NESSIC Boarding Workshop
Bridging Worlds:
Navigating Communication, Culture, and Conflict in the Bilingual Boarding Environment
Hiba Academy Nantong
March 12-13, 2027
Dates
March 12-13, 2027
Friday & Saturday
Location
Hiba Academy Nantong
Nantong, China
Certificate Program
18 Hours of Professional Development will be Awarded
Early Bird Rate*
NESSIC Members: RMB 1,400
Non-members: RMB 2,000
*Early Bird Discount expires on February 12, 2027.
This workshop brings together all key stakeholders—academic faculty, residential staff, school leadership, and parents—to co-create a shared blueprint for communication. Over two days, participants will move past the traditional "shift-work" mindset, explore the unique emotional psychology of boarding parents, and master practical frameworks for de-escalating high-stakes conflicts.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have practical tools for navigating the conversations that matter most in boarding: partnering with parents, supporting students, collaborating with colleagues, and responding confidently when expectations, emotions, and cultures collide.
Over-Arching Goal
By the end of the workshop participants will be able to apply effective communication skills to build relationships with parents, students and academic staff.
Workshop Outcomes
During this learning experience, you will learn and practice how to:
Understand the dynamics of leading change and the critical role of accountability in sustaining it.
Navigate the challenges of "influence without authority" to move initiatives forward.
Master delegation techniques that empower colleagues rather than simply offloading tasks.
Utilize evaluation frameworks to measure the impact of change and the commitment of team members.
Prepare for and facilitate accountability-focused conversations.
Investment
NESSIC Members
RMB 1,750
RMB 1,400*
Non-members
RMB 2,500
RMB 2,000*
*Early Bird Discount expires on February 12, 2027.
Agenda
This two-day bilingual workshop explores one of the greatest challenges in boarding education: ensuring that students, families, residential staff, teachers, and school leaders experience a coherent and connected community, even when language, culture, expectations, and perspectives differ. Through collaborative case studies, practical communication frameworks, and restorative approaches to challenging conversations, participants will develop strategies for building trust, strengthening partnerships, and responding effectively when tensions arise.
With activities, discussions, and peer-learning opportunities available in both Mandarin and English, the workshop creates a rare opportunity for Chinese and overseas educators to learn with and from one another while tackling the realities of communication in today's bilingual boarding environments.
Day 1 | Jan 23 Sun
Module 1
Connection Over Conflict: Communicating Through a Restorative Lens
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How do I align change initiatives with clear accountability structures?
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Define the relationship between successful change management and personal accountability.
Identify strategies for building collective commitment to new initiatives.
Learn to establish "social contracts" and norms that support accountability among peers.
Module 2
Delegation
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How can I delegate effectively to move an initiative forward without formal power?
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Understand the difference between "dumping" tasks and strategic delegation.
Learn how to match tasks to colleague strengths and developmental needs.
Practice communication scripts for delegating to peers that emphasize shared purpose.
Day 2 | Jan 24 Sun
Module 3
Evaluation
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How do I measure the success of the initiative and the accountability of my colleagues?
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Develop metrics and milestones for initiative success.
Learn to use data to hold objective conversations about progress and performance.
Identify when to pivot an initiative based on evaluation results.
Module 4
Establishing Your Professional Inquiry
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How do I apply these leadership strategies to my specific initiative?
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Assess the current state of your initiative and identify key accountability gaps.
Develop a clear, inquiry-based goal for your initiative.
Formulate an action plan for the first 6 weeks of implementation, focused on change and accountability.
Facilitator
Michael Iannini
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Michael is ACAMIS’s Leadership Development Facilitator, Board Treasurer for SPAN, Special Advisor for NESSIC, and an affiliated Council of International School’s (CIS) consultant with the following areas of expertise:
Appraisal and professional development
Leadership training
School governance
Strategic planning
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“Michael’s expertise has contributed immensely to the building of an effective Board. He has been instrumental in the development of a sustainable HOS performance evaluation process, building upon the benchmark evaluators of his Success Profile Analysis and has facilitated our Board review and training, bringing governors together for an annual reflection and deep dive into the work for the year and driving strategic direction for the year ahead.”
