As a leading educational institute in Thailand, International School Bangkok (ISB) is committed to delivering exceptional learning opportunities to each of its students. We believe in learning that is meaningful and transferable, where understanding is constructed by developing and applying knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Debi Caskey, our new Deputy Head of School for Learning, comes to ISB with a wealth of experience that represents this philosophy beautifully. She began her career by teaching special education in the United States, before joining a school in Dubai as a classroom teacher with a focus on reading education for elementary students. She also served as an Assistant Principal before moving to Saudi Arabia and Ecuador. More recently, she returned to the US as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction – a role that prepared her for similar responsibilities in ISB.
Debi believes that inspiration is the key to learning, taking the approach that if you capture the heart, the head will follow. Her idea of education goes far beyond test scores, as it respects the unique learning patterns that shape the way each young mind sees the world. She also values the additional dimension that teamwork and clear communication bring to the educational process.
As she joins our team, Debi endeavors to ensure that the classroom approach embraced by our teachers is working well in practice, while also reviewing changes in curriculum and listening to thoughts and ideas from the parents in our community. She is there to support and encourage teachers and her role also includes supporting the Head of School in strategic areas for the school. She believes a good educational leader is one who is a decision-maker, a servant, a partner, an example, a counselor and a coach.
Debi is a strong advocate for giving students agency and voice in their learning. She was excited to learn that at ISB, students were given a chance to provide input into which candidate to accept for her own position. “It was fantastic to be able to meet with ISB students and share my thoughts on learning and leadership with them. Seeing how their voice is included within the hiring process made me want to work at ISB even more,” shared Debi.
Debi is joined in Bangkok by her husband, Ric, who is a certified teacher with credentials for teaching Middle School Mathematics, IT, and Special Education in Elementary and Middle School. He has also been the IT Director in three schools. Together they have two children who grew up attending international schools. “Having lived in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ecuador, Ric and I know what to expect and how to adapt to the different cultures present in both our new country and new school community.”
She feels that a successful school has to be able to sustain the positive aspects of its program while also being open to new ideas. She also believes that reading is an excellent way to take lessons from the outside world – but that a full education also depends on expressing one’s own thoughts and ideas. Opportunities for writing and inquiry, along with the ability to choose outcomes and make their voices heard, are key features in the development of students.
Debi’s door is always open. If she’s not in her office then she’s probably doing classroom visits, collaborating with teachers or she’s up in the Learning Design Center (LDC) working with Bronwyn Weale and Elizabeth Rossini on everything to do with our curriculum, helping to ensure we provide the most fulfilling and effective learning opportunities to our learners.
Welcome, Debi, and Ric, to the ISB family!
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