Steeping in Global Ideas: Lessons from Manchester and the KED International Conference

Just two weeks ago, I traded my south-eastern South Carolina sunshine for the energy of Manchester, UK — a city with industrial roots and a present-day heart for innovation, creativity, and excellent coffee (yes, really! ☕). What began as a professional trip turned into one of the most invigorating leadership experiences of my career, and I’m excited to share what I learned, sipped, and brought home to our school community.

Why Manchester? Why KED? Why Now?

The trip centered around an international conference hosted by the KED Group (Kunskapsskolan Education Network), a visionary organization committed to putting students and teachers at the heart of learning. You can learn more about their mission and global network at the KED Network UK site. KED Network UK – Kunskapsskolan Schools & Vision

Leaders from five countries — UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and the United States — gathered not just to talk shop, but to grapple with the realities educators are facing today:

• How do we leverage emerging technologies like AI (Google’s Gemini and beyond) to support teaching rather than overwhelm it?

• How do we protect and promote teacher wellness as the foundation of student success?

• How might global collaboration sharpen our practices back home?

More on the exciting AI work discussed shortly — but spoiler alert: it’s not about replacing teachers; it’s about freeing up teacher time for what truly matters. 

A Warm Welcome at Shevington High School

One of the highlights of the trip was the tour of Shevington High School — a KED-inspired school rooted in student agency and learner-centered design. Seeing how KED principles take shape on the ground was like watching a beautifully crafted latte art bloom: deliberate, thoughtful, and energizing.

Here’s what stood out most:

1. Personalized Learning Systems

Shevington has embraced the KED model, which places learners at the center of their educational journey. Teachers guide students toward self-directed learning goals using structured coaching practices — not unlike how we aim to support students at the NaviGator standard of excellence.

2. AI Supporting Teachers (Not Replacing Them)

Staff at Shevington are piloting AI tools like Google’s Gemini within their workflow to reduce workload — helping with planning, curriculum review, feedback loops, and even question-level analysis.  This is a living example of something spoken about at the conference: technology should elevate human effort, not overshadow it.

Imagine AI helping draft a lesson plan while you focus on designing the human interaction that makes learning magical.

3. Global Mindedness

Shevington’s international linkages — including student exchanges and collaborative projects — reminded me how expansive learning can be when we look beyond geographic borders. Their students engage in global dialogues, preparing them to thrive in diverse futures that echo the global economy our SC graduates will step into.

Sitting on an International Panel: Teacher Wellness as a Global Priority

One of the most powerful moments of the trip was sitting on a panel of leaders representing five nations, speaking directly to teacher wellness. Here’s why it mattered:

🌍 We Are Not Alone — And We Are Stronger Together

Educators across countries shared common challenges: burnout, workload stress, recruitment pressures, and the tension between innovation and sustainability. But we also shared hopeful solutions... many of which we’re already planting at home.

☕ My Story: The Teacher/Staff Care Package

I was honored to present our Teacher/Staff Care Package: a holistic set of supports I created in 2020 for my school, developed to honor the hearts and minds of our educators:

• Leave incentives to recharge and return with renewed focus

• A Performance Bonus System for Educators

• Reimbursement for further certifications to invest in professional growth

• Reimbursement for PRAXIS Exams

• Hybrid Work Days

• Discounted meals (because who doesn’t appreciate lunch that doesn’t break the bank?)

• On-campus gym access for movement that fuels mind and body

• And more intentional perks designed to communicate “We see you. We value you.”

This isn’t perks for perks’ sake. It’s a strategic investment in teacher retention, morale, and performance — the very core of healthy school culture.

🌎 Shared Voices, Shared Resolve

To sit alongside leaders from Sweden, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and the UK was humbling and affirming. It helped us see that while education systems may differ in structure or funding, the heart of teaching and what teachers need... transcends borders.

Education System Differences: UK vs. South Carolina

Visiting Shevington and talking with educators highlighted several contrasts that enriched my perspective:

🇬🇧 UK Education

• Centralized national curriculum with local implementation

• KED schools blend national standards with personalized learning principles

• Growing national dialogue around AI tools like Gemini for workload reduction

• Emphasis on inspection frameworks like Ofsted

🇺🇸 South Carolina (Charter Innovation Focus)

• Charter system freedom allows for innovation like our Teacher/Staff Care Package

• Autonomy to tailor staffing, curriculum, and school culture to unique community needs with accountability for outcomes

• Deep opportunities for strategic wellbeing supports

• We can pilot initiatives at the school level without waiting for national mandates

Both systems have strengths — and seeing them side-by-side helped me affirm what’s already working and ask better questions about how we grow even more.

Shout-Out to the Charter Institute at Erskine

A trip like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I am deeply grateful to the Charter Institute at Erskine for empowering the School Leader’s Cohort to engage in research, global collaboration, and professional amplification. This experience isn’t just personal, it will ripple through our schools, classrooms, and communities for years to come.

The institute continues to stand for bold autonomy, relentless support, and real innovation for real students. It’s humbling to be part of that mission and be chosen for opportunities that represent our Cohort and the Institute in global collaboration.

Reflections Over a Cup

On my last day in Manchester, I found myself in a conference room with a coffee stronger than most of my thoughts (a rare moment of caffeine triumph ☕). And I realized the future of education isn’t a distant horizon we wait for. It’s right here, in the conversations we share, the ideas we dare to try, and the people we choose to support.

We are educators and learners, every single day. And the more we link arms across schools, systems, and countries, the richer our craft becomes.

Here’s to sipping deeper, dreaming broader, and leading with heart (and the occasional extra espresso shot). ☕🌍