G. Cody QJ Goldberg, co-founder and Chief Play Officer of Harper’s Playground which inspires and empowers global communities to build radically inclusive playgrounds.

Kevin Simpson, the founder of one of SENIA’s partner organizations, AEILOC, which stands for the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color.

Mitch Weathers, creator of The Organized Binder. Mitch created this binder to empower teachers with a simple but research-backed strategy to teach students executive functioning skills while protecting the time needed for content instruction.

David Geslak and Amber Pantaleo, Founder and Vice President of Exercise Connection, an organization that uses evidence-based solutions to empower those who support individuals with autism and other disabilities to teach exercise successfully.

Emily is an LGBTQ+ consultant specialized in international schools. In addition to her doctoral degree, Emily holds master’s degrees in both Sexual Health and Counseling, and has worked as an international school counselor for over a decade

Tim Villegas who is the director of communications of MCIE or the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, a nonprofit that envisions a society where neighborhood schools welcome all learners and create the foundation for inclusive communities.

Helen Trethewey, an experienced inclusion leader with a passion for early identification of children with learning differences.

Meet Minh, a 12th grade student at UNIS Hanoi who is proudly neurodivergent.  He displays his talents as a guest writer for the school newspaper. One of Minh’s internship pathways this year is co-teaching 10th-grade PE. Minh showed incredible leadership and work ethic leading him to be offered the new assistant basketball coach this season. Minh’s coaching responsibilities included organizing the game stats, prepping for practices, assisting the coaches at the games, and cheering on the team for the whole season. Not only has the basketball team won games, but they have also shown what being an inclusive school really looks like. When the crowd was cheering on the UNIS basketball team, they were also cheering for inclusion! Minh and his team have learned a lot of valuable skills in leadership and communication. Minh shared “Inclusion for me is to include everyone to be a part of the team even when we are on and off the court.

Congratulations to Hoang Minh Duong as May’s SENIA World Changer Award Winner!

Anita Churchville, an educational consultant and founder of the HAGT Learners Collaborative. She currently coordinates the High Ability Program at the American School of Bombay and conducts professional development workshops, courses, and ongoing coaching at a number of private international schools with European and American curricula.

Korok Biswas is India’s first ever dance performer with down syndrome to be credited in India’s Book of Records. From an early age, Korok and his parents believed with love and support that Korok would pursue his passion of dance.  He trained hard and had learned that through perseverance and dedication he could achieve his goals.  His school, the Noble Mission of South Calcutta, supported him with developing patience, how to adapt to the world around him and believed in his performance talents. Korok has achieved much recognition for his dance and his work supporting people with down syndrome in India and around the world.  Here are some of his achievements: Indian National Award in Art & Culture, International Dance Council, UNESCO Best Fighter Dancer, and Down Syndrome International Self Advocate.  

Korok is taking the Indian dance performance scene by storm and in the process, inspiring future generations of people with down syndrome to follow their dreams.  Representation matters! 

Congratulations to Korok Biswas as the winner of this month’s SENIA World Changer Award!

To learn more about Korok’s journey: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NjK2jd9Yf4U6HACu2QOQzjCY90zTC1YW/view