How can we work with our students to understand their political and cultural identities in a world of constant change? In this episode, we’re joined by three educators to discuss the domain of political economy, identity, privilege and culture with a futures focus.

Loretta Smith is an educator with more than 20 years of experience in international schools. She grew up between cultures, moving several times during her childhood. She is also the mother of two multi-racial, Cross Culture Kids. Her experiences of straddling several cultures as a child, adult, parent and educator have made her aware of how people negotiate belonging in different spaces. This tension drives her curiosity, inquiry and research into belonging. Her study on young children’s perceptions of belonging in culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse settings is a part of the recently published Handbook of Research on Critical Issues and Global Trends in International Education. Loretta has the privilege of serving the Frankfurt International School Wiesbaden Campus as their associate principal and curriculum coordinator.

The Acting Head of Primary at Renaissance College, Hong Kong, Jason Doucette is originally from Prince Edward Island, Canada. He has worked in Hong Kong since 2002, in various kindergartens and primary schools, as a teacher, Head Teacher, PYP Coordinator and Vice Principal. Jason is a member of the IB Educator Network (workshop leader), an IB School Visiting Team Member, and a qualified Performance Coach. When not spending time with his wife and three young children, he enjoys reading, exercising, and travelling.

A grown up third culture child, British by birth, but raised in Hong Kong, dual British/Canadian citizen, Neil Scott has taught in South Korea, Qatar, Ontario Canada, and now in Hong Kong. He has 16 years experience in education and is currently finishing up an M.Ed. He is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lead at Kennedy School, Hong Kong.

Our guests shared the following resources -

Sylvia Duckworth’s Wheel of Power and Privilege - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Wheel-of-Power-Privilege-and-Marginalization-by-Sylvia-Duckworth-Used-by-permission_fig1_364109273

Emily Meadow’s Wheel for International Schools - https://www.cois.org/about-cis/perspectives-blog/blog-post/~board/perspectives-blog/post/can-diversity-equity-and-belonging-initiatives-create-division-in-schools-and-a-framework-to-help

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Find out more about MSB and download our paper, Futures-Focused Leadership for International Schools, at www.makingstuffbetter.com

Contact the team about our Futures-Focused Pledge at https://zcal.co/t/makingstuffbetter/talktotheteam

You can find us on Linked in at

Matt Hall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hall-msb/

Naomi Ward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-ward-098a1535/