INSPIRE! Session 1 — 2025 ICGS Conference

INSPIRE! Session 1
June 24, 2025
3:00-4:00 p.m.

Teaching Feminism and Gender in the Wake of the 2024 Election
What does it mean to teach feminism at a girl’s school? What place does theory have in the high school classroom? In this workshop, we address both questions by working through four paradigmatic examples of feminist theory. Drawing on our extensive experience teaching courses on feminism in different girls’ schools, we will use the work of bell hooks, Sandra Bartky, Judith Bennet, and Saba Mahmoud to anchor our discussion. Participants will leave with a deeper knowledge of each thinker’s theories as well as turnkey reading and writing activities they can use for complex issues with their own students.

Presenter: Georgina Emerson, History Teacher | The Spence School (United States)

Independent School Financing Market Update
Join this insightful workshop designed to delve into key aspects of financing options tailored to the unique needs of independent educational institutions. From traditional mortgage loans to tax-exempt bond financing and capital campaign bridge lines of credit, we’ll explore various avenues for funding school initiatives. You’ll receive valuable insights on loan pricing, fees, and considerations when engaging with banks and lenders and gain a comprehensive understanding of school borrowing considerations, including a detailed review of term sheets to ensure informed decision-making. This interactive session will feature a dedicated Q&A segment, allowing participants to seek clarification and guidance on specific financial challenges they may encounter.

Presenters: Mark Cardone, First Senior Vice President; Gabriel Gasior, Vice President | ConnectOne Bank (United States)

Raising #GirlsWhoCode: Building a Coding and Robotics Curriculum on a Budget
Discover how to empower young girls with coding and robotics skills on a limited budget. Rooted in Piaget’s Constructivist Theory, this session showcases affordable, hands-on teaching strategies that inspire creativity, problem-solving, and digital literacy in Foundation Phase learners. Explore practical tools like Bee-Bots, Lego Spike Essential kits, and unplugged coding activities that foster computational thinking. Learn how to integrate these skills across disciplines while promoting digital citizenship. Ideal for educators passionate about making STEAM education accessible, this session provides actionable insights to help nurture the next generation of confident, tech-savvy girls ready to lead in a digital world.

Presenter: Jeanette Viljoen, Head of Department; ICT and Creative Arts (Junior School) | Roedean School (South Africa)

From Vision to Distinction: Creating a Signature Program through Design Thinking
This presentation provides an overview of how to harness a school’s unique strengths to move from strategic goals to the creation of an innovative, student-centered signature program. Attendees will gain insights into using the design thinking process to engage stakeholders, identify high-impact and low-effort opportunities, and develop initiatives that align with the school’s mission and values. The tools and processes used by Merion Mercy Academy are actionable for any institution seeking to create a distinctive academic program. This session will also highlight the outcome of Merion Mercy’s strategic work: its Diploma with Distinction program with five concentration areas.

Presenters: Marianne Rule, Department Chair and Diploma with Distinction Capstone Coordinator; Philip Vinogradov, Assistant Head of School for Academics | Merion Mercy Academy (United States)

Two Sides of The Same Coin: Staff Attitudes to Research-Based Curriculum Change
Following our published paper (Impact, 2024), this presentation addresses the age-old question: “Why sometimes are staff reluctant to accept research-based practice and curriculum change?” Like eating our vegetables, staff know this is good practice, yet there is a distinct unpredictability in how it is accepted. We discuss two implementations of a study skills curriculum, with five years in between. The first was widely successful, recognised in our inspection as an example of excellence. Once the project evolved, the buy-in from staff was initially high but dwindled rapidly. We’ve taken this and turned it into research, so you don’t have to.

Presenters: Helen Carrington, Head of Modern Scholarship; Phoebe Bradley, Deputy Head Academic | Putney High School, GDST (United Kingdom)

Fostering Standardized Testing Independence: Self-Study Strategies for Young Women
This session empowers educators to guide students in a self-study approach to standardized testing, building confidence, resilience, and resourcefulness—key skills for success in higher education. Presenters will introduce a structured self-study framework with accessible resources and practice tools, along with tips for tracking progress and recognizing when added support is needed. The presenters will also demonstrate why girls thrive in self-directed learning environments, leveraging their strengths in organization, self-discipline, and determination. This session concludes with a practical toolkit, equipping teachers to support young women as they turn self-study into a pathway to independence and lifelong learning.

