can create safer digital environments within their communities.

About Jane Larsson
Executive Director, CIS

Jane Larsson has led the Council of International Schools (CIS) as Executive Director since her appointment in 2010. Over the past 25 years, Jane has led the international education community with a focus on the development of collaborative partnerships to enable and support educational exchange and the development of international and intercultural perspective. Prior to her appointment at CIS, Jane was Direc­tor of International Partnerships with the Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she led outreach to promote international educational exchange, establishing relationships with minis­tries of education, universities, internation­al schools and educational associations. 

She began her career in international education as the Director of Educational Staffing and Publications for International Schools Services (ISS) providing recruitment services and resources to international schools. Jane lends her voice to key topics shaping the future of international education, those which enable school and university communities to provide socially responsible leadership as they continually develop their programs. She currently serves as Chair of the International Taskforce on Child Protection and on the Board of Directors of the International Commission Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA).

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelarssoncis/ 

About Leila Holmyard
Safeguarding Lead, Frankfurt International School

Leila Holmyard has extensive professional experience in safeguarding and child protection in international schools. She is a safeguarding consultant for a number of international schools and organisations, including the United World Colleges, Council of International Schools and Faria Education Group, as well as being Safeguarding Lead at Frankfurt International School. Leila has worked with international schools across the world and conducted her PhD research on safeguarding in international schools in Europe, Asia and Africa. She is also a volunteer for the International Task Force on Child Protection, WomenEd Germany, and the ISS Diversity Collaborative. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-holmyard-04767995/   

About Dan Furness
Head of Safeguarding and Well-being, CIS

Dan Furness joined CIS in September 2023. Dan’s primary responsibility as Head of Safeguarding and Well-being is to support the CIS membership community as it identifies and addresses child protection and student well-being challenges. This includes designing and delivering professional learning opportunities such as the Foundation and Deep Dive workshops in Child Protection and Safeguarding. Dan is available to support schools to strengthen their culture and systems, developing resources to educate and promote effective practices, and providing thought leadership and partnership across the international education sector.

Prior to joining CIS, Dan worked in international schools in South Africa, South Korea, Germany and the Netherlands leading boarding, student support and safeguarding. Dan has also worked as an independent consultant in safeguarding and has a history of supporting staff professional development over a range of safeguarding-related areas including the following: child protection and safeguarding; safer handling and restraint; restorative justice and shared concern; response to intervention (a tiered approach to school support); and inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. He has also provided supervision for other DSLs and school counsellors.

Dan is a qualified counsellor and social worker, with an undergraduate degree and masters in social work from the University of Bath, and a second masters in educational leadership and management from the University of Buckingham.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-furness/?originalSubdomain=nl  

Resources

• https://www.cois.org/about-cis/child-protection/resources
• https://www.icmec.org/icmec-resources/
• https://www.cois.org/about-cis/child-protection/resources
• https://www.childnet.com/help-and-advice/sextortion/
• https://www.childnet.com/safer-internet-day/
• https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ 
• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-reporting/report-remove/ 
• Generative AI: A whole school approach to safeguarding children

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsedu.com 

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

A conversation with Merve from Common Sense Education sharing the important work they do in education, helping parents, schools, and educators with digital citizenship. Globally reaching over 90,000 schools and 1.2 million students. We get to learn about the organization’s history, its current focus and insights into the evolving digital landscape. Together we explore the context of international schools and the growing reliance on digital devices for both students and teachers. What are some of the observations, learnings, and strategies to consider and share with schools through the lens of Common Sense Education

About Merve Lapus

Merve is a Results-driven education strategist with a track record of expanding reach and impact in K12 learning environments. As Vice President of Outreach & Engagement at Common Sense Education, he's led initiatives that have reached over 90,000 schools and supported 1.2 million educators. This includes overseeing a regional team driving community engagement, access, and professional development across school community stakeholders including school adoption, district implementation, parent/family engagement, strategic marketing, and community development. 

Merve has over 23 years of experience driving education technology initiatives across school programs, and building educator confidence through professional learning, and strategic implementation. Merve also sits on a number of steering committees addressing school climate and state policy initiatives, and currently sits on the Marketing and Communications Board for the University of San Francisco (USF), The Alameda Health Foundation Board, and the Executive Board for the Children’s Creativity Museum of San Francisco. 

Merve Lapus on Social Media

Twitter: twitter.com/molapus 

Resources

https://www.commonsense.org  

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsedu.com 

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

We have a unique chance to speak with Kathleen and her digital twin, Katbot. Together, we’ll explore how Katbot was created and what it’s like to have a digital twin, including the lessons learned, challenges faced, and opportunities discovered. As chatbots become more common in our everyday lives, Kathleen and Katbot are the perfect guides to help us understand how humans and AI can work and learn together. What are the implications for educators and school in an international school context.

