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Three experienced educators discuss how they ignite a passion for sustainability. This fireside chat outlines how they are rising to the challenge set by David Suzuki in their context.
Conversations ranges around the following points:
- How can schools best foster this reconnection and appreciation of the natural world?
- How can we move from teaching to engaging both the emotions and the intellect to ignite a lifelong passion for sustainability in our students?
- How do we connect students to a broader sense of purpose both within and beyond their schools and find ways to connect with others for meaningful action?
Most will agree that sustainability is one of the most important challenges of our time. In many of our schools, the UN Sustainability Goals often form the basis of classroom discussions and activities. As David Suzuki states however, “Unless we are willing to encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate the natural world, we can’t expect them to help protect and care for it.
This fireside chat was hosted by:
Derek Pinchbeck, Head of School at International College Hong Kong
Derek is the Head of School at International College Hong Kong (Hong Lok Yuen). In 2023 the school was honoured to be awarded the International School of the Year in the Sustainability category of the ISC Research International School Awards. Derek has been an educator for over 30 years and, in that time, has worked in 8 different countries. He believes passionately that what happens in schools has a profound impact on both individual students and the future those students will help create.
James Penstone, Secondary Principal at ICS Inter-Community School Zurich
James is the Secondary Principal at ICS Inter-Community School Zurich. Before joining ICS, he served as Cross-Campus Principal at Bangkok Patana School, Thailand. James champions holistic education, prioritising student well-being, agency, and voice. Committed to experiential and relevant learning, James is passionate about environmental issues, and fully recognises their central importance to current and future education.
Dr. Crystal Vaught, Assistant Head of School for Academics at Brownell Talbot (BT) College Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Crystal is the Assistant Head of School for Academics at Brownell Talbot (BT) College Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska. Before joining BT, Crystal served as the Principal (Head of School equivalent) of Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, and has held administrative, middle-level leadership, and teaching positions in Malaysia, the US, Singapore and Norway. Crystal is an advocate for hands-on, experiential, and inquiry-based project learning.