International Studies Schools Network
Building Capacity for Educators
About the ISSN
Community Catalyst Partners’ approach to building capacity for educators is through its International Studies Schools Network (ISSN). The ISSN approach is centered on the four domains of Global Competence that invite students to investigate the world around them, share perspectives, communicate ideas, and take action at the local and global level. The ISSN work contributes toward solving one of the most complex issues facing educators today: how to prepare all students for employability and citizenship in a global era.
Member schools in the ISSN advance achievement and the development of global competence by integrating learning across the curriculum through a unique combination of professional development, globally focused curriculum tools, project-based learning, and authentic assessment. Evaluation data show that ISSN schools have higher graduation rates than in other schools with similar profiles and perform as well or better than matched schools on state standardized achievement tests in roughly two-thirds of such comparisons.
What We Do
Through the ISSN support for K-12 school educators and leaders are focused in four areas:
We build capacity. Using an assets-based approach, our transformational model develops educators’ capacity for project-based learning and performance-based assessment. They choose from an array of resources and professional development opportunities designed to spark their ability to engage students in deep, relevant learning.
We lead learning. Through peer collaboration, a series of shared learning opportunities and best practices, the ISSN provides administrators, educators, and students opportunities to share and learn from one another as they prepare to make an impact in society.
We support whole-school transformation. ISSN educators integrate global competence across the school environment through our unique model, the Global School Design. Partner schools use the Global School Design to guide their vision, establish priorities, and set goals.
We integrate with what you are already doing. Teaching toward global competence is not another program – it is the framework for integrating best practices in the teaching of required content and creating rigorous, engaging, globally focused learning environments.
Globally competent students have the knowledge and skills to:
Investigate the World
Globally competent students are aware, curious, and interested in learning about the world and how it works.
Recognize Perspectives
Globally competent students recognize that they have a particular perspective, and that others may or may not share it.
Communicate Ideas
Globally competent students can effectively communicate, verbally and non-verbally, with diverse audiences.
Take Action
Globally competent students have the skills and knowledge to not just learn about the world, but also to make a difference in the world.
In every ISSN school, CCP develops a customized strategy in collaboration with school leaders through a combination of the following options:
Teaching and Learning Resources.
Curriculum, instruction, and assessment resources that educators can use to integrate global competence across subject areas and age levels.
Consulting and Workshops.
Intensive professional development workshops and targeted customized coaching provide multiple opportunities to apply and refine new concepts.
Online Community of Practice.
An online professional community with collaborative tools and discussions about events, experiences, and ideas.
Network Learning Series.
Regular gatherings of district, school and student leaders designed to build their capacity to lead, learn and sustain an effective globally focused school or program.
Program Reviews.
A whole-school site review process that provides feedback on implementation of the Global School Design model.
Powering Sustainable Innovation through a Holistic Approach
Communities utilizing CCP’s Convening Communities and Strengthening Schools approaches in tandem are uniquely positioned to create a sustainable pathway to economic well-being fueled by a pipeline of well-educated locally rooted, globally prepared youth. It is a path for communities to remake their future in ways the strongest communities have always done – working together for the common good.