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Creating opportunities for collaboration and connection
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
SGIS Facilitates professional development opportunities within Switzerland and assists professional groups working together for their mutual benefit. We provide development opportunities not locally available and to groups of professionals and often overlooked in traditional training budgets.
SGIS COLLABORATIVE GROUPS
Creating opportunities for collaboration and connection
SGIS Collaborative Groups have been developed to deliver the mission of SGIS, they actively support the continuous improvement of member schools by creating opportunities for collaboration and connection. The groups are an opportunity for educators, teachers, staff and administrators to come together to share, promote and collaborate in professional development opportunities.
If you are an SGIS Member and interested in becoming a member of a group, or you would like to help lead an existing group or develop a new group, please contact Alexandra Conchard at Alexandra.Conchard@lyceum-alpinum.ch.
The IB DP Biology group aims to support educators who are teaching (or will teach) IB DP Biology. We meet virtually a few times throughout the year to discuss supporting the internal assessment, biology pedagogy and then in person once a year, not long after the DP2 students have sat their final exam. We provide support, share our experiences and collaborate on curriculum planning.
Group Leader
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Adam Bradford, AP & IB Biology teacher at Leysin American School
The CAS Coordinator group aims to provide professional development and collaborative opportunities for CAS Coordinators. We have an annual meeting, in person, in December.
Group Chairs
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Allison Jones, CAS and Student Life and English Teacher at Florimont
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Sarah Lalaz, CAS and Service Learning Coordinator, at International School of Geneva
The SGIS Concept Based Learning Community provides educators with opportunities to connect, share professional insights, and collaborate on resources related to concept-based and inquiry-driven teaching and learning. Through regular meetings and a shared resource Drive, we foster a growing network of practitioners committed to developing best practice across our member schools.
Group Chairs
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Samantha Niederhauser at International School of Zug Luzern
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Vikkii Allen at International School of Zug Luzern
This group is for school counsellors specializing in social-emotional and mental health support, providing opportunities to network, discuss best practices, share resources, explore Swiss counselling laws, and engage in professional development through annual meetings and ongoing virtual collaboration.
Group Chair
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Kellie McGill, School Counselor, Associate Director of Counselling, and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead at Aiglon College
The ELFS Group, Early Learning Friends Switzerland, aims to give Early Years professionals the opportunity to visit each other’s schools and to share ideas on various aspects of early years education. Regular workshops are organised each year to share Early Years initiatives, current EY research and good practice.
Group Chairs
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Hannah Preston, Lower Primary Assistant Principal at International School Lausanne
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Tanya Fink, Assistant Principal/Curriculum Coordinator at International School of Geneva
The IB DP Language A group aims to support educators who teach (or will teach) the Literature and/or Language and Literature course in any language. We meet once a year, to collaborate, share best practices, and inquire into the course and coursework components. We also communicate virtually and share resources throughout the year via our Google Spaces group.
Group Chair
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Eliza Triggs, English Teacher | Curriculum Wellbeing Coordinator at International School Basel
The IB DP Geography group aims to support educators who are teaching (or will teach) IB DP Geography. We meet once a year, not long after the DP2 students have sat their final exam, to collaborate and share in some professional development opportunities.
Group Chair
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Richard Allaway, Teacher of DP Geography, DP ESS and DP TOK at the International School of Geneva - Campus des Nations
SGIS PYP Coordinators is a group is for PYP coordinators at candidate or authorised IBPYP schools to share understandings, ask questions, process ideas, communicate experiences and receive support.
Group Chair
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Margriet Faber, PYP coordinator at International School Zug Luzern
The Junior School Principals group provides members a supportive, collaborative forum to share ideas. The group meets with the aim to share practice through discussions, visiting member schools and meetings. Presently we have two face to face meetings per academic year.
