The International Schools Podcast

Using Innovation and Leadership to Make a Difference in Education.

About Francis Q. Hoan

Francis Q. Hoang is a veteran, entrepreneur, and technology innovator who has been a founding team member of companies generating over $600 million in combined sales and employing more than 1,200 professionals across AI, law, aerospace, defense, and government services. With over a decade of expertise in building and integrating innovative technologies, Francis has enabled teams across industries to harness the transformative potential of AI and frontier tech.

With 20+ years of national security experience, Francis has served in every branch of the U.S. Government. He was appointed by President George W. Bush as Associate White House Counsel and Special Assistant to the President and later deployed as the Executive Officer of a U.S. Army Special Forces Company during combat operations in Southeast Afghanistan. His distinguished career includes serving as Deputy Chief of Police and SWAT Commander at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and clerking for Judge Thomas Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

A graduate of West Point (top 1% of his class), Washburn University (Master’s in Criminal Justice), and Georgetown University Law Center (magna cum laude), Francis has also completed Ranger School and passed the CPA exam. His leadership extends to chairing the board of Allied Airlift 21 and co-organizing the Afghanistan Departure Group, which facilitated the first U.S. private charter evacuation flight from Afghanistan after the military withdrawal.

Francis has served on numerous boards, including MAG Aerospace, Marymount University, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and his insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal. Proudly hailing from Tumwater, Washington, Francis speaks regularly on innovation, leadership, and service.

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

Resources

https://boodlebox.ai/ 

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

A conversation with three global leaders shaping a collaborative global diploma option designed around agency, meaning, and wellbeing.

About Dr. Tami Canale

Dr. Tami Canale is the Director of Teaching and Learning for the upper school at the American International School of Budapest and is the past President of the European League for Middle Level Education (ELMLE). Bringing people together to work, play, and learn has been her passion for the last 30 years. Dr. Canale's work emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and the future of education, fostering environments where teachers and school leaders excel and students are empowered to shape their own futures.

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

About Patricia Podorsek

Patricia is the Deputy Head for Teaching and Learning at International School Nido de Aguilas. She has been a career international educator, having lived and taught in five countries since she began in the 90s. She is passionate about bringing high quality learning to all students and believes there can never be too much garlic in a recipe.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-podorsek-16354219/ 

About Melanie Kempe

Melanie is the Secondary Principal at the American International School of Bucharest in Romania.  She has previously worked as an IB English teacher, an MYP coordinator, and a Director of Curriculum and Innovation, all of which led to her passion for working collaboratively to create the pathways needed for all students to find joy and success in learning that matters to them.

Resources

GID Guide
GID Overview Slides
For more info, contact globalimpactdiploma@gmail.com 

Pathways Summit website
5 Ideas for Developing Real-World Thinking Skills, Silver, Boutz, McTIghe
Self-Determination Theory, Science Direct
Adolescents who have a sense of purpose are happier and healthier. How can we help?, UCLA
The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith

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

Join us as we talk with Max Stauffer, Co-CEO of the Simon Institute (SI), about how international educators and schools can help students become future-ready and approach global challenges with a long-term view. SI’s mission to strengthen global cooperation and reduce major risks aligns closely with the goals of many international schools. Max explains how SI works with partners worldwide to address complex issues and shares important trends affecting educators today. We’ll explore practical strategies that educators and students can use to engage with themes like cooperation, responsible technology, and making a positive impact on society.

About Max Stauffer

Max Stauffer is the Co-CEO of SI. Together with Konrad, he develops our strategy, designs our programs, and leads our policy work.

Previously, Max served as Senior Science-Policy Officer at the Geneva Science-Policy Interface, Senior Visiting Fellow at UN University, and co-President and head of policy research at Effective Altruism Switzerland. He’s also a World Economic Forum Expert on Complex Risks and co-founder of the Geneva Social Complexity Lab.

Max studied international relations at the University of Geneva and computational math at Johns Hopkins University, and holds a particular interest in evidence-informed policymaking, risk governance, and decision-making under uncertainty.

About SI (Strategic Initiatives)

SI (Strategic Initiatives) is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland that supports global cooperation to address large-scale challenges. It provides policy advice and facilitates decision-making on technology governance, global risks, and long-term planning. Since 2021, SI has contributed to international processes, organized workshops, and delivered a UN report on existential risks. Its work focuses on multilateral action, improving technology governance, and encouraging policies that consider future generations.

