We were so happy to interview fellow podcaster Nick DeForest!

One of our wishes has been to have a guest who could explain what co-curricular programming looks like at international schools after school and on weekends. Nick, with his GLOBETROTTIN’ ADs podcast and website, is at the center of a global network of athletic directors and activity coordinators. As such, he can speak to what this programming looks like in international elementary, middle, and high schools.

Nick DeForest is the Assistant Director of the Events Office at AIS Vienna, Austria. He is the founder of the Globetrottin’ ADs and the author of A Global Playbook, which can be found on Amazon. Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Nick has been in Austria since 2000 and is passionate about connecting international school Athletic Directors, Coaches, Teachers, and Students from around the world.

Our Guiding Question was, “What does co-curricular programming look like in international schools?”

Nick addressed several topics:

• The difference between co-curricular and extra-curricular programming.
• A breakdown of all the different people and roles in managing co-curricular programs.
• A description of how co-curricular facilitation in an international school might differ from what teachers may have experienced in their home country, especially in a public school.
• An unpacking of athletic and activity offerings for each division.
• The benefits of athletic and activity coaching and facilitation.
• An explanation of the term “educational athletics.”
• A description of how international schools can be the hub of social life at some international schools.
• Trends in international schools’ coaching, athletics, and activity coordination.
• An explanation of how school leaders ensure that co-curricular programming is valued equally with academic programming.

Nick’s Contact Information: Globetrottin’ ADs Website and Podcast | Facebook Group | X - Nick_GTADS

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Nick’s Book - A Global Playbook: How Every International School Can Raise Its Game

International Coach: State of the Industry Survey 2023

International Athletic Director: State of the Industry 2023

The show was recorded on April 12, 2024.
Categories: School Life | Wellness

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Email us with comments or suggestions at educatorsgoingglobal@gmail.com

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Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, and belief system could have a champion? Well, they do! It’s the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color, founded by Kevin Simpson. Kevin joined us to speak to his efforts through AIELOC to expand DEIJ learning in international schools.

Kevin is a native of Flint, Michigan. He owns and operates KDSL Global, an international education consulting company launched in 2016 in the USA and the United Arab Emirates. He and his team have served thousands of schools, educators, and leaders worldwide in over 60 countries. The majority of his work in education has centered on American curriculum schools overseas. Kevin is the founder of the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color (AIELOC) and Co-Founder of Resourceya.

Our Guiding Question was, “How are you and your team working to fulfill the mission of AIELOC?”

Here are a few of the topics covered in this episode:

• The origin story and mission of the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color (AIELOC)
• The power of networking
• Challenges and opportunities for AIELOC with so much growth
• Continually offering on-the-ground support around the world
• Cultural Wealth
• Recruiting Support
• Mentoring
• Research
• Supporting DEIJ using many tools
• Growing self-understanding

The show was recorded on March 21, 2024.

Kevin’s Contact Information: LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

KDSL Global

Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color (AIELOC)

Resourceya

Categories: School Life | PD | Change Management | DEIJ

Remember to access our Educators Going Global website for more information or to subscribe to our newsletter!

Email us with comments or suggestions at educatorsgoingglobal@gmail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Listen on your favorite podcast app: connect from our share page.

Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.

This was a special episode as we caught up with some of our previous guests who are finishing either their first or second year of international teaching. As expected, they had many lessons and tips to share! Tonya Busse joined us from Kingston, Jamaica. Jessica Simmons connected from Abuja, Nigeria. And Mel Idema and Cole Savage dialed in from Abu Dhabi.

You can listen to their individual interviews if you missed them. Mel & Cole, a married couple in their second year were on for Episode 13, Tonya Busse, a single teacher in her first year was our guest for Episode 29, and Jessica Simpson, a married teacher with a trailing spouse husband, joined us for Episode 31

Our Guiding Question was, “Based on the past school year, how is your experience of international teaching going?”

To help answer this question, our no-longer “newbies” answered the following subquestions:

• What were one or two high points from the past school year?
• Do you have a low point to share?
• What are the next steps for you?
• Do you have any sage advice for aspiring international teachers on:
  
  
  • Recruiting
  • Interviewing
  • Transition Prep
  • Doing your own version of orientation

The show was recorded on May 11, 2024.

Contact Information:

Tonya - Instagram @tonya_busse

Jessica - Jessica writes about her adventures on Medium. Here is a direct link to her account.

Mel and Cole - Their blogs: ​The Global Traveler’s Wife and ​The Wandering Learner.

Categories: School Life | Recruiting | Transitions | Travel | Wellness

Remember to access our Educators Going Global website for more information or to subscribe to our newsletter!

Email us with comments or suggestions at educatorsgoingglobal@gmail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Listen on your favorite podcast app: connect from our share page.

Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.