Group Chair
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Michelle Phillips, Junior School Principal at International School Basel
The Learning Support group aims to allow professionals to share best practice, ask for advice, develop professional development opportunities and discuss changes in special educational needs. We have a dedicated Padlet for the group, occasionally meet online, and aim to organise training opportunites at least once every 2 years.
Group Chair
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Jane Kan, Head of Learning Support at Aiglon College
The SGIS Librarians’ Group provides librarians and library assistants with opportunities to network, share professional insights, and collaborate on resources. We meet twice a year in-person, maintain a shared resource Drive, and lead a children's choice book prize: The Golden Cowbell Award.
Group Chair
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Corinne Hertel, Library Assistant at International School Zug Luzern
The Mathematics group aims to support educators who teach Mathematics. We collaborate, share best practices, and inquire into the curriculum, assessment components, and approaches to teaching and learning.
Group Chair
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Amit Raj, Teacher of Mathematics at International School Rheintal
The Multilingualism Group supports the integration and celebration of students’ diverse linguistic backgrounds while promoting effective multilingual learning strategies. The group collaborates to create inclusive policies, develop classroom practices that support multi-language acquisition.
Group Chair
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Heather Smith Tesaury, Learning Support/EAL teacher in Primary at International School Lausanne
The SGIS MYP Coordinators Collaborative Group provides a dedicated space for coordinators to network, share pedagogical insights, and align best practices across the Middle Years Programme. Our focus includes ensuring the true vertical development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, the meaningful implementation of Interdisciplinary Units (IDU), and strengthening curriculum articulation from the PYP through to the DP. We aim to collaborate on unit planning and review, share professional development opportunities, and navigate the unique challenges of the MYP together.
Group Chair
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Aurélia McNicol, MYP Coordinator and Assistant Principal at International School of Geneva
The SGIS Outdoor Ed Group aims to support school staff in taking learning outdoors more. It allows keen and curious school staff to network, share professional insights, collaborate and promote Outdoor Ed in SGIS member schools. This group is ideal for those just getting started or for those already comfortable with taking learning outdoors more.
Group Chair
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Laura Mcgahey, Teacher at International School of Geneva
The SGIS Pride Educators Group is a network of LGBTQIA+ and ally educators. Together, we are engaged in furthering the goals of visibility, protection, and inclusion for sexual orientation and gender identity minorities within and across our schools. The group aims to share resources, support, and professional development opportunities throughout the year, while working together on projects to bring students and teachers together to learn, connect, advocate, and celebrate our diversity.
Group Chair
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Stephany Herzog, Middle School Counsellor at International School Zug Luzern
The Safeguarding Group aims to allow school safeguarding staff to understand the Swiss legal context, share best practice, and act as a resource in addressing complex safeguarding issues. We meet annually in person and 3-4 times per year online.
Group Chair
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Sarah Gifford, High School Principal and DSL at International School Lausanne
The School Nurses group aims to bring together nurses working in SGIS schools to collaborate and work together, share resources, ideas and best practive in a supportive environment, with the overall aim of improving the care we give.
Group Chair
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Natasha Prime, School Nurse at International School Basel
The Sustainability Group aims to generate an environment for collaboration and sharing of resources related to Environmental Sustainability, co-create workshops or events with speakers on topics related to Environmental Sustainability, and provide an opportunity for educators and students to collaborate on sustainability issues
Group Chair
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Nicole Gough, Head of Environmental Sustainability & MYP + DP English Teacher, International School Basel
The Technology Group provides a collaborative space for school technology leaders to discuss emerging trends, share best practices, and address common challenges in educational technology. We run an online Google Workspace to exchange insights, explore innovative solutions, and support digital transformation and meet 1-2 times in person per year.
Group Chair
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Wolfgang Soeldner, ICT Campus Partner at International School of Geneva
Collaborative Group Support
Each year SGIS allocates funds to support a number of professional development groups that operate within the SGIS schools community. Funds are managed by the SGIS Board and reported on each year at the AGM.