NEASC2024

Students at the International School of Belgium, who are primarily of Asian background, are very proactive in Student Leadership. They have initiated “’Are You Ok?' Day” which is a well-being event aimed at their peers and staff along with student-led counselling at break and lunch times. They alsohave a Student Support Group  and bring different faiths together at the Festival of Lights event - Hanukkah, Diwali, Ramadan and Christmas. They also organize inclusive competitions through the House System among many other initiatives. This session features the school’s younger leaders (i.e., age 14–16) as this is a group that often gets neglected when it comes to student leadership, yet they can be powerful drivers in a school if given freedom and encouragement. Participants will take away new ideas and also see how student leadership works in a diverse school context. The students want the session to be interactive and there will be audience participation and a Q and A at the end.

Franklin High School was a pilot site for competency-based assessment twenty years ago in New Hampshire, as a precursor to NH's CBA policy. While there were pockets of implementation and innovation, it never fully caught on. Ten years later there was another push for redesign, which was short-lived with administrative changes, budget cuts, and massive teacher layoffs. In 2019, with support from the Barr Foundation, Franklin began again by engaging in a Portrait of a Franklin Graduate process. After five years, Franklin has a competency-based assessment system and through grant funding has had access to resources to put the portrait into practice, AND there still remains a looming fear that after much progress, things will go backward. Learn about our innovations and help us answer our essential question "How do we make sure great innovations stick, and how do we help our students and community leave the fear behind?"

In this interactive session, participants will explore the essential components of a meaningful and effective learning environment. Through engaging activities, attendees will collaboratively establish collective norms and develop a shared understanding of what constitutes a supportive and impactful educational setting. The session will focus on fostering perspective-taking, gaining insight, and cultivating empathy among participants.

By the end of the session, attendees will have a set of practical activities and strategies to implement in their own educational environments, promoting collaborative clarity and enhancing the overall learning experience. Join us to discover how to create an inclusive and empathetic learning community that supports all learners.