2026 IBSC Annual Conference

Degrading or De-Grading: Rethinking Assessment in Boys’ Schools
Teachers tend to see grades as an assumed part of every classroom meant to sort students and report progress. Come explore the research behind grades and their impact on motivation, self-efficacy, autonomy, and mastery. Hear a secondary English teacher share his experience (successes, failures, and everything in between) with de-grading his classroom to assess boys more authentically.
Presenter: Eric Eble, Archbishop Moeller High School (United States)
Appeal: Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 51

Stress Management and How to Cultivate Happiness
Journey with David Hansen as he tells his story on stress. Look at what stress actually is and how it impacts us emotionally and mentally. Gain practical tools to handle life’s stress through mindfulness, breathwork, and meditation. Uncover how to cultivate a sense of happiness in order to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Presenter: David Hansen, Jeppe High School for Boys (South Africa)
Appeal: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 47

Achilles HEAL: A Restorative Justice Framework to Turn Weakness to Strength
Developed in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Achilles HEAL (honesty, empathy, accountability, and love) framework offers a way to move through various stages of restorative justice in schools and communities. The connection to the story of Achilles from Greek mythology embodies turning community weakness into strength.
Presenter: Christian Garris, Nativity Preparatory School New Bedford (United States)
Appeal: All Ages
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 48

Belonging in a Boys' School: Culture and Choice in Building Student Connection
What makes boys feel that they belong? Draw on research from St. Mark’s School of Texas to explore how academic identity, student involvement, and peer/faculty relationships shape belonging in a boys’ school. Engage with relevant literature, discuss examples from your school, and reflect on how schools help boys rise into community and walk forward with purpose.
Presenter: Josh Shandera, St. Mark's School of Texas (United States)
Appeal: Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 58

Helping the Mountains Speak: Evidence-Based Character Development Outdoors
Character development occurs in a range of contexts in our schools, the outdoors providing a particularly rich context for character development. Explore the evidence for effective character development in the outdoors, drawing on research, experience leading programs, and the voice of boys and staff.
Presenter: Andrew Mansfield, Shore School (Australia)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 62

Inspiring the Whole Boy Through the Whole Journey
At the intersection of understanding teenage boys and practicing infinite patience is a place where they feel valued and choose to grow. Learn how the advisory system at Avon Old Farms shifts the focus from transactional learning to mission-centered student growth, inspiring students and supporting them to be the best version of themselves through the school’s network of interconnected programs.
Presenters: Jill Harrington and Heather Callaghan, Avon Old Farms School (United States)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 57

Meaning, Identity, Connection, and Community Through Spirituality and Well-Being
Explore the relevance of spirituality, mindfulness, and well-being in a boys’ school educational context, promoting mindfulness for a deeper understanding of self, others, and healthy relationships. Spirituality, well-being, and the development of holistic education include identity, character, and values. Engage in fostering empathy, dignity, accountability, social justice, gender respect, and community.
Presenter: Chester Lord, Brighton Grammar School (Australia)
Appeal: Lower/Primary School (Ages 5-12)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Boys’ Preparatory 56

Mentoring Gifted and High-Ability Boys for Academic Potential and Well-Being
Discover a practical mentoring model that strengthens high-achieving boys’ identity, connection, and engagement. Analyze real case studies and hands-on tools as we explore how to adapt research-informed strategies to maximize academic excellence while developing boys’ identity, connection, and engagement. Ideal for all educators, school leaders and those working with gifted and high-ability learners.
Presenters: Sarah Williams and Brenda McCullagh, St. Bede's College (Australia)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Life Sciences 1

Packing Their Parachutes: Preparing Boys to Land Well in Life
When the safety net of school gets removed, are our students ready for the freefall? Explore how to pack boys’ parachutes with core internal competencies. Drawing from ancient Indian wisdom and modern psychology, examine practical strategies for emotional management, character development, and ethical leadership—equipping boys to navigate life confidently and land well.
Presenter: Anjali Pankaj Narayan, Mayo College (India)
Appeal: All Ages
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Life Sciences 2

Raising Gentle Men: How Can We Help Boys Become Their Best Selves?
Hear how our Catholic, Carmelite school helps boys grow into gentle men through an approach shaped by faith and informed by contemporary research. See how connection, reflection, and service enable boys to defy limiting stereotypes and emerge as purposeful, compassionate young men. Take time to consider how your school context can nurture empathy and integrity.
Presenters: Tanya Vandervelde and Mark Murphy, Whitefriars College (Australia)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Environmental Centre 2

From Mission to Message: Telling Your School’s Story Well
Do you strategically communicate your school's identity to the outside world? Then join us to explore how to identify true and authentic points of difference for your school, craft compelling multimodal language to serve various audiences, and use case studies to discuss tools and experiences that support cohesive internal and external communication.
Presenter: Melissa Larocque, Belmont Hill School (United States)
Appeal: All Ages
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Environmental Centre 4

Leveraging the Power of IBSC Global Research in Your School
How can schools leverage the power of IBSC global research to positively impact our boys? Join members of the IBSC Research Committee for a panel discussion highlighting key findings from recent IBSC global initiatives and, more importantly, showcasing examples of how boys' schools are actively incorporating this research into their curriculum, pedagogy, and school culture.
Presenters: im Bowden, Trinity Grammar School (Australia); David du Toit, St. Stithians Boys' College (South Africa); Ross Featherston, Brighton Grammar School (Australia); Sally-Anne Huang, St. Paul's School (United Kingdom); Kim Hudson, St. Christopher's School (United States); Margot Pearce, Fairfield Country Day School (United States); Andrew Turner, Tauranga Boys' College (New Zealand)
Appeal: All Ages
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Henning Block Lecture Theatre

Rise Up, Walk Forward: Coaching for Character, Culture, and Competitive Success
What happens when an athletic program puts character before trophies? At Saint David’s, prioritizing sportsmanship, resilience, and relationships has built not only better boys—but better teams. Our 34 league titles and the fact that one in four graduates become high school captains prove that when you coach for character, excellence follows naturally.
Presenters: Pedro Morales, Ryan Soltan, and Craig Learn, St. David's School (United States)
Appeal: Lower/Primary School (Ages 5-12), Middle School (Ages 12-15)
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Environmental Centre 5

Walking Forward, Changing a Culture: A Case Study Through Classroom Observation
The culture of classroom observation is nonexistent in many South African independent boys’ schools, while worldwide the practice is contentious. The risks of not knowing what happens in the “black box” of a classroom are substantial and opportunities for growth are missed. Get a report of an ongoing project begun July 2025, informed by Kim Marshall (class observations) and Chip and Dan Heath (Switch).
Presenter: Peter Wright, St. John's College (South Africa)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Life Sciences 3

Hackathons as Life Labs: Preparing Boys for Tomorrow's Challenges
Explore the role of hackathons in fostering deep thinking, solution-oriented mindsets, and technological proficiency among students. Draw from extensive experience in organizing and facilitating hackathons to demonstrate how these events serve as powerful platforms for skills development and innovation.
Presenter: Lulu Burger, St. Stithians Boys' College (South Africa)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Life Sciences 5

Tab Out, Think Deep: How “Dumb” Tech Sparked Better Learning
While laptops are ubiquitous in modern classrooms, at Browning, we observed that their presence has not always enhanced engagement or learning. Studentship is a core skill we develop in our boys. Through an action research project, we investigated whether note-taking tablets deepened learning. Join us to learn what our data revealed and our next steps.
Presenters: Janetta Lien and Danielle Passno, The Browning School (United States)
Appeal: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Life Sciences 4