They say you can tell a lot about what a school values by looking at its timetable. What does yours say?

If you’re trying to create more time for student-driven projects, real-world connections, and deeper learning, but your current schedule feels rigid and confining, this episode will show you a better way. It’s part two of our special monthly series on Building Student-Centered Schools.

In this episode, I walk you through a hands-on exercise to design your dream student-centered schedule. No spreadsheets, no software, just a whiteboard, post-its, and the values that matter most to your learners.

You’ll learn how to:

• Align your daily schedule to your program’s core values

• Create longer, deeper learning blocks for true personalization

• Involve students, staff, and parents as co-designers of time

• Think beyond traditional periods to open up authentic learning pathways

If you’re launching or reimagining a student-centered program, this episode will help you move from rigid to responsive, and design a schedule that actually supports the learning you want to see.

Watch the Video On Youtube:

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Trying to build more student agency—but feel boxed in by curriculum coverage? What if you didn’t have to choose between voice and academic rigor?

In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Harvey, secondary principal at Beijing City International School (BCIS), to explore how her team is shifting culture around student agency while still honoring the demands of a rigorous curriculum. From co-creating a three-year vision to redefining personalization in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, Natalie shares the intentional moves that are making voice and choice a lived experience—not just a buzzword.

You’ll hear how BCIS is navigating real challenges while building a culture where students know themselves deeply, make meaningful decisions, and drive their own learning.

• How BCIS reframed student agency through the lens of “jaggedness”

• What voice and choice look like in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) classroom

• How leadership created a shared language and clear expectations around agency

• Why building trust—and giving teachers choice—is key to sustainable change

Ready to hear how these shifts are playing out in practice and what they might look like in your setting?

Connect with Natalie: Natalie.Harvey@bcis.cn

Get the 12 Shifts Book: On Amazon, On the Website: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher

Natalie's Bio: Natalie is the current Secondary Principal of BCIS and was born in Hanover, Jamaica. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Language Education: English, from the University of the West Indies, a Master of Arts in Education from Wake Forrest University, a Certificate of International School Leadership from the Principal's Training Center, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in International School Leadership with Wilkes University.

Before BCIS, Natalie worked in various capacities in Jamaica, the United States of America, Venezuela, and Mexico. She was a Middle School Deputy Principal and Principal at the American School of Tampico for seven years. She has been an educator for 25 years and has a wealth of experience in teaching and leading. Natalie believes that forming solid interpersonal relationships leads to a positive school culture, functional collaborative structures, and exceptional outcomes for students and teachers.

In addition, Natalie is passionate about partnering with parents, promoting student voice, and fostering a sense of belonging and a focus on successful learning outcomes within the BCIS community.

Feeling stuck planning projects across subjects?

It's more common than you think.

Without the right structures, interdisciplinary projects often feel messy, disconnected, and overwhelming — for both teachers and students.

But what if a few small shifts could lead to more engaged students, stronger collaboration across subjects, and less stress for you?

In this episode, I sat down with Ryan Murfield, Coordinator of the Interdisciplinary PRAXIS Program at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, to unpack three simple shifts that make interdisciplinary planning work:

• Focus planning around real-world problems that drive deeper engagement

• Build milestone checkpoints that keep interdisciplinary teams aligned

• Design assessments that capture real learning across subjects—without adding more work

If you're ready to plan across subjects with more clarity, connection, and confidence, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Ryan:

Learn more about the PRAXIS Program:

Get the 12 shifts book for student-centered environments: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher

Free Interdisciplinary Project Planner

Ryan's Bio: Initially from South Dakota, Ryan Murfield is the coordinator of the 9th grade interdisciplinary program called (PRAXIS) at the International School of Kuala Lumpur. Prior he taught in the USA and then in Seoul, South Korea. The favourite part of his role is seeing the amazing work students are able to do when given the opportunity to grapple with complex, real-world, authentic problems.

He was also a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine where he to speak Ukrainian and lived in a small town, teaching English at a local school. He helped organize events promoting leadership and for young people in the region, and also met his wife, Courtney, another Peace Corps volunteer.

What if the real reason students aren't owning their learning... is because the data about their progress stays locked in a teacher's spreadsheet?

In today’s episode, we tackle one of the biggest missed opportunities in education: when rich data about student learning stays hidden from the very people it matters to most — students. I sit down with Daniel Rosenberg from Otis to explore how giving students direct access to their learning data can radically personalize instruction, build real student agency, and make teaching more impactful (and less overwhelming).

You'll discover:

• Why “data rich but information poor” is holding schools back — and how to fix it.

• How AI-powered tools are making it easier than ever for teachers to spot trends and plan faster interventions.

• How giving students visibility into their progress creates faster, smarter interventions.

• Real examples of students using their own data to set goals and shape their learning journeys.

• How platforms like Otis are making this shift simple for teachers, not harder.

Ready to turn student data into student power? Tune in and learn how a small shift can spark big outcomes!

Connect with Daniel: (otusk12), Wechat, LinkedIn, Instagram

Learn more about Otus: www.otus.com

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Get the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher

🎙️

What if your efforts as a leader to shift classroom practice were falling flat, not because of teacher resistance, but because of how change is being led?

Studies show that only 30% of school change initiatives succeed. Often, it's because the teachers we support in shifting practice feel overwhelmed, unclear, or unsupported.

But what if one simple changed that?

In this episode, I talk with Raina, an instructional coach at Chiang Mai International School, who is leading a different kind of shift: one built on trust, teacher agency, and coaching that actually sticks.

