Introduction:
In this inspiring interview, Elisa Prisco talks about her journey from being a dedicated parent to becoming a respected IB® educator and leader. She fell in love with the IB philosophy while looking for the best education for her daughter and later decided to make education her career. Elisa shares her experiences in various leadership roles, including her work at the World International School of Torino, where she focuses on enhancing well-being and innovation. Elisa Prisco reflects on the significance of the Outstanding Leadership Award she received and offers valuable insights on balancing leadership and teamwork. Her thoughts on creating meaningful learning experiences make this interview a great read for anyone interested in education.
The Beginning
To start, we asked, What inspired you to become an educator in the IB® system?
Elisa Prisco: In 2007, as a mother to my kindergarten daughter, I came across and fell in love with the IB® philosophy. The moment I walked into my town’s international school and read the IB Learner Profile Attributes® displayed on the wall, I was moved to tears. I knew then that this was the kind of education I wanted for my child. After a few years as an engaged parent within the educational community, in 2012, I felt a deep calling for professional change. From that point onward, I embraced my role as a passionate and committed IB® educator, excelling in management and consultancy roles. My commitment to contributing to a better world through education has driven me to pursue a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a Diploma of Education in Systemic pedagogy.
My diverse educational leadership journey includes roles as School Director at the International School of Brescia, and Project Leader at the Brescia International Academy. My global impact extends to being an Educational Consultant, Head of School at the International School of Treviso, and Director of WINSme, an online IB® tutoring platform. For the past four years, I have been focusing on strategic initiatives as the Head of Special Projects at the World International School of Torino.
Role at World International School Torino
Curious about your current position, we asked, What inspired you to take on the role of Head of Special Projects and New Business at World International School Torino?
Elisa Prisco: WINS was founded and is led by the most visionary, passionate, and kind man I have ever worked with, Mr. Paolo Pietro Formiga. We have known each other since I was the school director of ISBrescia, one of the school members within his network, the International School of Europe. Years later, aware of my competencies and professionalism, he offered me the position of HoSP to magnify the school’s value by enhancing its academic and business identity
The Impact of the Outstanding Leadership Award on Elisa Prisco’s Career
We wanted to know, How receiving the Outstanding Leadership Award impacted Elisa Prisco’s professional journey.
Elisa Prisco: Receiving the Outstanding Leadership Award has been a defining moment in my professional journey. Not only has it validated my dedication to educational leadership and set a higher standard for my work, but it has also opened doors to new opportunities, such as networking with other leaders, speaking engagements, and taking on more ambitious projects within my organization. The recognition has strengthened my confidence and motivated me to invest even more in professional and skills development.
Exciting New Initiatives at WINS: Enhancing Well-Being, Learning, and Innovation
To learn about your initiatives, we asked, What are some of the most exciting new projects you’re currently working on at WINS?
Elisa Prisco: I cannot disclose too many details, but I can confirm that, as a team, we are focused on three main areas: well-being, experiential learning, and advanced academic tools. The projects will be carried out in partnership with the valuable support of authoritative players within their industry.
Overcoming Challenges in Leading Educational Innovation
Elisa Prisco: The right timing is vital in project implementation; therefore, ideas and intuitions may need to be held until riper times. Collaboration among the team members is a key aspect of the school’s development plan’s success. Ultimately, the biggest challenge is finding a good balance between holding the role of decision-maker (intended as a member of the Senior Leading Team) and having staff on board simultaneously.
Balancing Project Management with New Business Development at WINS
Inquiring about your experiences, we asked, What key challenges do you face in driving innovation in education, and how do you overcome them?
Elisa Prisco: Projects need to be sustainable in many aspects, from the financial one to the related day-to-day management. So, although I personally run some of the implemented projects, most of the others have been conceived to be integrated into the teacher’s and staff’s daily practices. Consequently, this organization leaves room for new business development.
Unique Qualities of WINS
To gain insight into your school, we asked, What do you believe sets World International School Torino apart from other international schools?
Elisa Prisco: There are several outstanding international schools worldwide whose value and fame preceded them. However, from an inside perspective, WINS’ rarest characteristic lies in his founder and CEO’s human profile. Mr. Formiga’s commitment to the students and staff’s well-being is tangible in every decision he makes. On the business level, his vision and forward-thinking mindset have allowed him to build the first-ever international school network in Italy and then move on and transfer his vast know-how to WINS as his latest school project.
The Influence of University of Cumbria Education on Elisa Prisco’s Leadership Style
Curious about your academic background, we asked, How has your education at the University of Cumbria influenced your leadership style?
Elisa Prisco: The course has undoubtedly helped me structure and enhance leadership traits that I already held in my DNA. This is to say that all the subject-specific literature I have come across, along with the professors’ valuable insight, have allowed a growth of knowledge, competence, perspective, and skills management. Lastly, the theme of my dissertation has been a unique opportunity for me to investigate further into the International Baccalaureate® deepest features, which I would have never encountered via the IB® traditional professional development workshops.
Future Trends Shaping the International Education Landscape
Looking ahead, we inquired, What future trends do you see shaping the landscape of international education?
Elisa Prisco: While AI plays a significant role in speeding up some learning processes, I like to think that those in charge of setting directions within their schools will counterbalance its power by widely planning more experiential learning to enhance students’ development of their human attributes and skills. After all, the ultimate beneficiary of education is the human race, which includes all human beings, especially those who do not directly experience high-end academic pathways in the first person.
A Key Leadership Lesson Learned in Education
We wanted to learn from your experiences, so we asked, Can you share a key leadership lesson you’ve learned while working in education?
Elisa Prisco: We all are leaders, we all are followers! Any daily setting is a unique opportunity to exercise both attitudes with awareness and pride. From family to work, there are moments where we can lead or follow, no matter the importance of the circumstances. It’s about training and improving an attitude. Children learn this in school by following the teacher’s instructions, leading a class project, or being a class rep. Eventually, for organizations to be effective, they should consider “leading and following as non-static human functions”. Eventually, the intertwined relationship between leadership and fellowship leads to the principle that they are not mutually exclusive.
Advice for Young Leaders Aiming to Make an Impact in Education
Finally, we asked, What advice would you give to young leaders looking to make an impact in education?
Elisa Prisco: Always act with integrity for the sake of the children in their care, which also means fighting indoctrination as the most sneaky threat for young generations.
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