About this episode

Dr. Aaron Baumgartner discusses the importance of confidence in education at the American International School in Hong Kong.

Welcome to Destination Education! I’m your host, Ruth Benny, and today we are exploring the heart of international education in the high-stakes, high-pressure environment of Hong Kong. However, our guest today represents a school that intentionally steps away from the "exam factory" mentality to focus on building something more fundamental: confidence. We are joined by Dr. Aaron Baumgartner, the Elementary Principal at the American International School (AIS) Hong Kong. Affectionately known as "Dr. B," Aaron has a background that spans from banking in Pennsylvania to over 20 years of education across Japan, Thailand, and China. In this episode, we discuss why "safety" is the prerequisite for learning, how a background in finance helps run a school division, and why AIS is bringing high-school level STEAM and outdoor leadership programs all the way down to three-year-olds. "We don’t go to school to get better at school; we go to school so we can do things in the world. The more a child can do for themselves, the more confident they become." — Dr. Aaron Baumgartner Grab a coffee ☕️ and join us for this deep dive into the "vibe" of a truly confident school! Why Listen? From Banking…

People in this episode

Host: Ruth Benny

Guest: Dr. Aaron Baumgartner

Topics covered

• international education
• confidence building
• school environment
• STEAM programs
• leadership programs
• parental involvement

Keywords

• education
• confidence
• international school
• STEAM
• leadership
• parenting
• school tours

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American International School Hong Kong

Places: Hong Kong, Pennsylvania, Japan, Thailand, China

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