Innovation in International Schools

Madeleine (“Maddy”) Hewitt is the Executive Director of the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools. Before taking on the position in July, 2017, Maddy had served previously in five international schools: The International School of Tanganyika, Taipei American School, Cairo American College, the American International School of Johannesburg, and The KAUST School in Saudi Arabia. She holds a BA in English Literature from Mount Holyoke College (’84), and an MEd from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (’92).

Maddy has presented at international conferences on a wide range of topics including the architecture of deep learning, gender issues in schools, transforming school culture through inquiry-based education, adult learning and data-informed decision-making.

IVY YAN is a sought-after educational designer and facilitator based in Shanghai and Beijing. Advocating for happiness and wellbeing of human beings and nature as a whole, she works with schools and organizations on strategic visioning, leadership coaching, and student-facing experiential learning.

She believes in holistic and progressive education through the heart, head, and hands that is rooted in self-care, care for others, and care for nature. A natural cross-pollinator who draws inspirations from her diverse training and experiences, she integrates deep ecology and traditional wisdom into design and innovation, futures thinking, and media studies.

For Inspire Citizens, she directs the Eco-Media literacy experiences and programs, while also co-facilitating the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certification for Educators.

Steve Barkley, Chief Learning Officer and Executive Vice-President of PLS 3rd Learning, is internationally recognized for his ability to facilitate change through his teaching and coaching. He is skilled in guiding teams through continuous improvement with coaching, mentoring, and professional learning communities. Most recently, Steve has concentrated on leadership training, coaching skills, and establishing teacher professional development goals, often focused on efficacy, agency and accelerated learning. Students’ holistic growth requires learning opportunities that are authentic, purposeful, and connected.

He began his career more than 45 years ago as an elementary teacher. For the past 30+ years he has served as a consultant to school districts, teacher organizations, state departments of education, and colleges and universities both nationally and internationally. His strategies to connect with clients virtually has greatly increased his availability for personalized facilitation and coaching.

Steve is a master teacher-of-educators, a highly motivational speaker who is extraordinarily knowledgeable about life in schools. A catalyst for growth, he is a true role model who practices what he teaches. 

Julie Stern is passionate about synthesizing the best of education research into practical tools that support educators in breaking free of the industrial model of schooling and moving toward teaching and learning that promotes sustainability, equity, and well-being.

Julie is the best-selling author of Learning that Transfers, Visible Learning for Social Studies, and Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Elementary and Secondary. She is the thought leader behind the global workshop series Making Sense of Learning Transfer and is a certified trainer in Visible Learning Plus.

She is a James Madison Constitutional Fellow and taught social studies for many years in Washington, DC, and her native Louisiana.

Julie moves internationally every few years with her husband, a US diplomat, and her two young sons.

Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her doctorate in learning technologies from Pepperdine University. Currently, Catlin is working as a blended learning coach, education consultant, and professor in a Masters of Arts in Teaching program.

Catlin has published several books on blended learning, including The Shift to Student-led, The Complete Guide to Blended Learning, UDL and Blended Learning, and Balance with Blended Learning. She is active on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker and writes an internationally-ranked blog at CatlinTucker.com.