Headways Virtual Masterclasses
A signature ICGS program that brings educators from ICGS member schools together to explore timely topics in girls’ education.
Designed to fit the realities of school life, each masterclass is a focused four-week experience that combines live conversation, curated resources, and meaningful exchange with colleagues across the global girls’ school community. Together, you’ll explore timely topics, share perspectives, and consider practical strategies you can bring back to your school.
Each Headways masterclass is $275 USD.
Discounts are available for:
- Groups of 10 or more participants
- Individuals enrolling in three or more sessions during the year
- Tuition-free schools, which may register for $100 USD per cohort
For more information about discounted registration opportunities, contact Dr. Laura Blankenship.
Current Headways Offerings
Each Headways™ masterclass invites educators from ICGS member schools to engage deeply with a topic central to girls and girls’ schools.
Over four weeks, you’ll participate in hour-long virtual conversations with a cohort of educators, explore selected readings and resources, and continue the discussion between sessions. The format is designed to encourage thoughtful dialogue, professional reflection, and the exchange of ideas across the global girls’ school community.
Additional sessions will be announced throughout the year.
March 2026
Mental Health Matters: Redefining Wellbeing in Girls’ Schools
Meeting Dates/Times:
- March 5 at 8:00 a.m. PST / 11:00 a.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. GMT
- March 12 at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m. GMT
- March 19 at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m. GMT
- March 26 at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m. GMT
Please note the U.S. shifts to Daylight Savings on March 8, so subsequent sessions will meet at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m. GMT for the last three weeks.
Facilitator:
Laurie Garland, Deputy Head of Sixth Form Pastoral, Mental Health Lead, and Deputy Safeguarding Lead, Wycombe High School, London, UK
In today’s complex world, mental health and wellbeing must be central to how we lead, teach and care in girls’ schools. This series explores what it truly means to prioritise wellbeing – for students and staff alike. We’ll look at whole-school approaches, targeted support, stronger peer and parent partnerships, and how to better care for the adults at the heart of girls’ education. Together, we’ll redefine what wellbeing can look like in schools where girls thrive.
Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy in Girls’ Schools
Meeting Dates/Times:
- March 5 at 8:00 a.m. PST / 11:00 a.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. GMT
- March 12 at 8:00 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 3:00 p.m. GMT
- March 19 at 8:00 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 3:00 p.m. GMT
- March 26 at 8:00 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 3:00 p.m. GMT
Please note the U.S. shifts to Daylight Savings on March 8, so subsequent sessions will meet at 8:00 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 3:00 p.m. GMT for the last three weeks.
Facilitator:
Laura McGarry, Graham-Pelton
In this Headways™ session, leaders and board members in girls’ schools will dive into the evolving landscape of philanthropy, exploring how strong governance, inclusive strategies, and emerging technologies can transform fundraising. Participants will examine how high-performing boards drive successful campaigns, discover fresh approaches to engaging diverse donors, and learn how to harness the power of AI to deepen connection and impact. The series concludes with a candid look at endowment campaigns—debunking myths, identifying trends, and uncovering new opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.
April/May 2026
Making Headway: Uplevelling Your Leadership with Confidence and Authenticity: A Captains & Poets Workshop for Mid-Level Leaders
Meeting Dates/Times:
- April 16 at 1:00 PST / 4:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 p.m. GMT / April 17 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
- April 23 at 1:00 PST / 4:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 p.m. GMT / April 24 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
- April 30 at 1:00 PST / 4:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 p.m. GMT / May 1 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
- May 7 at 1:00 PST / 4:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 p.m. GMT / May 8 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
Facilitator:
Jennifer Johnson, CEO and Chief Learning Officer, Captains & Poets
Effectively fulfilling a leadership role requires courage, clarity, and a deep sense of self-awareness. And when transitioning from colleague to leader, the challenge can feel even greater – especially when surrounded by those who “know us” in a particular way. This Captains & Poets workshop equips aspiring school leaders with the tools to uplevel their leadership and refine their professional identity thoughtfully and authentically. Grounded in our signature approach, this series supports leaders in making headway with confidence, purpose, and integrity by activating their unique Leader Within. A 30-minute Reflection Exercise and short Pre-Survey will be sent out ahead of time to help participants make the most of the experience.
