CIS Perspectives Blog

Learn how to intentionally strengthen executive functioning skills through classroom routines and collaboration with guidance from CIS Affiliated Consultant April Remfrey.

How can schools build socially responsible leadership without adding new initiatives or more meeting time? Each of these six conversation starters for your next staff meeting ends with one small action, making the work practical, measurable, and sustainable. You can use them immediately—no special training required.

How can international schools design inclusive learning systems for every student? Lauren Jones shares ways to build inclusive cultures, understand diverse learners, remove barriers, and design learning ecosystems.

All schools are learning organisations. Dr Sudha Govindswamy examines the building blocks of learning organisations and provides examples of how schools can develop as learning organisations and how we demonstrate organisational learning at CIS.

As 2025 draws to a close, we recognize the CIS global community’s legacy of bold ambition, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to guide and support the young people we educate. Read the highlights.

Curious about how schools tackle identity-based harm? This blog walks you through the ways communities can support everyone involved—those who caused harm, the witnesses, and families—using restorative practices and cultural shifts. While international schools are making promising strides, the real change comes from keeping equity, inclusion, and well-being at the heart of everything we do.

In our work leading institutional improvement, we focus on social responsibility. We help school leaders and governing bodies to improve how they model social responsibility and how they educate students to develop as socially responsible citizens.

Jane Larsson reflects on emerging role models and the importance of language and tone. How are we helping emerging leaders understand the power of their words and the importance of communicating effectively? How can we empower them to become thoughtful, effective leaders who act ethically, think critically, and lead with social responsibility?

It’s been a remarkable year for the CIS community, filled with new initiatives and significant changes. Read our reflections as we celebrate the great strides we're taking forward together.

School safeguarding specialist, Leila Holmyard, explains how identity-based harm and the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion intersect with child protection and safeguarding. She also shares student feedback and how schools can take action to support and protect them.

'I often hear from those who wish to achieve a sense of belonging for every student but are worried that their initiatives will inadvertently stoke division or backlash within the community.' Learn more from Dr Emily Meadows and see how her framework can help you and your school.

As international schools continue to expand their horizons with off-site educational trips, the importance of student safety during these excursions has never been more important. Leila Holmyard outlines ten practical steps all schools can follow to ensure off-site adventures are not only educational and enriching but also safe and secure.

As we reflect on the past year, it's with a sense of pride that we share the milestones and innovations that have marked our journey. 

Gaps persist related to gender, ethnicity, and contract type. Learn what the 2023 data shows about the salaries and benefits of 373 heads of school in 106 different countries and what you can do about it.

'The latest iteration of the CIS Vision calls for our organization to support the development of socially responsible leadership through international education. When asked how I would describe my role here, the term critical friend comes to mind. I'm here to support the internal transformation.' Hear more from Dr Nneka Johnson 

'I had a hard conversation yesterday. One of the hardest I have ever had. It punched me, right in the gut.' Loretta Fernando-Smith shares a personal story and advice for fellow teachers.

Neither admissions nor counselling exists on culturally neutral terrains. That is, everything that we do in the realm of admissions and counselling is culturally influenced. Darnell Fine asks: what is the dominant culture holding influence over these processes?

‘I came out the second the plane touched the runway’ ... Dane Rowley shares guidance for schools and universities on how to know and do better to support LGBTQ+ international students moving to study in new countries.

'I’ve just started a year-long internal Fellowship at CIS, the organization’s first role of this kind ...' Hear more from Dr Nneka Johnson.

Student agency in promoting anti-discriminatory practices is key in shaping student experiences both at school and in life beyond school. During student interviews with a group of primary school students at a recent preparatory evaluation visit to Braeburn Dar Es Salaam, I asked what anti-discrimination meant to them.