As a leader of IB World schools, Kim Green is committed to creating strong connections across the learning continuum through impactful leadership, a strong curriculum that leads to mastery, and mindful and inclusive practices. She believes that leadership networks that synergistically deploy agile methodologies and courageously take risks to positively impact wellbeing and learning outcomes ultimately unlock human potential and collective intelligence, enabling innovation to be embedded into the fabric of the school community.
Prior to holding her role as Executive Principal at Kristin School, New Zealand, she held the role of Head of School, Director, Head of Secondary /Secondary Principal and MYP Coordinator in four different IB World Schools (Laos, Bangladesh, Qatar and Vietnam). Kim is an IB Educator and has led national teaching and learning projects in New Zealand. Kim holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership, Bachelor’s Degrees in both Education and Social Science, and Diplomas in Teaching and Management, is an Independent Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Consultant, and a Cognitive Coach. In 2014, she published ‘Re-thinking Leadership Development in Schools’.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with K12 Digest, Kim shared insights on the role of technology in supporting student learning and achievement, personal role models, significant career milestones, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
What inspires you to continue leading and innovating in education?
I am inspired by the opportunity to create meaningful change and empower students, educators, and communities to thrive. Education is transformative, and I am passionate about fostering environments where curiosity, creativity, and collaboration flourish. Seeing students and educators achieve their full potential across diverse domains keeps me motivated every day.
What do you love the most about your current role?
What I love most is the people—students, staff, and families. Kristin has a warm, aspirational community where everyone shares the vision of ensuring every student thrives. Witnessing sparks of discovery and the growth in others through our wholehearted education brings immense joy to my heart. I love working with our Board of Governors, who are committed to continuously enhancing student learning outcomes through progress with vision, integrity, and love.
What role do you think technology should play in supporting student learning and achievement?
Technology is a powerful tool for enhancing learning experiences. It should be used to optimize teaching practices, foster creativity, and prepare students for a digital-age future. At Kristin, we focus on integrating technology thoughtfully to support inquiry-based learning and to ensure equitable access to resources that empower both educators and students. Through the use of AI we can increase our ability to personalise learning and provide timely feedback to students. In addition as we plan for learning AI can help inspire us to consider our planning through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
What do you believe are the most important qualities for an effective educator and leader?
Empathy, integrity, vision, and adaptability are essential qualities. Effective educators inspire curiosity and confidence in their students, while leaders must cultivate collaboration, drive progress, and model values that foster a culture of continuous improvement for their teams.
How do you prioritize and address the diverse needs of students, teachers, and parents within a school community?
By listening deeply to all stakeholders and fostering partnerships built on trust. By intentionally creating opportunities for students, teachers, and parents in a school community to have voice, choice, and ownership. By building networked teams that enable distributed leadership to authentically drive progress. By prioritizing wellbeing for all members of the community to underpin holistic and academic achievement. At Kristin School, examples of actions taken to ensure that every individual student feels valued and supported include tailored programs for social-emotional learning, robust curriculum design, skilled wellbeing and inclusive learning teams, and open communication channels to help us meet individuals diverse needs effectively.
Who is your role model in life and why?
I do not have one specific role model. My parents, who instilled my core values, are two of my key role models. Ultimately, my other role models are individuals who lead with integrity, empathy, and courage—qualities I strive to embody daily as an educator and leader. I admire those who challenge norms to create positive change while remaining grounded in their values. I value those who inspire others to be the best version of themselves with humility and low ego. I value those who demonstrate vulnerability, resilience, and their commitment to lifelong learning.
Can you share your thoughts on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in education?
Diversity enriches learning communities by fostering intercultural understanding and respect. Equity ensures that every student has access to opportunities that enable them to thrive. Inclusion creates a sense of belonging where everyone feels valued for who they are. These principles are foundational at Kristin as we prepare globally-minded learners.
However, diversity, equity, and inclusion are key concepts that must be critically understood, unpacked, and intentionally planned for in the systemic operations of our school communities. We need to consider how we go beyond creating a culture of belonging to how we create space for every member of our community to know that what they do matters. In education, we consistently state that we support the development of intercultural competency in our learners and colleagues; however, we must also consider the interculturality of our operating systems.
What are some of your greatest achievements in your career to date? What makes them special?
Some of my greatest achievements include leading schools through transformative growth phases internationally, contributing to curriculum development in New Zealand and globally, publishing an innovative leadership framework, and mentoring educators worldwide through International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. Specifically I am proud to have led an excellence teaching and learning project in New Zealand, framing a language programme that was shared at a UNESCO conference and then adopted across other schools in Asia and beyond, building leadership development programmes for senior and middle leaders, and ensuring that strategic planning is anchored on meeting student needs. These achievements are special because they have positively impacted others in their journeys globally and ultimately had a positive impact on student learning experiences.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself continuing to lead excellence through our wholehearted education at Kristin School while contributing to national and global educational initiatives that promote progressive learning practices. My focus will remain on nurturing future-ready learners (students and educators) who thrive both locally and globally.
What advice would you give to new educators just starting their careers?
Be curious, empathetic, and resilient. Focus on building strong relationships with your students—they are at the heart of everything you do. Embrace lifelong learning as a way to grow both personally and professionally while staying adaptable in an ever-changing educational landscape.