IBSC Ideas Lab
Professional Conversations for Assistant and Deputy Heads of Boys' Schools
Starting March 24, 2025
IBSC Ideas Lab invites deputy and assistant heads of member schools to connect virtually using Zoom. Limited to 14 participants plus the facilitator, this IBSC Ideas Lab includes three one-hour sessions for participants to discuss relevant topics.
Designed as an interactive exchange among colleagues, IBSC Ideas Lab engages dedicated educators who learn and grow together. Before each session participants engage with relevant resources to provide a foundation for discussions. Together we surface fresh ideas and build mutual support structures and enduring professional friendships.
Available exclusively to IBSC member schools, first-time participants who can commit to joining all three sessions get preference in registration to support the success of each small group. No more than two participants from one school may register for an Ideas Lab.
In the spirit of open dialogue and collaboration, IBSC Ideas Labs are not recorded, allowing participants the freedom to express themselves openly and share their experiences candidly.
Who Should Attend?
Assistant and deputy heads of IBSC member schools
Format
IBSC Ideas Lab attendees participate in three scheduled one-hour calls using Zoom. Becky O'Gram, associate principal, Westlake Boys High School (New Zealand), facilitates each session.
Conversation Topics
Conversation 1
Developing and Empowering Staff in a Boys' School Context
Monday, March 24, 4:00 PM EDT, 8:00 PM GMT, 10:00 PM SAST
Tuesday, March 25, 7:00 AM AEDT, 9:00 AM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes
Join a collaborative conversation with other deputy and assistant heads to explore strategies for retaining and developing exceptional teachers who thrive in a boys' school environment. Share your experiences with mentorship programs that foster growth, discuss impactful professional development opportunities, and analyze collaborative leadership models that empower educators to excel. Together let’s investigate how to cultivate a culture of shared leadership, create individualized growth plans, and implement effective feedback mechanisms that inspire continuous improvement within your faculty.
Conversation 2
Contributing to an Effective and Resilient Leadership Team with Evolving Roles
Monday, March 31, 4:00 PM EDT, 9:00 PM GMT, 10:00 PM SAST
Tuesday, April 1, 7:00 AM AEDT, 9:00 AM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes
Come together to discuss how deputy and assistant heads can be part of building a thriving and resilient leadership team in an ever-changing educational landscape. Share your approaches to fostering teamwork, navigating conflict, and championing professional growth within your leadership team. Analyze the evolving roles of deputy and assistant heads and discuss the support needed to cultivate a highly effective team. Take this opportunity to reflect on your own leadership effectiveness and resilience, sharing insights on overcoming challenges and staying innovative in a constantly transforming role.
Conversation 3
Balancing Leadership, Well-Being, and Work-Life Harmony
Monday, April 7, 4:00 PM EDT, 9:00 PM GMT, 10:00 PM SAST
Tuesday, April 8, 6:00 AM AEST, 8:00 AM NZST
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes
Recognize the intense demands of the deputy and assistant head roles as we engage in open and honest discussions about self-care strategies, stress management techniques, and the importance of setting boundaries to achieve a sustainable work-life harmony. Share practical tools and resources that have helped you thrive as a leader while nurturing your personal well-being.
Registration
IBSC member rate: US $170
Refund Policy
IBSC will refund 90% of registration fees if a written request is received by March 10, 2025. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after this date. Schools seeking to register an alternate to replace a participant unable to attend should contact IBSC@theibsc.org.
Please note: Watch your email for login information for this IBSC Ideas Lab by March 17, 2025. If you registered for the IBSC Ideas Lab later than this time, watch for login information within 24 hours.
Participation certificates: Participants present for all three conversations will receive a certificate of participation within two weeks of the final session.
Facilitator
Becky O’Gram
Becky O'Gram serves associate principal at Westlake Boys High School (New Zealand). Originally from England, where she began her teaching career in coeducational schools, she moved to New Zealand in 2011, and started as a maths teacher at Westlake in 2012. Here her love of boys’ education began and she hasn’t looked back. O’Gram served as head of the mathematics faculty from 2015–19, and joined senior leadership as deputy principal responsible for teaching and learning at the start of 2020. Her portfolio grew and she was appointed associate principal in 2022. O’Gram now looks after all things curriculum, teaching and learning, and professional development.