IBSC Ideas Lab

Professional Conversations for Deputy and Assistant Heads of Boys’ Primary, Elementary, and Lower Schools 

IBSC ideas labStarting October 8, 2025

 

IBSC Ideas Lab invites deputy and assistant heads of boys’ primary, elementary, and lower 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?

Deputy and assistant heads of boys’ primary, elementary, and lower schools 

Format

IBSC Ideas Lab attendees participate in three scheduled one-hour calls using Zoom. Desmond van Wyk, deputy head: curriculum, research, and innovation, St. Stithians Boys’ Preparatory School (South Africa), facilitates each session.

Conversation Topics

Conversation 1
Channeling Boy Energy
Wednesday, October 8, 6:00 AM EDT, 11:00 AM BST, 12:00 PM SAST, 6:00 PM AWST, 9:00 PM AEDT, 11:00 PM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes

As deputy and assistant heads, how can we help our teachers create learning environments that embrace rather than suppress the natural energy of young boys? What practical tools can we provide to strategically channel their dynamism and kinesthetic tendencies into powerful academic engagement and positive community contribution?

Join a candid conversation with peers to explore how to best support faculty in harnessing boys' innate curiosity. Discuss pedagogical approaches and classroom strategies that work with the way boys learn, not against it. Share your experiences and learn from fellow deputy and assistant heads about implementing practical tools—from flexible seating to project-based learning—that foster deep engagement. While acknowledging the important role of play, this conversation focuses on building a school culture where boys' energy is seen as an asset, empowering them to become active learners and positive contributors to their school community.

Conversation 2
Building Emotional Intelligence and Character from the Ground Up
Wednesday, October 15, 6:00 AM EDT, 11:00 AM BST, 12:00 PM SAST, 6:00 PM AWST, 9:00 PM AEDT, 11:00 PM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes

How do we move beyond simply managing behavior to proactively building the emotional intelligence of our youngest boys? What is our role as deputy and assistant heads in cultivating a school culture where boys learn to name their feelings, develop empathy, and build strong character from their very first day?

Engage in a dynamic conversation about leading the development and implementation of explicit social-emotional learning (SEL) programs. Take this opportunity to collaboratively learn about effective strategies that teach young boys to identify, understand, and appropriately express their emotions, fostering the healthy peer relationships that form the bedrock of a positive primary/elementary/lower school experience.

Conversation 3
Partnering with Parents
Wednesday, October 22, 6:00 AM EDT, 11:00 AM BST, 12:00 PM SAST, 6:00 PM AWST, 9:00 PM AEDT, 11:00 PM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes

Are we building true partnerships with our parents or simply managing communications? How can we proactively support parents as they navigate the unique joys and challenges of raising young boys in today's world?

This conversation focuses on the most effective ways for deputy and assistant heads to establish strong, communicative, and supportive partnerships with the parents in their primary/elementary/lower school communities. Share your successful approaches and learn from others as we discuss strategies for addressing common parental concerns, from disciplinary issues and the emotional lives of boys to framing and navigating difficult conversations with confidence and care.

Registration

IBSC member rate: US $180

Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend, you must cancel your registration in writing by emailing IBSC@theibsc.org by September 24, 2025. IBSC will refund 90% of registration fees if a written request is received via email by this date. 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 Ideas Lab by October 1, 2025. If you registered later than this date, 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

Des van WykDesmond van Wyk

Desmond Van Wyk is an educational leader passionate about how gender socialization shapes boys’ learning and development. At St. Stithians Boys’ Prep in Johannesburg, he leads curriculum innovation and conducts action research on healthy masculinity and emotional proficiency. Van Wyk advocates for learning environments that harness boys’ natural energy and support their emotional growth, helping them become engaged learners and empathetic individuals.