About Kathleen Naglee

Kathleen Naglee is an award-winning leader of innovative educational and strategic foresight practices. Author. Keynote and motivational speaker. Experienced International School Director and Board Chair, Former Commissioner for NEASC. Educational consultant. Executive Coach. Diversity & Inclusion Leader. Podcaster.

LinkedIn: Kathleen Naglee
X: @KNaglee

Resources
www.unhingedcollaboration.com

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Carlos shares his experience of walking the Camino de Santiago/Camino Francés footpath. He shares how disconnecting from the world of work, digital devices, social media and working remotely had a significant impact on his own understanding of connectivity and its impact on being in the moment. Together we explore what this means about our own pace and focus in an age of digital tools 24/7.

About Carlos Davidovich

Carlos has extensive experience supporting the development of leaders and management teams alike on an international scale. Raised and educated in Argentina, Carlos has been living and working between Europe, USA and Canada for over 20 years, where he has become an Executive Coach giving workshops and lectures on Neuromanagement, applying neuroscience in organizations and businesses. Currently, he resides in Madrid working with clients from all sorts of cultures around the world.

Originally trained as a medical doctor in Argentina, Carlos draws on this medical background and understanding of the brain to apply Neuromanagement coaching modalities that lead to evident and sustainable change for his clients. Over the course of his early career, for more than 20 years, he has also gained management experience in business executive roles working for multinational pharmaceutical companies in the area of Biotechnology applied to human health. He is a professor of Neuromanagement in the MBA programs at the University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic, and at GEA in Ljubljana, Slovenia; a guest lecturer for the Masters in Leadership program at the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, and a thought leader with the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.

Co author of the book : “PersonalityDNA. Discover Your True Personality”

Author of the book : “Five Brain Leadership: How Neuroscience Can Help You Master Your Instincts and Build Better Teams”, January 2023. 

He is also an international TEDx Speaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhk JSgrGx0   

Education

• Medical Doctor Degree from Argentina 
• Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Clinical Psychopathology Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Barcelona, Spain
• Roche International Managers and Executive Development Course at Laussane Business School
• Psychotherapy and Hypnosis Certification from the
• Erickson Institute in Madrid, Spain
• Tai Chi Trainer : University Las Palmas, Spain

Carlos Davidovich on Social Media
Website: www.carlosdavidovich.com  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosdavidovich/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ncdavidovich/  

Resources
Five Brain Leadership: How Neuroscience Can Help You Master Your Instincts and Build Better Teams
Carlos Davidovich MD and Jennifer Brunton PhD
Page Two Press (Enero 2023)

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsedu.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Join us for a conversation with Clara Hawking, Head of Artificial Intelligence at Globeducate and winner of the #Techwomen100 Global Achievement Award 2024 by WeAreTechWomeas. Clara shares her expert insights on how global AI policies, including the EU AI Act, are shaping the future of education. Clara discusses the impact of AI on international schools, the role of women in this space, addressing ethical challenges and the vital role educators play in teaching AI literacy. She provides an update on the EU AI Act and its implications for AI use in classrooms, offering valuable perspectives for school leaders and educators navigating AI integration in their schools.

About Clara Hawking

Clara Hawking as Head of Artificial Intelligence for Globeducate and winner of the TechWomen100 Awards. A Fellow of the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) in Washington DC, for the US Government, Clara joined Globeducate in 2023 in a newly created role that sees her playing a pivotal role in executing a strategic plan across all of our schools, overseeing all aspects of AI policies, curricula, programmes, guidance and training related to AI. A prominent figure in the field of EdTech and AI, regularly appearing on panels and leading workshops at international conferences, and holds several Master´s degrees in subjects ranging from Computer Science to Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics. Clara is also a voluntary Director of ICT and Digitalisation at an educational organisation in Kenya and has an unwavering passion for shaping young minds to become global citizens equipped to tackle the challenges of the future. She is fluent in three languages and has lived and worked in the USA, Denmark, Spain and Sweden.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clara-lin-hawking-ba9123149/   

Resources

https://www.globeducate.com/ 

White Paper: The EU AI Act and Its Impact on K-12 Education
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/white-paper-eu-ai-act-its-impact-k-12-education-clara-lin-hawking-xsfpf/ 

https://www.caidp.org/  

https://wearetechwomen.com/tw100-women-in-tech-awards/techwomen100-awards-winners-2024/  

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial