Fostering a Culture of Belonging with Dr. Derrick Gay

From February 24 to 26, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Derrick Gay back to campus. Dr. Gay is an internationally recognized belonging and intercultural strategist who works with international schools and organizations to deepen belonging which fosters cultures grounded in dignity and respect. His work aligns with AISV’s belief that:

“Belonging is a feeling of community. Belonging matters because we can only share our talents, experiences, and ideas fully when we are confident in our place in the community.”

During his visit, Dr. Gay led workshops and focus groups centered on belonging and intercultural competency for parents, students, and faculty. He visited Elementary, Middle and High School classrooms and facilitated a workshop with members of various student clubs. With our parent community, he shared strategies to strengthen belonging, guide children through social challenges, and support readiness for university and life beyond school.

Building on last summer’s professional development, Dr. Gay also conducted an interactive workshop for faculty and staff focused on intercultural competency. Recognizing that adult belonging shapes student belonging, colleagues used frameworks from Erin Meyer’s The Culture Map to examine how cultural and national backgrounds influence communication norms, such as giving feedback, showing respect, and making decisions. Faculty gained practical strategies to foster belonging and trust within their classrooms. During his visit, Dr. Gay also met with principals, the Board, and school counselors to further align our shared community goals.

This experience allowed our students, faculty, staff, and parents to strengthen our commitment to an inclusive learning environment for our students and advance our Strategic Plan priorities in Belonging, Character, and Community. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Dr. Gay during the 2026-27 academic year.