CEESA Newsletter: February 2026 Edition
CEESA Team
Published:
Dear CEESA Community,
This week, many of us are traveling to Sofia for the CEESA 2026 Conference.
In international schools, we are used to holding two realities at the same time: the steady, practical work of teaching and learning, and the wider world that can feel uncertain and heavy. Some colleagues will arrive energized. Others will arrive carrying extra concern for students, friends, or family. Wherever you are on that spectrum, you are part of this community.
CEESA gatherings matter because they give us a chance to compare notes on what is working, ask for help on what is not, and return to our schools with strategies we can use right away. But they also matter because they give us the opportunity to connect, and share, and come together as both educators and people. CEESA’s Core Values put it simply: “No school is an island.”
At its best, a conference is not just a set of sessions. It is a place to hear how another school handled a challenge you are facing, to borrow a tool that saves you time next week, and to be reminded that good work is happening across our region, even when the context is complicated. And it is also a place to share stories, and burdens and laughter, knowing we are among friends and colleagues who understand.
What we do in our schools depends on creative, shared practice: common understanding, thoughtful collaboration, and the willingness to learn from one another. Over the next few days, the most helpful moments may be the simplest ones: a conversation that sharpens your thinking, a question that helps you reframe a challenge, an idea you jot down because you can picture using it with students or a team back home … or maybe just a connection that reminds you why we all love this.
We hope you leave Sofia with at least one idea that strengthens student learning and wellbeing, and one connection you can call on later.
Kind regards,
CEESA Team
CEESA 2026 Conference
As we head into CEESA 2026 in Sofia, we are looking forward to learning that is practical, relevant, and easy to bring back to students and teams. Just as importantly, we are glad to be together in a way that strengthens our professional community across the region.
This year’s conference host, Anglo-American School of Sofia (AAS), has collaborated with its students to bring student voice to the main stage, including a student keynote on Saturday morning.
A quick practical note for conference week: CEESA 2026 Conference app, Whova, is live now, and it is the best place to find the most current schedule and essential information in one spot.
Pro tips:
- Open the Community area and use “Break the Ice” to say hello. A short intro and one question is an easy way to start connections.
- Star two sessions you do not want to miss, then build the rest of your day around those anchors.
- Visit the Sponsors and Exhibitors Whova booths to see what they have prepared for our CEESA community.
- Send one message to someone you want to connect with, even if it is just, “Are you heading to Session X?”
Small, steady choices like these tend to turn a full conference into a useful one.
Coming up in 2026:
We are excited to introduce the CEESA AI Leaders Series, a five-part virtual program created to help international school communities develop clarity, confidence, and shared understanding around artificial intelligence. Register and learn more – here.
This two-day training builds strong, confident child protection teams through hands-on learning, real case studies, and role-specific Level I and II workshops. Register and learn more – here.
This four-day seminar helps teams strengthen collaboration, improve meeting structures, and build the skills needed to navigate complex group dynamics. Register and learn more – here.
This two-day workshop builds the practical skills counselors need to respond confidently to complex student needs. Register and learn more – here.