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The hanging coffins of Sagada, Philippines, are a profound symbol of the Igorot people's burial tradition, evoking reverence and reflection on life and death's interconnectedness....

Echoes of Ancient Rituals The hanging coffins of Sagada, Philippines, are a profound symbol of the Igorot people’s burial tradition, evoking reverence and reflection on life and death’s interconnectedness.

It's that time of the year again, and let me tell you, as a friendly high school principal, things have been anything but dull around here. That's right, we're talking about the thrilling, sometimes hair-raising, always exciting launch of a brand-new school year. The Alarm Clock's Vengeance Remember those carefree, alarm-clock-free days of summer? Yeah, those days are officially over. The school year kicks off with a bang, and that snooze button starts feeling like your mortal enemy....

Rolling Into a New School Year It’s that time of the year again, and let me tell you, as a friendly high school principal, things have been anything but dull around here. That’s right, we’re talking about the t…

As I stand here, gazing at the mesmerizing sight of runway landing lights stretching over the vast expanse of the ocean, I am struck by the profound metaphor they embody for the transformative power of education. As such, I am compelled to snap the shutter, saving this moment forever. ...

Illuminating Journeys: A Metaphor for the Transformative Power of Education As I stand here, gazing at the mesmerizing sight of runway landing lights stretching over the vast expanse of the ocean, I am struck by the profound metaphor they embody for the transformative powe…

As I found myself amidst the hustle and bustle of a new city, having changed jobs and taken on the role of leading a different school, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of disconnection and disorientation. The once-familiar surroundings had been replaced with unfamiliar streets, faces, and routines. It seemed like I had entered a parallel universe where everything was different, and I was an outsider trying to find my place. The disconnection was not physical but......

Navigating Change and Finding Belonging in a New City and Job As I found myself amidst the hustle and bustle of a new city, having changed jobs and taken on the role of leading a different school, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of disconnecti…

Change. It's a word that carries both excitement and trepidation, hope and uncertainty. As I sit here reflecting on my recent experiences of changing schools, moving cities, and embarking on a new job, I can't help but be overwhelmed by the wave of emotions that have washed over me. It is a testament to the profound impact change can have on our lives and the fundamental role it plays in shaping who we are as individuals....

Embracing Change: A Journey of Mixed Emotions and New Beginnings Change. It’s a word that carries both excitement and trepidation, hope and uncertainty. As I sit here reflecting on my recent experiences of changing schools, moving cities, and embarking on …

Dear Friends, Parents, Teachers, and Graduates, As I stand here before you, my heart swells with a mix of pride, gratitude, and a touch of melancholy. Today marks not only the graduation of an exceptional class but also the closing chapter of my journey as the principal of this remarkable school. As I look out at the sea of eager faces, I am reminded of the countless memories and meaningful connections forged within these walls....

A Bittersweet Farewell: Reflections on Graduation Day Dear Friends, Parents, Teachers, and Graduates, As I stand here before you, my heart swells with a mix of pride, gratitude, and a touch of melancholy. Today marks not only the graduation of an exce…

As a school leader, it is essential to cultivate positive relationships within your organization and community. These connections are vital to your school's success, affecting everything from student performance to the overall school environment. By making relationship-building a priority, you can establish a more unified and encouraging atmosphere for everyone. Staff By fostering open communication and collaboration among departments, you can create a more unified and effective approach to student learning....

The Importance of Positive Relationships As a school leader, it is essential to cultivate positive relationships within your organization and community. These connections are vital to your school’s success, affecting everything from…

Managing international schools is a challenging task due to the constantly changing environment they operate in. These schools are interconnected with their surroundings, making them open systems. Any organizational change can have an impact on the entire system, so school leaders need to consider the organization as a whole when implementing any changes. According to the open systems theory, organizations are in a constant exchange of information, resources, and energy with their surroundings....

Considering Organization Change in an Open System Managing international schools is a challenging task due to the constantly changing environment they operate in. These schools are interconnected with their surroundings, making them open systems. …

Questions: How can a leader best identify an individual school’s position on the poor to excellent performance continuum? What if a school defines “success” differently from the OECD and the PISA results? Does their context then put them on a continuum that exists entirely separately from other schools? Mourshed, M., Chijioke, C., & Barber M. (2010, November). Executive Summary: How the World’s Most Improved School Systems Keeping Getting Better....

Reflexive Journal: Mourshed et al. (2010) Questions: How can a leader best identify an individual school’s position on the poor to excellent performance continuum? What if a school defines “success” differently from the OECD and the PISA r…

Questions: How can leaders in higher education learn to walk their talk about culturally responsive leadership behaviours? Why is it that K-12 institutions and leadership have made significantly more progress toward culturally responsive leadership than those in higher education? Chen, D. & Yang, X. (2021). “Talk the walk and walk the talk”: Gearing toward a culturally responsive leadership approach. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher…...

Reflexive Journal: Chen and Yang (2021) Questions: How can leaders in higher education learn to walk their talk about culturally responsive leadership behaviours? Why is it that K-12 institutions and leadership have made significantly mo…