PEDAGOGICAL LEADERSHIP — Stephen Wooldridge

HEAD OF DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY [MIDDLE SCHOOL]
(UWCSEA 2024 - )

In addition to being one of two Interdisciplinary Coordinators, I am also Head of Middle School Design & Technology and bring a strong vision for how our team can collaboratively create meaningful, real-world-connected units of inquiry. Together, we to aim to design engaging lessons that not only address real-world challenges but also cultivate both the hard and soft skills essential for success in Design & Technology and beyond.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS COORDINATOR
(UWCSEA 2022 - )

I currently hold the position of Middle School Interdisciplinary Projects Coordinator which required an incredible amount of organisation and collaboration with teachers, facilities staff and external providers to ensure that these projects run smoothly. I also coordinate and manage hundreds of students, guiding them through these projects.

Interdisciplinary units

NYAA COORDINATOR
(UWCSEA 2021 - 2023)

I was one of two NYAA (National Youth Achievement Award) coordinators at UWCSEA Dover from 2021-2023. This role involved a lot of structural and logistical organisation in order to support students through their NYAA journey, planning off-side trips and excursions as well as managing evidence for the portfolio submissions. The NYAA is a similar award to the Duke of Edinburgh, with a focus on outdoor appreciation, service and community leadership.

I enjoyed supporting students in finding opportunities for service and leadership within their communities as well as providing training on first aid and outdoor survival skills but decided that my interests lay more within curriculum development than the outdoors.

More information here.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
(ISHCMC 2018 - 2021)

In my prior role as Leader of Learning (HoD) at International School Ho Chi Minh City, a significant aspect involved advancing the pedagogical dimension of the design curriculum while overseeing a team of six spanning three design disciplines. Here are several strategies I employed effectively:

PEDAGOGICALLY FOCUSED PRESENTATIONS

I presented the the ‘3E’ educational conference, explaining how Kurt Cobain and the band Nirvana changed my approach to planning and teaching projects.