Do you ever feel stuck trying to make learning relevant, but tied to the four walls of your classroom? What if the place students learn became the curriculum itself—full of stories, problems, and people to learn from?

In this episode, I sit down with Jen Buchanan, principal at Think Global School—one of the world’s only fully traveling high schools—to explore how place-based learning transforms education. Jen shares how students immerse themselves in local contexts like Japan, Botswana, and Greece, tackling real-world issues through interdisciplinary projects with community partners. You’ll hear how this approach fosters global citizenship, critical thinking, and lasting impact—and how any school can get started.

You’ll learn:

• Why local and global contexts ignite deeper inquiry and empathy

• How students co-design learning through place-based, changemaker modules

• Simple ways to embed community, geography, and culture into your curriculum

• How to overcome common constraints like time, standards, and logistics

Ready to turn your surroundings into stories and your students into global problem-solvers? This episode is your first step toward place-based transformation.

Connect with Jen: (LinkedIn), (Website)

Learn more about ThinkGlobal: https://thinkglobalschool.org/think-global-school-welcomes-jen-buchanan-as-its-next-principal/

Get the 12 Shifts Book, 'Where is the Teacher?': https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Kyle-Wagner/dp/1032484713

Jen's Bio: Jen Buchanan is the principal of Think Global, the world's first traveling high school. SJen has cemented her career as a future-focused educator and leader in Australia, holding roles such as Head of Secondary at Preshil School and Head of Tay Creggan at Strathcona Girls Grammar. She also served as a consultant with Future Schools Alliance and Director of Engagement at Future Anything, supporting innovative teaching and learning nationwide. Known for her commitment to creating positive, equitable, and engaging learning environments, Jen is a passionate advocate for student agency and creative potential. Her work is grounded in a belief that education should ignite curiosity, support wellbeing, and empower all students to thrive, and she brings a deep understanding of implementing meaningful change from her "on-the-ground" experience in progressive schools.

Jen is also a dedicated lifelong learner, holding a Master of Education from The University of Melbourne and a second Master's degree from Deakin University, where her research focused on topics like student engagement ("flow") and the experiences of graduate teachers. Outside of her professional life, she is a self-confessed adventure-seeker and creative spirit. She loves to be off the grid, hiking and camping, or discovering new corners of the world. At home in Melbourne, she is a part-time artist, creating everything from wheel-thrown ceramics to quirky short films, bringing the same sense of wonder and creativity that defines her work in education to her personal projects.

Do you feel like every classroom activity depends on you to keep things running? What if one small shift could hand that responsibility to your students, and spark more energy and accountability than you imagined?

In this episode, I share a classroom story of empowering a student to take on the role of project manager. What began as a way to distribute responsibilities in a café project quickly expanded into labs, group work, and even whole class discussions. The result? Students who not only stepped up but often outperformed expectations, building ownership, collaboration, and confidence in the process.

You’ll learn:

• How student managers transform ordinary activities into opportunities for leadership

• Why peer accountability increases honesty, authenticity, and deeper engagement

• Simple ways to introduce the role during group work, labs, and discussions

• How this small shift improves work quality and frees you to mentor instead of manage

Ready to stop managing every activity and start mentoring leaders? This episode shows you how student managers can change the classroom dynamic.

Get the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher

Schedule a Training Strategy Call: kylewagner@transformschool.com

What does it really take to lead a student-centered shift, especially in exam-driven environments? In this conversation, I sit down with Rikke (pronounced like reggae), an international school leader who is transforming her 600-student campus in Portugal to align with her bold vision: "Together, we educate for change."

Rikke shares the small but intentional moves that created momentum for whole-school innovation, from restructuring timetables to redefining the role of middle leaders. Her story proves that student-centered change doesn’t require perfection. It takes persistence, clear purpose, and the courage to start.

You’ll hear how she:

• Built teacher buy-in by anchoring everything in a powerful “why”
• Designed low-stakes spaces for teachers to experiment with projects
• Structured time for interdisciplinary, SDG-driven experiences without compromising academic outcomes

This episode is a must-listen for curriculum leaders, coordinators, and change agents looking for realistic and replicable strategies to move from good intentions to genuine transformation.

Bio: An actionist creating social change through education, Nordic leadership, and a focus on asking why, connecting ideas, and driving impact.

Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Kyle-Wagner/dp/1032484713

Take The 12 Shifts Scorecard to Identity Areas for Growth: https://transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard/