In international education, as in public school education, there are some educators who really stand out as having “a way” with kids. Their ability to develop relationships of mutual trust and respect is second-to-none. Jeff Devens is one such educator. He has a way of putting everyone at ease.
Jeff has been a guest on our show before, demystifying the complex world of taxes for American expats. In this episode he joined us once again, this time to talk about his day job – working to support students and parents in international schools. Dr. Devens has worked in international education as a school psychologist, counselor, and classroom educator for 29 years.
Jeff holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology and Social Studies Education and completed his Ph.D. in School Psychology in 2006. His dissertation research focused on depression rates among international students.
Growing up on public assistance and the only one of five children to graduate from high school, Jeff uniquely appreciates the hurt, heartache, and angst that parents encounter when raising kids. His first book, A Parent’s Guide to Raising Kids Overseas, was released in 2018. Jeff’s wife, Nanette, is also an international educator (high school Music). They have two children: Cylas, a college freshman, and Cora, a sophomore. During his “free” time, Jeff enjoys exercising, training jiu-jitsu (blackbelt), and helping expat educators with issues related to personal finance…but that’s for another podcast 🙂
Our Guiding Question was, “Is parenting overseas different from parenting in one’s home country? What are some things to think about?”
Here are a few topics Jeff covered in this episode:
What first-time overseas parents and students can experience with the start of school
How family systems can change when living internationally
The importance of community with the school at the center of it
Cultural considerations and variations
Stressed out students
Parenting styles
The importance of values
Fostering life skills
Where to learn more from Jeff:
The Facebook group Expat Financial Education run by Andrew Hallam
Jeff’s Book - A Parent’s Guide to Raising Kids Overseas
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
David’s Wellness@ES website which includes a section on Digital Wellness
Dr. Jonathan Haight’s Anxious Generation website and book of the same name
The show was recorded on August 30, 2024. Categories: Parenting | School Life | Transitions | Digital Wellness
