Change. It can be exciting. It can also be tough. And it happens a lot in international schools. How do we successfully navigate the twists and turns of the change process?
At first, new ideas and the buzz around implementing them can feel electrifying. But here’s the catch: often, the people involved, the processes, and the long-term sustainability of these ideas—whether they’re initiatives or programs—don’t quite make it past the starting line.
So, Why Does This Happen?
Audrey and David have been through countless new initiatives and programs in our schools over the years, and we often found ourselves wondering: what makes some changes stick while others fall flat? That curiosity led us straight to Dr. Jim Reese. Many of you probably know Jim as the previous facilitator behind the Harvard Project Zero Summer Institutes or as a trusted consultant in your own school.
Jim Reese lives in Washington, DC. After a long career teaching in international and U.S. public schools, he works now primarily as a consultant with schools, museums, and educational organizations. He has had a long-term affiliation with Project Zero, a research group at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Over 16 years, he served both as the Director of Studies and the founding Director of the Professional Development Collaborative at Washington International School.
In 2004, Dr. David Perkins from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education partnered with Jim to write what we consider a groundbreaking education article: “When Change Has Legs: Four Key Factors That Help Determine Whether Change Efforts Will Be Sustained Over Time.”
David had the privilege of interviewing Jim on his previous podcast, The Edtech Co-Op, about ten years ago to discuss the article. You can find a link to that episode below. Now, in conjunction with the eleventh anniversary of this influential article, we invited Jim back to share those timeless insights — and his fresh lessons on managing change — with all of you.
Our guiding question for the episode was, “What are proven ways to bring about sustainable change in our international schools?”
The Four Legs of Sustainable Change are:
Frameworks — The structures that guide and support learning
Leaders — The people who champion and drive the process
Community — The collective buy-in and engagement of everyone involved
Institutionalization — Embedding change so it becomes part of the school’s DNA
This episode was recorded on April 14th, 2025.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
When Change Has Legs article
Harvard Project Zero Website
Edtech Co-Op Podcast interview with Jim Reese (2015)
Professional Development Collaborative at Washington International School Website
Jim's Contact Information:
Categories: PD | Leadership | School Change
