Teacher Fellowship: From Kristin to RGC, KUA, and the world
Written by Giancarlo Lisi from Kristin School NZ
Earlier this year, I was granted a fellowship within the GAIL school network to conduct research at Robert Gordon’s College in Scotland and Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. This three-week global voyage, hosted by wonderful leaders and practitioners, proved to be an invaluable experience.
My research aimed to identify key features of 21st-century post-COVID learning and their manifestation in modern classrooms. I sought to compare RGC and KUA with Kristin, focusing on their balance of rigorous academic teaching and project-based learning. The journey evolved into an exploration of how pedagogy informs and supports school identity and culture.
Despite their different traditions and histories, both RGC and KUA effectively demonstrated how school culture creates community and how modern practices manifest within curricular frameworks. I observed the critical importance of connecting personalised, research-based frameworks of wellbeing and pedagogy to a school’s identity and delivery.
This experience has profoundly impacted my professional practice. I encourage all educators to take advantage of this global network, as the perspective gained is invaluable.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone at RGC and KUA who made this fellowship so rewarding. The connections I’ve made will last a lifetime, and the insights gained have reshaped my approach to education in ways I never anticipated.
Ngā mihi nui,
Giancarlo