Website: https://www.simoninstitute.ch/ 

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

Former undercover police officer Jonathan Taylor shares his journey to becoming an online safety consultant

About Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan is an expert Online Safety & Social media Awareness Consultant who works with Schools nationally and internationally. He delivers leading Online Safety Workshops for Staff, Students and Parents.

Specialising in Child Safeguarding and spending 10 years as an undercover Police Officer, identifying Online Predators, his unique experience, accompanied with his advanced knowledge and qualifications, allows Jonathan to offer and deliver the most exclusive, progressive, and current Online Safety Workshops.

Jonathan advises and assists schools in the importance and creation of robust Online Safety and acceptable use policies. Jonathan also lectures to Child Safeguarding Professionals on how to recognise and understand Online Child Sexual Exploitation and what tools are available to help keep children safe.

Jonathan frequently appears on GB News, Talk TV, Sky News, The One Show, BBC Breakfast TV, LBC, and Radio 5 Live as an Online Safety & Social Media Consultant and has recently filmed Documentaries for Channel 4 & CBS.

Email : onlinesafety4schools@gmail.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

Join the conversation with Alka Townend as she delves into how educators can address grief and loss in the classroom. Learn about the ways in which grief might manifest in children and understand why it is crucial for every teacher to have some knowledge around loss in childhood. Discover practical strategies, including bibliotherapy, and book recommendations, to support students through difficult times like bereavement, divorce, or migration. Alka will share her insights linked to research and her training as a bereavement counsellor. She will highlight the significant role that school communities hold in nurturing a compassionate and inclusive classroom environment and how international educators and school leaders can facilitate this.

About Alka Townend

Alka is an Assistant Professor in Education and EDI Director based at the University of Sussex. Prior to this she gained many years of experience working within different London universities as a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BA undergraduate and post-graduate education courses. Alka’s subject expertise resides in English and Drama and she enjoys opportunities to be a guest speaker at various national and international conferences including the UKLA, NATE, ICET and ELSA. Alka was also recently invited to a conference in India to share her insights and knowledge related to the use of oracy as an effective pedagogical strategy for learning and assessment in the classroom. Alka has a particular passion for children’s literature and how stories can be utilised as a learning tool and support strategy across a range of ages.

Alka’s research area is focused on childhood bereavement and how grieving pupils might be supported in their school communities. To inform this work, Alka trained as a bereavement counsellor for a national UK charity and specialises in supporting children and young people. Alka also provides educational consultancy services and recently provided support for a government funded project aimed at supporting young people in managing challenging life experiences related to different forms of loss. This year. Alka has been invited to present her research and bereavement CPD at various educational conferences including Paris, Cologne and Toulouse. Alka is passionate about teachers being provided with the appropriate skills to support loss in the classroom and has recently embedded this training across all aspects of teacher education at her university.

Alka is currently the Director for Equality Diversity and Inclusion within her faculty. She recently organised a research event focused on ethnic representation in children’s literature. She is also the national co-chair for ARTEN (the anti-racist teacher educator network).

Alka’s background experience was gained in primary teaching, and she spent many years working in both state and independent schools in England as a teacher and senior leader. 

One of Alka’s proudest achievements was when she became the Winner of Sussex Extra Mile Award (given to staff who have shown extraordinary commitment and compassion towards their students).

Alka Townend on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alka-townend-mres-ed-ba-hons-qts-0bb005106/ 

Resources

Articles for review which have open access: 
Childhood bereavement: The role of school leadership in developing inclusive learning environments : My College

Let’s talk about death: All children in England should receive grief education at school | PolicyBristol | University of Bristol

Available as downloadable reports

Research into childhood bereavement and the British school system

Vol. 2 (2023): Bereavement: Journal of grief and responses to death | Bereavement

Recommended literature resources for the classroom:

Books and resources for bereaved children up to 11 years old | Child Bereavement UK

Best children's books - Bereavement, Grief & Loss

Grief and Loss (teen) | BookTrust

UK Charity Support: (useful open access resources)

Winston's Wish: Winston's Wish - giving hope to grieving children

CB UK: Child Bereavement UK

Cruse: Home - Cruse Bereavement Support

Grief Encounter: Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE - Grief Encounter

Different Countries have all types of bereavement support - some sparse and some vast!  A quick google will guide your listeners.  But for starters, I have included the following outside of the UK. 

USA

NACG

History | Rainbows for All Children

Sweden

About grief - Efterlevandeguiden

Denmark

About us - Det Nationale Sorgcenter

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