Powerful Girls Book Club
Meeting Dates/Times:
- May 5 at 3:00 p.m. PDT / 6:00 p.m. EDT / April 15 at 8:00 a.m. AEDT
- May 19 at 3:00 p.m. PDT / 6:00 p.m. EDT / April 28 at 8:00 a.m. AEDT
- June 2 at 3:00 p.m. PDT / 6:00 p.m. EDT / May 12 at 8:00 a.m. AEDT
- June 16 at 3:00 p.m. PDT / 6:00 p.m. EDT / May 26 at 8:00 a.m. AEDT
- optional in-person meetup at the 2026 Global Forum on Girls' Education
Facilitator:
Ann Muno, author, Powerful Girls: Raising Strong, Just, and Compassionate Young Women
Join author Ann Muno in a lively discussion about her book Powerful Girls: Raising Strong, Just, and Compassionate Young Women, a thought-provoking exploration of how adults can better support girls through adolescence and help build healthier, more just communities. Drawing on personal experience, research, and stories from real girls, Muno examines where girls’ power is often diminished—and how it can be restored through belonging, identity development, media literacy, race consciousness, and connection to values. Organized around eight essential “powers,” the book offers practical strategies for parents, educators, and mentors who want to nurture confident, compassionate young women and create cultures where girls truly thrive.
Participants should purchase the book at a local bookstore or through Amazon.
Leadership and Strategy in Girls’ Schools
Meeting Dates/Times:
- April 21 at 5:00 p.m. EDT / 2:00 p.m. PDT / April 22 at 7:00 a.m. AEST
- April 28 at 5:00 p.m. EDT / 2:00 p.m. PDT / April 29 at 7:00 a.m. AEST
- May 5 at 5:00 p.m. EDT / 2:00 p.m. PDT / May 6 at 7:00 a.m. AEST
- May 12 at 5:00 p.m. EDT / 2:00 p.m. PDT / May 13 at 7:00 a.m. AEST
Facilitator:
Jane Danvers, Principal, Kambala, Sydney, AUS
Designed for experienced and emerging heads and principals of girls’ schools, this course offers a dynamic space to reflect, connect, and lead with clarity. Topics include global citizenship, strategic planning, executive wellness, and future-focused curriculum.
Delivering World Class Careers Education, Learning and Guidance
Meeting Dates/Times:
- April 28 at 4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT/ April 29 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
- May 5 at 4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT/ May 6 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
- May 12 at 4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT/ May 13 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
- May 19 at 4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. EDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT/ May 20 at 6:00 a.m. AEST
Facilitators:
Karen Wray, Careers Lead and Careers Adviser, Beaconsfield High School, Beaconsfield, UK and Erin Bradley, Head of Careers, Teacher of Design and Technology, Putney High School, London, UK
Join us for a series of four workshops to discover the great practice taking place across member schools. Each workshop will cover a particular area of carers education or learning. We will start with a discussion about the scope of the subject are and then go on to share and discuss practices. Below are the topics we will cover:
Session 1: Embedding careers learning in the curriculum
How do we embed careers learning and link careers to the academic curriculum. What examples of great practice are there? How can we as careers professional support teaching staff and academic departments?
Session 2 Careers education
What do you offer, how do you link from one academic year to the next when lessons might spaced apart by several months and on different topics. What is important? How achievable is it to embed in younger years. How to ensure message is not lost amongst demand for academic excellence
Session 3 Careers strategy
What is your Careers strategy? How do the link the strategy to the need to deliver events/day to day activities? How to do you measure success?
Session 4 What is the future
How do we prepare students for a world of AI in the workplace and the expected reduced numbers of ‘graduate jobs’ to be funnelled into? Where are the jobs going to be? Will the knowledge-based economy (lawyers accountants, consultants) become super aspirational as jobs become more scarce or will they become too scarce to be achievable? What are the jobs going to be? Do students have too much choice and not enough information? Are they capable of exercising that choice or following a well-trodden path?
Artificial Intelligence in Girls’ Schools – Advanced Cohort
Meeting Dates/Times:
- April 28 at 8:30-9:30 a.m. AEST / April 27 at 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
- May 5 at 8:30-9:30 a.m. AEST / May 4 at 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
- May 12 at 8:30-9:30 a.m. AEST / May 11 at 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
- May 19 at 8:30-9:30 a.m. AEST / May 18 at 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
Facilitator:
Kerry Daud, Head of Faculty – Digital Innovation and Design, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Brisbane, AUS
This Headways™ session is designed for educators and staff with intermediate AI experience who are ready to advance their schools’ AI integration. Building on foundational knowledge, participants will engage in practical discussions about harnessing AI in their school to enhance the unique strengths of girls’ education while navigating implementation challenges and ethical considerations.
