The International Schools Podcast

Exploring innovation where education meets entrepreneurship.

About Durga Suresh-Menon

Durga Suresh-Menon, Ph.D., is Head of School at New England Innovation Academy. An energizing, dynamic and growth-minded educator with a record of inclusive leadership and passionate storytelling, Dr. Suresh-Menon joins NEIA with over two decades of collaborative higher-education experience, academic program development and a unique understanding of what makes students successful. She has a rich background in higher education, leadership, curriculum development, and academic excellence. Before joining NEIA, she served as Dean of the School of Computing and Data Science and Dean of Graduate Education at Wentworth Institute of Technology, as well as an Associate Professor, where she led efforts to implement progressive learning strategies and interdisciplinary curriculum that promoted innovation and global awareness. She is recognized for her work fostering a culture of growth, development and innovation, ensuring that a STEAM curriculum remains aligned with the ever-evolving technological landscape and industry demands. Fluent in multiple languages, Dr. Suresh-Menon loves to connect with tech-minded students and parents from all backgrounds, and brings a global perspective and collaborative spirit to NEIA’s academic community.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello.neia/
Twitter: https://x.com/helloneia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelloNEIA/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/durga-suresh-menon/

About John Camp (he goes by Camp)

Camp has been teaching in independent schools for over 25 years. His experience includes English and writing classes as well as interdisciplinary courses such as “The Art and Physics of Time Travel.” At St. Mark’s School, which bestowed him with The Trustees Chair and the Kidder Faculty Prize, Camp served as the Director of Experiential Learning and Associate Director of The Center of Innovation in Teaching and Learning. A pair of his pedagogical mantras include “I aim to teach what cannot be Googled” and “I expect you to work hard, so I work hard.” He has a B.A. English/Creative Writing from Middlebury College and M.A.L.S. from Dartmouth College.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello.neia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelloNEIA/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/campsm/

Resources
https://neiacademy.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-england-innovation-academy/ 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

How communication and connection shape our professional lives.

About Helen von Dadelszen

Helen von Dadelszen is a public speaking and voice coach who works with researchers, healthcare professionals and humanitarian staff to help them share their work clearly and confidently. Through her company, Present Potential Sàrl, she provides coaching in speaking, presenting, and interviews, with a focus on supporting non-native English speakers and those working in complex fields. She also facilitates creative team-building projects with Collaborative Art and is the author of Courageous Action. Her background includes performance, teaching, HR and international NGO work.

Website: https://academy.presentpotential.ch/site/about
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen/

About Mandy Bronsil

Mandy Bronsil is a facilitator, coach, and speaker who works with individuals and teams on professional growth and collaboration. She leads MasterMinds, a peer community designed to support accountability and shared learning, and has more than 15 years’ experience running workshops and events. Mandy also teaches career development at Swiss universities and business schools and has worked with leadership teams on talent management and communication strategies. Her background in hospitality management includes international experience in Spain, Ireland, and China, and she has shared her entrepreneurial journey in a TEDx talk.

Website: https://www.b-inspired.ch/home 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandybronsil/ 

Resources
https://courageousaction.ch/
https://academy.presentpotential.ch/resources

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Reflections from international school leaders on ethics, practice, and what the future may hold.

About Warren Apel

Warren is the Director of Technology at The American School in Japan, co-founder of the edtech startups Scholastico and Ecoballot, and Global Project Coordinator for the World Digital Schools Project. With over 20 years of experience in international education, he has served at schools in Japan, India, Egypt, and the Netherlands. Warren is a Google for Education Certified Innovator, Apple Distinguished Educator, and National Board Certified Teacher. A frequent presenter at NESA, EARCOS, ECIS, ISTE, Google, and Apple education events, he brings expertise in AI in education, K–12 cybersecurity, technology integration, data analysis, and teacher training. His mission is to improve learning through the purposeful and well-managed use of technology.

Warren Apel on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warrenapel/ 
School Website: https://www.asij.ac.jp/

About Greg Clinton

Greg Clinton is the Head of School at the American International School Chennai. Before this role, he served as Director of Technologies and Research & Development at AISC and has taught literature and philosophy in schools and universities across Peru, India, Sudan, Japan, and the United States, including Stony Brook University and Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Lima. Greg is the co-founder of IB Score Reports, an educational data service used by over 200 schools worldwide. He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and a PhD in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies. Greg is also a founding member of the global AI in Education Collaborative and leads the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA) digital school project.

Greg Clinton on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-clinton/ 
School Website: https://www.aischennai.org/

Resources

If you’re interested in tracking trends of which AI models are gaining popularity, this report from Andreessen Horowitz is excellent. https://a16z.com/100-gen-ai-apps-5/

Podcast episode with author David Yeager (People I Mostly Admire ep 160 How to Help Kids Succeed) (web link) It gets into how non-cognitive skills—like self-regulation, agency, and focus—are foundational to student success. It explores why simply limiting screen time or enforcing rules isn’t enough, and instead emphasizes building environments that foster long-term habits and motivation. His book 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation―And Making Your Own Life Easier unpacks this even more. 

It’s not hard to make the connection between top-down rules about screen time and top-down rules about using AI. If parents or teachers want kids to obey the rules, we need to give kids agency and involve them in setting their own boundaries.

Ryan Tannenbaum
The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't, by Julia Galef

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

About Ellen Heyting

Ellen Heyting is a passionate educator, researcher, and facilitator based at Melbourne Metrics within the Faculty of Education at The University of Melbourne. With over a decade of K–12 teaching and leadership experience in IB World Schools across Melbourne, Beijing, Singapore, and Helsinki, she brings a global lens to her work on teacher identity, instructional leadership, and assessment innovation.

Ellen holds a PhD in Education and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She leads projects focused on international networks, credentialing, and the development of complex competencies, and has delivered professional learning across school systems and sectors. Driven by a belief in education as a force for peace and justice, Ellen is committed to empowering teachers and learners to develop the competencies they need to thrive at school and beyond.

Ellen Heyting on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-heyting-phd-ab558a280/  
Twitter: https://x.com/melbmetrics?lang=en 

Resources
https://education.unimelb.edu.au/melbourne-metrics   
https://education.unimelb.edu.au/melbourne-metrics/home/new-metrics-international-schools-program

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Tools, insights, and conversations to help us make better decisions about the future.

About Adam Binksmith

Adam Binksmith is the Director of Sage, a nonprofit building tools to help people make sense of the future. His work spans AI explainers at AI Digest, and forecasting platforms like Fatebook and Quantified Intuitions. With a background in computer science, philosophy, and rationality research, Adam’s focus is on helping individuals and communities improve decision-making through better forecasting, representation, and reasoning.

A former researcher at Clearer Thinking and PhD student at the University of St Andrews, Adam now leads projects exploring how technology can support thoughtful action and reduce global risk. He lives in Oxford, UK.

Adam Binksmith on Social Media

https://x.com/aidigest_  
https://x.com/adambinksmith  
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sage-future/posts/?feedView=all  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-binks/  

Resources

https://theaidigest.org/ 
https://sage-future.org/

John Mikton on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial