2:05 - 2:30 PM | The Communities We Are Building — Why Culture Is a School's Greatest Asset
Panel Discussion
The Conversation
Inspection frameworks are good at measuring what's easy to count but belonging isn't easy to count. It's felt, not scored, and it's often the difference between a school that's well-run and one that's genuinely, quietly, extraordinary to be part of.
This session explores what makes a school community genuinely strong, not just well-run, considering belonging as something no inspection framework fully measures. It features leaders in inclusion, HR and student services, examines how the professional and the personal are held together with care, and asks what every person in a building believes about who they can become there.
Key discussion points include:
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What makes a school community genuinely strong, not just well-run
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Belonging as something no inspection framework fully measures
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Featuring leaders in inclusion, HR and student services
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How the professional and the personal are held together with care
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What every person in a building believes about who they can become there
Speakers
Jessica Werner Founder, Northshore Learning Jessica Werner, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of Northshore Learning. She has worked with schools worldwide as a professor, instructor, and consultant. Dr. Werner specializes in behavior support, social-emotional learning, student regulation, and educator wellbeing. She is passionate about helping schools meet diverse student needs and support and retain great teachers.
Galemarie Ola Head of Student Services, American Gulf School Galemarie Ola is an educational leader who believes the future of education lies not in adding more programs, but in designing better systems. She specializes in building practical, sustainable systems that enable schools to consistently meet the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of every student. Drawing on experience in the United States, Kuwait, and the UAE, her work centers on turning vision into implementation through clear structures, shared accountability, and meaningful relationships. She believes the strongest schools are those where relationships and high expectations work together, creating cultures in which both students and adults can thrive.
Mary Walter Deputy Principal/Vice Principal – Academic Affairs at The Royal Academy, Ajman, Mary Walter is an educational leader who believes the future of learning lies not in isolated initiatives, but in connected, globally minded systems. She specializes in strengthening curriculum innovation, strategic partnerships, and international opportunities that prepare students to thrive as global citizens. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in education and academic leadership, her work centers on turning vision into practice through instructional leadership, sustainability, and a genuine commitment to international education. She believes the strongest schools are those that stay future-ready — where innovative learning and global citizenship work together, creating cultures in which students grow into confident, capable citizens of the world.
Laurence Myers Independent Educational Consultant Laurence Myers is an educator, consultant and leadership coach with 30+ years in international schools specializing in service learning, sustainability, global citizenship, community engagement and student-directed learning. His work has been integral in the successful bids for the Zayed Sustainability Prize, several Eco-Schools green flags, Expo 2020 Sustainability Champions award and more. This is catalyzed through the designing of transformative, student-centered learning experiences for positive change. Laurence holds an M.Ed in Educational Administration and currently facilitates courses with the Institute for Humane Education and Compass Education in addition to his independent consulting engagement with schools around the world.