Prague Pre-Conference
Cultures of Dignity: Centering Student Voice in International Schools
Date: March 17, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $200 conference add-on OR $500 for one-day event only
About this Pre-Conference
In international schools, student voice isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for building true belonging across cultures, languages, and continents. Yet too often, “student voice” becomes a buzzword that falls short of its promise. What does authentic student voice look like in our schools now, and how do we build it in alignment with the international school mission we’ve committed to?
Join Rosalind Wiseman for a pre-conference professional development day designed specifically for international school educators, leaders, and counselors. Drawing on three decades of work, Rosalind will share key
insights from her first research on children and teen social dynamics, to her subsequent focus on the role of parents, educators, and counselors in navigating conflict and cultural crises, and her latest understanding of adolescent brain development and communication strategies. This session is highly interactive—participants will learn not only from Rosalind but also from each other, sharing experiences and practical solutions from diverse international contexts.
Together, we’ll define what authentic student voice means in international schools, where students arrive from all over the world, high turnover can shape culture, and expectations vary widely. You’ll leave with ready-to-use templates, scripts for tough conversations, and a clear plan to make student voice a living, breathing part of your school culture.
Participant takeaways include:
- A guided audit of your current student voice leadership programs to identify strengths and areas for growth
- How to define the difference between respect and dignity, and why integrating this distinction transforms student-educator relationships
- Tools to recognize the power dynamics shaping student voice in your school
- Approaches for building dignity-based agreements and authentic systems for student and staff voice
- Concrete scripts and mindsets to foster mutual understanding, avoid adversarial dynamics, and earn trust
- Step-by-step guidance on how to create and sustain effective student leadership programs including a Student Voice Council tailored to your school’s unique context.
- Alignment with the ISCA Student Standards to ensure student voice initiatives address comprehensive SEL and Life Skills development
This full workshop will help you move beyond performative student voice, equipping you with the skills and systems to build genuine belonging and motivation in your international school community.
About the Rosalind Wiseman
Rosalind Wiseman is the best-selling author of nine books, including the New York Times bestsellers Queen Bees and Wannabes—the inspiration for the Mean Girls movie and musical franchise—and Masterminds & Wingmen, named Best Parenting Book by Books for a Better Life.
Currently, she serves as a senior leadership consultant at the US State Department’s Office for Overseas Schools which serves over 195 schools throughout the world and a consultant at the Texas Science Behavior and Mind Institute. She contributed to David Yeager’s recently published book 10 to 25: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation And Making Your Own Life Easier.
Additional Information
Grand Hotel Prague Towers, Prague, Czech Republic
This workshop is offered as an add-on for participants attending the ISCA Annual Conference.
Not attending the full conference? No problem—you can also register for this workshop as a stand-alone event.
- 6 hours of in-depth professional learning with Rosalind Wiseman on Cultures of Dignity
- Full buffet lunch
- Two catered snack breaks
- Certificate of attendance for professional development hours
School counselors, teachers, and school leaders