Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) Conference
I very much appreciated returning on campus this week after having had the pleasure and privilege to attend and speak at an international education conference in Washington DC. The focus of the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) conference was on three strands: innovative schools, well-being, and governance. 450 participants, mostly heads of school of international schools from all around the world, attended keynotes and participated in deep-dive sessions on topics related to these strands. I gave a Head Talk on the topic of governance, an opportunity to share the strengths of our school in this area and to give visibility to FIS in the world of leading international schools, beyond the network of French schools abroad. I also created strong connections with colleagues, educational thinkers, and consultants, all of which will prove helpful in the short and long term. Some of my learning related to disruptive innovation, with a strong interest at the conference in the topic of ChatGPT and its impact on education; strong and healthy governance practices; compensation and benefits issues in a time of inflation; and the questions of diversity and inclusion in international schools. I hope to share some perspective in the areas most relevant to our community in future posts.
My stay in D.C. was also concomitant with the terrible news of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Since then, the event has continued to unfold and the sheer scale of devastation and suffering prompts me to share that our hearts and minds go to the victims of this disaster, including children and schools. Many in our communities have expressed a desire to support. Our Community Association (FISCA) is providing in this issue of the Bulletin ways to do so.
I wish everyone a good week before a well-deserved early March school break.
