How can primary school leaders look past the noise and build adaptable, stakeholder-driven digital policies that confidently prepare their classrooms for the future?

Today, I’m joined by Tom Millinchip, a Deputy Head of Primary, curriculum and policy specialist, and a passionate leader in leveraging technology for evidence-based learning environments. With 15 years of primary education experience across the UK and internationally, Tom is a prominent voice in the ed-tech space. He is the founder of AI Ready Bahamas and the author of an upcoming AI book specifically designed for primary educators. Tom specializes in building true community ownership—fostering deep buy-in from teachers, parents, and students alike to ensure a successful digital transition.

In this episode of our special mini-series, we dive into Tom's practical approach to building a comprehensive, dual-layered AI policy framework. We discuss how he used AI to pull together different global benchmarks to build a solid foundation, his strategies for creating a jargon-free companion guide that teachers can digest easily, and how to maintain an active, evolving policy that school leaders can easily update as the technology shifts—and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Link to Tom’s Substack: https://tommillinchip.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web

How is the process of IB accreditation already being transformed into a genuine service that drives active growth and future-ready school communities?

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Ildiko Murray, an experienced Head of School in China with over 25 years of international educational leadership. Following her doctoral studies, she was engaged by the IB as a Subject Matter Expert to help create and develop some of the training protocols and practices that are actively reshaping how schools undergo accreditation around the globe today.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the world of school accreditation. We dive into why context must always be king, how schools are shifting from a mindset of "dramaturgical compliance" to authentic self-reflection, and how we must look to the future by leveraging strategic leadership, AI, and global citizenship to proactively guide our schools forward... and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Why is it that even the most brilliant educational initiatives often fail to take root in our schools?

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome back Becca Silver. At the time of releasing this episode, Becca’s new book- The Resistance Solution has been released, please see the link in the description. In our previous episode, we diagnosed the source of resistance; today, we’re focussing on the concept of ‘buy-in’

We’ll be diving deep into Becca’s new framework to understand why shifting from "compliance" to "ownership" is the key to sustainable transformation. We’ll also explore why the word "should" is a red flag for leaders and how to move past a culture of permission-seeking—and much more!

Welcome back to The Well-being Classroom.

Link to Becca Silvers new book- amzn.to/4tWELQC.

Here is more information, if you would like to get in touch with Becca:

Website

Coaching the Whole Educator Podcast

LinkedIn

The Resistance Playbook

How can the high-pressure world of FIFA officiating help us redefine leadership, empathy, and belonging within our school communities?

Today, I am joined by Kevin Stoltenkamp, the Head of Referees for the Oceania Football Confederation. Since 2016, Kevin has led officiating across 13 member countries under the FIFA umbrella. Beyond his work on the pitch, Kevin is a deeply experienced educator who understands the powerful parallels between managing a global sports organization and nurturing a positive school environment.

In this episode, we explore the human side of leadership. We’ll discuss the "imposter syndrome" that can strike even the most experienced professionals, the vital role of capacity building in diverse regions, and how the lessons Kevin has learned from the whistle can help us lead with more purpose, empathy, and clarity—and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

This episode kicks off a special limited series exploring the role of AI in education—specifically how these emerging technologies can be harnessed to drive positive school cultures and support student well-being across the entire school community.

How can we move beyond traditional industrial models of schooling to equip students with the agency they need to navigate a rapidly changing world?

Today, I’m joined by George Greskovitz, the CEO of Laikan and a dedicated educational innovator with over 15 years of experience. George co-founded the Milestone Institute in Budapest, where he pioneered mentoring and curriculum models that foster true student agency. He is currently developing Laikan, an AI-powered navigation application designed to make high-quality career orientation and academic advising accessible and impactful for students in every school, regardless of their background.

We’ll dive into the intersection of technology and holistic student support, exploring the shift from static "matching" models to what George calls "lifelong navigation." We discuss how Laikan can prompt deep student reflection, the importance of keeping a "human in the loop" to ensure psychological safety, how schools can use interactive dashboards to adapt their offerings to student aspirations, and much more!

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

Links to learn more...

- www.laikan.app

How do we bridge the gap between deep, personal healing and the fast-paced environment of the modern classroom?

Today, I’m joined by Xavier Woods, a primary school teacher with over two decades of professional experience across the U.S. and the Middle East, including time spent as a leader and educator in Abu Dhabi. A two-time Teacher of the Year in Metro Atlanta, Xavier is also an established author with a brand-new book, Keep God 1st and Go to Therapy, coming very soon. He is incredibly passionate about building positive relationships and is always ready to face the challenges of education with a sense of positivity and growth.

That’s what we’re exploring today with Xavier Woods—how the journey of therapy isn't just a personal one, but a tool that can transform how we lead, teach, and connect with our students every single day.

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom.

How can we move beyond the constant cycle of "fighting fires" and instead lead with a sense of intentional, focused calm?

Today, I’m joined by Patrick Cozier, a Headteacher at a secondary school in London. With nearly 20 years of experience in headship and a career spanning roles from classroom teaching to senior leadership, Patrick is a respected mentor, speaker, and the author of the highly acclaimed book, Calm Leadership.

In this episode, we dive deep into the core principles of leading with calm. We explore the "affirmative rationale" for building self-belief, the importance of dismantling the "success pedestal", and why radical honesty—choosing the "worst truth" over the "best lie"—is a leader’s most powerful tool for building trust. We also discuss practical strategies for managing overwhelm and much more!

Link to buy book: https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Leadership-Staying-grounded-staying/dp/178583746X

Welcome to The Well-being Classroom....

How could we move beyond planning lessons for the "middle" and instead use assessment as a dynamic tool to meet every learner's needs in real-time?

Today, I’m joined by Rajaa Laghrissi, an experienced English language teacher originally from Morocco and currently based in the UAE. With over 20 years of experience in secondary education, Rajaa is an innovative educator and a PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics. She is deeply passionate about adaptive teaching, student engagement, and developing students’ critical thinking and communication skills.

This episode concludes our special mini-series on adaptive teaching by focusing on what Rajaa describes as the "fuel" of the entire process: Formative Assessment. We dive deep into the Assessment for Learning (AfL) mindset, exploring how it acts as a continuous cycle of checking for understanding that allows teachers to "pivot" instruction the moment a gap is identified—and much more!