— Edward Lau, Board Chair, and, Derek Pinchbeck, Head of School, International College Hong Kong
“The training has been very successful and has enabled our middle leaders, some of whom are fairly inexperienced, to develop a wider understanding of the leadership role and be provided with tools to scaffold their leadership journey.”
— Dr. Helen Kelly, Lower School Principal, Canadian International School of Hong Kong
“The consensus of our team was the successful outcome derived from Michael’s careful pre-analysis, including perceptive interviews of the participants before the program commenced, and an uncommon ability by anecdotal good humor to draw out everybody’s opinions, encouraging interactive discussion and create a sense of common ownership.”
— John Patrick Baskett, The J.S.P. Schools Association
Claire Peet
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Claire Peet is an experienced international education consultant specialising leadership development and professional learning programming. She works with international schools across Asia to support learning and development systems, sustainable change implementation and leadership growth pathways.
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“Claire creates a truly collaborative learning environment, and Ileft with practical tools that I was able to implement the verynext Monday. Tools I continue to use today and now amteaching my team to use. That is the true value of her work asa facilitator: actionable skills that create immediate and lastingchange AND ripple effects in organizations.
She was also kind enough to take my call when I reached out in tears after a feedback session had gone completely off plan.She offered a listening ear, clear guidance, and practical stepsthat helped me move forward with confidence.
The ROl is HIGH!”
— Comine Howe, Director of Marketing & Communications at Qingdao Amerasia International School
“Thank you so much for all your support. I’ve really enjoyed working with you and learned so much along the way. This experience has been truly valuable, and I’m excited to put what I’ve learned into practice moving forward.
I really appreciate your guidance and encouragement throughout this journey.”
— Lulu Zhang, Specialist Teacher - Chinese, Head of Year at Australian International School Hong Kong
Learn with Peers at
Hiba Academy Nantong
66 Haide Road Su-Xi-Tong Science and Technology Industrial Park, Nantong, Jiangsu
江苏省南通市苏锡通科技产业园区海德路66号
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南通惠立学校作为惠灵顿教育集团全球旗舰双语寄宿学校，整合海内外优质教育资源，致力于培养面向未来的杰出人才。学校将严谨的A Level课程体系及个性化升学路径与职业发展规划深度融合，依托多元化的素质拓展课程及雄厚师资团队，全方位塑造学生的领导力与创新精神。基于惠立教育独具特色的沉浸式双语言、双文化教学模式，结合开放包容的国际化校园氛围，我们助力每位学子在成就学术卓越的同时，全面提升核心竞争力，赋能其在日新月异的全球化变革中脱颖而出，成为推动社会进步的新生力量。
Building on a legacy of more than 160 years of excellence at Wellington College UK and bolstered by an extensive global network, Hiba Academy Nantong is Wellington College Education's global flagship bilingual boarding school. We are committed to cultivating tomorrow's leaders through personalised university and career guidance, a rigorous A Level curriculum and a diverse array of enrichment programmes, all supported by an outstanding teaching team. Our immersive English and Chinese language and cultural experiences, combined with a nurturing and inclusive environment, empower pupils to excel academically and develop the skills they need to succeed in an evolving global landscape.
Simon Kenworthy
School Master
Recommended Hotel
Mercure Hotel Suxitong Riverside 南通苏锡通滨江美居酒店
Address: 29 Jiang’an Rd, Chongchuan, Nantong (5-min drive away from school)
Price per night: RMB 322-560, including breakfast
Contact Details: Available Soon
Early Bird Now Open
🐦
Early Bird Now Open 🐦
Investment
NESSIC Members
RMB 1,750
RMB 1,400*
Non-members
RMB 2,500
RMB 2,000*
*Early Bird Discount expires on February 12, 2027.