She shares what works when building student-centered culture, and how leaders like us can guide change that’s both sustainable and teacher-owned. You'll hear how teachers are transforming from content deliverers to learning facilitators, and how their classrooms are shifting from teacher-directed to student-driven environments full of energy, ownership, and engagement. You'll learn:

• Why most student-centered initiatives fail, and what’s worked instead
• How to build trust and momentum with teachers who feel overwhelmed
• Small, actionable shifts that transform classrooms over time
• How to design PLCs and coaching cycles that support real growth

Ready to lead change that lasts? Tune in to learn how Raina is coaching teachers into vibrant, student-driven learning without burning them out.

Connect with Raina: (Twitter) @raina_alane (LinkedIn) linkedin.com/in/rainagrove

Take the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Scorecard: 12 Shifts Scorecard

Purchase the 12 Shifts Book: Get the book on Amazon

Raina's Bio:

Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Raina's journey has taken me from the vibrant cities of Austin and the Bay Area to the stunning shores of Hawai’i, and abroad to the UAE and now Thailand. With 22 years in education, she draws on a strong foundation in communication, leadership, and curriculum development—grounded in an interdisciplinary science degree from West Texas A&M and STEM and Special Education from UT Tyler—to connect meaningfully with students, educators, and administrators. Her passion lies in empowering others, nurturing a lifelong love of learning, and supporting diverse educational communities across the globe. Guided by her core strengths—empathy, input, adaptability, achiever, and learner—she brings energy, insight, and heart to every role sh takes on.

Ever been handed a blank sheet of paper to design your dream school—but felt totally overwhelmed by where to begin?

You're not alone.

This episode kicks off a special monthly series airing in the final week of each month on Building Student-Centered Schools Building Student-Centered Schools, where I take you behind the scenes of a real program I’m helping launch in Hong Kong. Each month, we’ll unpack a core design element—from staffing to space to schedule—starting with “S.”

In this first episode, we explore the power of story—and how engaging your stakeholders early on can turn uncertainty into clarity. I share how we co-created a shared vision with students, parents, and staff to lay the foundation for a truly student-centered experience.

You’ll learn how to:

🔹 Gather authentic input from your community to build ownership
🔹 Create clear value statements that guide every design decision
🔹 Use “vision visits” and focus groups to surface what your community truly cares about
🔹 Develop a simple, powerful school mission rooted in real-world relevance

If you’re launching or reimagining a student-centered program, this episode will give you the clarity and momentum to move forward—with your people at the center.

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713

Struggling to make learning feel relevant and real for your students? What if shifting from classroom-based instruction to community-connected learning could spark deeper engagement—without adding to your workload?

In this episode, I sit down with Lori, an expert in community-based STEM learning, to explore how shifting learning from the classroom to museums, libraries, and local spaces creates powerful, real-world experiences- especially in STEM. Lori shares practical strategies to bring your community into the classroom—and how these partnerships can transform your students into scientists, historians, and creators, while making your role as a teacher easier, not harder.

She describes a moment when a young girl, after leading her own experiment in a museum, said, “I was the scientist... not my teacher.” We learn:

• How shifting learning from the classroom to community spaces makes projects instantly more relevant
• Why letting students “be the expert” drives deeper learning and ownership
• How collaborating with museums and libraries simplifies planning instead of complicating it
• How virtual field trips can extend your classroom to the world—on any budget

Tune in to learn more about these shifts in practice and how to apply them in your setting.

Connect with Lori: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/lori-stratton-know2grow), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/knowledge_to_grow_on/)

Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Lori's Bio:

Lori Stratton is an Educational Program Development Consultant with extensive experience in accessible STEM programming and museum education. She began her career as a Recreational Therapist and parlayed her medical background to become New York City's first Special Needs Museum Educator. She pioneered access programs at the New York Transit Museum and Intrepid Museum (specializing in History, STEM and NASA education) while consulting for The Tenement Museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, MOMA, Holocaust Museum and other renowned institutions. Her work focused on curriculum adaptation and creating immersive experiences for diverse audiences through experiential and project based learning.

What if you didn’t have to manage every student project—but guided students to lead their own?

Too often, teachers in project-based learning feel like they have to run the show—juggling endless questions, guiding every decision, and holding all the details. But shifting from master to mentor can lighten your load and deepen student ownership.

In this episode, we talk with Byron, an international educator and PBL program director, about how stepping back as a mentor creates space for students to lead their real-world projects with more independence, curiosity, and engagement. You’ll hear practical strategies to simplify your role—while helping students take more responsibility for their learning.

🔹 Why moving from “project manager” to “mentor” increases student ownership and agency
🔹 How to support and scaffold multiple projects without getting overwhelmed
🔹 Simple structures that help students stay on track and self-directed
🔹 How to create a classroom culture where reflection and feedback drive deeper learning

🎧 Tune in to shift into mentor mode and make project-based learning easier.

Connect with Byron: www.linkedin.com/in/byron-clarke

Learn more about VIS Better World Lab: https://vis.tp.edu.tw/ (website), https://www.youtube.com/@visradio (radio)

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to target areas of growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Get the 12 Shifts Book: 'Where is the Teacher?'

Byron's Bio: Byron Clarke is the Project-Based Learning (PBL) Program Director and Business and Economics Instructor at VIS@betterworld lab Experimental Education, where he has led the development of the PBL program for four years. Byron is committed to creating an inclusive, holistic educational environment that empowers students through real-world learning experiences that are meaningful to them. Under his leadership, the program focuses on fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability, equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in both academic, personal, and professional settings.