Presenter: Megan Fitzwater, Founder | All Girls’ Prep (United States)

Coding Across the Curriculum
Eleven years ago we started a new Computer Science program at Marlborough School, with a single coding class. Since then, we have followed our students’ interests to create a curriculum that encourages students to create with code, and to bring their code to the real world. We have built the curriculum solely on open-source software and open educational resources. In this session I will present specific ways where students can bring Computer Science to other areas of campus, including History and Social Science, Robotics, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Academic Research, Performing Arts, and Social Justice. I will also describe the landscape of languages, tools, and free resources for CS education.

Presenter: Darren Kessner, Program Head in Computer Science and Software Innovation | Marlborough School (United States)

AstraFemina…because everyone needs a role model
Looking for a world class STEM speaker and role model at no cost to your organization? Come meet AstraFemina as we celebrate our new partnership with ICGS!! At AstraFemina, we know how powerful women can be in science, technology, engineering, and math because we ARE those women. We are a collective of prominent leaders – including astronauts, military aviators, academic professionals, and industry innovators – who have made a significant difference in the world. We share our stories with young women and excite them about the value, fun and challenges that await them in STEM careers. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our mission is simple but powerful – to open more girls’ minds to joining our ranks and soaring to new heights.

Presenter: Dr. Barbara Bell, Captain U.S. Navy (Ret), Board Member | AstraFemina

AI in Historical Inquiry: Boosting Critical Thinking & Mattering in the History Classroom
Explore the integration of AI in historical inquiry to enhance critical thinking and foster a sense of mattering and belonging in independent girls’ school classrooms. Our interactive workshop will share lesson plans where students use AI at each research stage—formulating questions, analyzing sources, and writing essays—and compare these methods to traditional techniques. We will showcase student work and reflections to demonstrate how critically evaluating AI-generated content not only engages but also empowers students, promoting inclusivity and validating their intellectual contributions. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to incorporate AI effectively in their own curricula, aligning with the latest educational trends.

Presenters: Christy Story, History Teacher/9th Grade Dean; Carly Fox, History Teacher | Castilleja School (United States)

Sustaining Engagement: How Strategic Teams Strengthen Community
The presentation will explore the innovative strategic team structure at our school, which empowers all staff to contribute meaningfully to decision-making, innovation, and change management. I will outline how our system of strategic teams and working parties fosters a sense of community, strengthens collaboration, and enhances staff engagement. This inclusive framework has enabled us to harness the collective expertise and perspectives of our staff, driving sustainable and impactful initiatives.

Presenter: Catherine O’Kane, Principal | All Hallows’ School (Australia)

Tiny Girls with Big Will: Empowering Our Youngest Learners
As teachers of girls, we all strive to nurture girls to be confident and assertive, and to discover their worth and what makes them special and unique. Early childhood is a critical period for a child’s development and children are developing a sense of gender identity. At girls’ schools, how do we celebrate strong-willed toddlers and preschoolers and still keep them safe and set and maintain healthy boundaries? This presentation will include real-life examples and give you a toolkit of social and emotional language you can use to support your youngest learners.

Presenter: Annie Bellettiere, Lead Teacher & Pedagogista | Ashley Hall (United States)

Belonging at Mary MacKillop College: The Remarkables Transition Program
This session unpacks a transition-to-secondary-school program at Mary MacKillop College (MMC) in Brisbane, Australia. Without a refined transition program, many students arrived at MMC anxious about their place in the college. This was detrimental to their academic, pastoral and social development. The Remarkables Program was designed to alleviate that anxiety and establish a seamless transition to MMC. Now we connect with future students for two years prior to their arrival at the college. Data suggests that students are now more comfortable about their place, confident about navigating the campus and calm in their predisposition to secondary school.

Presenter: Erin Wedge, Principal | Mary MacKillop College (Australia)

How to Keep Connected Through a Campus Closure
A crisis scenario that every school can plan for is a campus shutdown. As we saw with Hurricanes Helene and Milton and earlier with Covid, closures can come on suddenly and disrupt school for an extended time. This session will discuss how school leaders can think through the prospect of a temporary shutdown. It also will propose preparations that will keep everyone connected and informed.

Presenter: Scott Butterworth, Principal | Fine Point Communications (United States)

Fostering Community, Connection, and Inclusion through Dining
Dining spaces can be so much more than just places to eat—they can be powerful settings for cultivating belonging and connection. In this session, we’ll explore how food can celebrate cultural diversity, create inclusive environments for those with dietary needs or far from home, offer leadership and extracurricular opportunities, and foster lifelong bonds within communities. Whether you’re reimagining your campus dining culture or simply seeking new inspiration, this session offers a fresh perspective on using food as a catalyst for meaningful community transformation.

Presenters: Ashley Hartle, Chief Operation Officer and Michelle Call, Director of Strategy | SAGE Dining Services (United States)