July/August 2026
The Creative Mindset Lab: Building Bold, Divergent Thinkers
Meeting Dates/Times:
- Asynchronous course available July 13-26, 2026
Facilitators:
Eric Walters, Chair, Creative Technology Department, and Don Buckley, Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking Teacher, Marymount School of New York, USA
This two-week asynchronous course engages educators in the intentional development of a creative mindset, with a particular focus on fostering divergent thinking in girls’ classrooms. Through a sequence of brief, structured experiences, participants explore practical strategies for increasing creative fluency, flexibility, and confidence. Grounded in research on the creative growth mindset, the course emphasizes creativity as a skill that can be cultivated through consistent, low-stakes engagement. Educators will leave with a toolkit of adaptable classroom methods designed to support risk-taking, curiosity, and innovative thinking among students.
Technology Directors’ Virtual Roundtable
Meeting Dates/Times:
- July 14 at 2:30 p.m. EDT / 11:30 a.m. PST / 7:30 p.m. BST
- July 21 at 2:30 p.m. EDT / 11:30 a.m. PST / 7:30 p.m. BST
- July 28 at 2:30 p.m. EDT / 11:30 a.m. PST / 7:30 p.m. BST
- August 4 at 2:30 p.m. EDT / 11:30 a.m. PST / 7:30 p.m. BST
Facilitators:
Dave Ritzmann, Senior Director of Technology – Academy of Our Lady of Peace, San Diego, California, USA and Tyler Gaspich, Director of Information Resources and Technology, The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Connect with fellow ICGS Technology Directors to share successes, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities in a roundtable format across four weeks. Some possible topics include:
- AI and Emerging Technologies
- Security and Privacy
- Curriculum and Pedagogy
- Leadership and Professional Development for Technology Teams
A survey will be sent to all participants prior to the first session to gauge interest in these and other topics, and a final list will be sent prior to the first session. It will also be a way to connect (or reconnect) with colleagues at other schools.
September/October 2026
Neurodiverse & Included: Creating Spaces Where All Girls Thrive
Meeting Dates/Times:
- TBD September/October 2026
Facilitator:
Vikki Jonsmyth-Clarke, Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Wycombe High School, London, UK
This series explores how we can better understand and support neurodiverse girls in educational settings. Grounded in current research and best practice, each session will focus on how to create a sense of belonging using inclusive strategies that benefit all learners—not just those with identified needs. Through open conversation, shared experiences, and practical insights, we’ll examine how to recognise the often-overlooked presentations of neurodiversity in girls, foster inclusive environments, and implement approaches that empower every student to thrive.
From Time, Space, and Staffing to Strategy: A SpaceLogic Series
Meeting Dates/Times:
- September 23 at 1:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 a.m. EDT
- September 30 at 1:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 a.m. EDT
- October 7 at 1:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 a.m. EDT
- October 14 at 1:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 a.m. EDT
Facilitator: Dr. Andrew Taylor, Senior Consultant, The 5Rs Partnership
This series helps leaders of girls’ schools see their schedules, staffing, and spaces not just as operational necessities, but as powerful levers for mission delivery. Using the SpaceLogic framework, participants will explore how time, space, and staffing interact to shape student experience, program depth, and long-term sustainability. Across four sessions, leaders will: reframe perceived constraints, learn to interpret key utilization patterns, identify hidden capacity and misalignment, and translate insights into strategic choices. Rather than focusing on buildings or schedules in isolation, the series builds a shared language for understanding how a school’s structure either enables—or quietly limits—its aspirations. Participants will leave with a clearer picture of their current reality and practical next steps to better align structure with purpose.
Divergent by Design
Meeting Dates/Times:
- October 7 at 12:00 p.m. EDT / 9:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 p.m. BST
- October 14 at 12:00 p.m. EDT / 9:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 p.m. BST
- October 21 at 12:00 p.m. EDT / 9:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 p.m. BST
- October 28 at 12:00 p.m. EDT / 9:00 a.m. PST / 4:00 p.m. BST
Facilitators:
Eric Walters, Chair, Creative Technology Department, and Don Buckley, Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking Teacher, Marymount School of New York, USA
This series explores how educators can intentionally design learning experiences that cultivate divergent thinking in girls’ schools. Grounded in research on the creative growth mindset, and student agency, each session examines how classroom structures and routines can either limit or expand students’ capacity to generate ideas, take risks, and navigate ambiguity. Through shared dialogue and reflection, participants will explore ways to design environments where multiple perspectives are valued and girls see themselves as confident, capable creators of new ideas.