6. The IB Curriculum, Belonging & What Truly Matters with Barry Dequanne

FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+ Podcast

The IB Curriculum, Belonging & What Truly Matters  — A Conversation with Barry Dequanne, Director of ISZL

In this enlightening episode of FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL PLUS+, co-hosts Sandra Hueskes and Pascale Baumgartner sit down with Barry Dequanne, Director of the International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL), for a deeply thoughtful conversation about what it means to lead a school community with purpose, integrity, heart and the value of kindness.

Barry shares his love of learning and curiosity, why trust and belonging are the foundation of any great school, the value of an IB Curriculum, and how ISZL is rethinking what student success really means in a changing world.

📌 Highlights from Barry Dequanne:

• Why kindness lies at the center of ISZL’s mission — and how a sense of safety enables students to thrive
• Why encouraging curiosity, engagement and resilience are fundamental to learning and growth
• How education is a shared endeavor between parents, teachers, students and community
• How self-awareness and being accountable for your learning is a gift that keeps on giving
• How ISZL and the IB Diploma fosters global citizenship, personal development and skills beyond academics
• How schools can nurture both academic achievement and student well-being
• Barry’s reflections on community, character, and the power of nature

Barry’s wisdom, humility, and clarity of purpose make this a powerful episode for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about education done thoughtfully and well.

🎧 About learning: “The classroom is not just in the school building, it's everywhere.”

🎧 About AI: “We have to have the courage to ask questions. We have to think about the future... We cannot lose our humanity in this process. We have technology to support our humanity, not replace us, not diminish us."

Barry’s Recommended Resources, Readings & Inspirations

• Barry's Blog
• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Johnathan Haidt
• Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman
• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Follow ISZL

🌐 Website
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💼 LinkedIn
📘 Facebook
▶️ YouTube

About Us:
We’re Sandra Hueskes and Pascale Baumgartner, education consultants at FIND MY SWISS SCHOOL, Switzerland’s leading school consultancy. We support families in choosing the right public, private, international, or boarding school across the country. From workshops and one-to-one support to corporate partnerships, we’re here to help families make informed and confident decisions about schooling in Switzerland.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction, Hosts and Guest
• 0:17 Meet Barry Dequanne
• 0:26 Barry's Background and Journey
• 1:27 Involvement in Educational Organizations
• 2:35 ISZL's Mission and Values
• 4:04 Building Community Connections
• 6:30 International Baccalaureate (IB) Philosophy
• 8:46 AI and Education
• 12:23 Experiential Learning in the Himalayas
• 14:42 IB and Swiss Universities
• 17:10 Monolingual vs. Multilingual Programs
• 18:53 Challenges and Opportunities in Education
• 20:16 Technology, Kids and Social Media Concerns
• 23:53 Outdoor Learning and Campus Life at ISZL
• 25:44 Final Thoughts and Closing