​Sparking genius all over the world

Since the founding of the flagship Dwight School in New York City in 1872, Dwight’s network of schools has expanded to include campuses in London, Dubai, Shanghai, Seoul, Hanoi, and in the cloud with Dwight Global Online School. Dwight’s role as a leader in education is steeped in academic tradition, but it remains a leader more than 150 years after its founding because of its willingness to dialogue and innovate in service of its mission of “finding the spark of genius” in every student.

That tradition of looking towards the future continues with Sparking Genius, the global network of Dwight Schools’ original podcast. Host Dianne Drew, Head of School at Dwight New York and Global Education Director, sits down to dialogue with leaders and innovative thinkers to explore what the future of education holds. Sparking Genius dives into the most cutting-edge topics, and demonstrates firsthand how new strategies and fresh perspectives can inspire and enlighten parents, administrators, teachers and students.

“Anyone who has an interest in education, and children’s development and well-being, would enjoy a listen – educators and parents alike,” says Ms. Drew. “This is such a thrilling project for Dwight, as it really highlights our thought leadership in the industry.”

Shortly after premiering its first episode on all podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, Sparking Genius garnered 5-star ratings and was in the Top 1% of podcasts in both the categories of Education and Technology.

Season 1 of Sparking Genius explored how Dwight Schools nurture each student’s individual potential through personalized education, global citizenship, and innovative approaches to both learning and teaching. Specifically, across the six episodes, the series covered the IB curriculum, online learning, mental health and wellness, benefits of international education, and the evolving role of AI in the classroom.

On the second episode of Season 1, for example, Ms. Drew spoke with Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer at the International Baccalaureate Organization, and Marie Nieto, Head of Middle School Humanities at Dwight. Together, they had an important conversation about what makes the IB curriculum unique, and what the exciting future of technological advancements and AI holds for the IB.

Nicole Bien touched on what makes the IB stand out, especially in our evolving digital landscape. She said, “We truly believe that with the changing world, and with the advancement of digital technology, students really need to have skills that prepare them for whatever their future professions might be, or the challenges that they need to tackle, as opposed to a very narrow focus on a specific area of knowledge.”

Thus far, Season 2 evaluated a range of topics – from athletics in an academically rich setting, to how education is changing in response to powerful forces like AI, systems thinking and shifting college admissions landscapes. Through meaningful conversations with leaders making a difference, the season offers fresh insight into how educators, students, and institutions can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

Continuing to discover AI’s potential in education, the first episode launched with experts Amanda Bickerstaff, CEO of AI for Education, and Christian Talbot, President of the Middle States Association (an organization that has been at the forefront of school accreditation and innovation) sharing their perspective on AI’s advancements, drawn from extensive experience.

When discussing the Middle States Association’s AI endorsement (which Dwight School is proud to have earned this past February), Mr. Taubman explained how the school’s participation deepened students, teachers, and administrators’ understanding of AI in education. Since AI tools are still in the “dial-up phase,” as Ms. Bickerstaff said, and evolving quickly, it is important to keep an open mind and learn about what is possible for the future.

On another episode, Katie Korhonen, Director of Global Admissions, Evaluation, and Strategy at NYU, and Shellee Hendricks, Dwight’s Global Director of College Counselling, gave valuable information regarding college admissions: test-optional policies, access to international opportunities, ethical concerns, and the impact of AI on admissions.

The episode also highlighted the need to maintain human interaction despite the technological advancements currently developing. “We really need to help students … to put the counselling in college counselling. We need to help students understand themselves … [and] manage their emotions when things get tough,” said Ms. Hendricks.

In the most recent episode, Ms. Drew and various guests talk about student-athletes, and the challenges they face, including maintaining high academic standards while committing to rigorous athletic schedules.

In discussion with John Pelin, Head of Athletics at Dwight School New York, and Dwight School New York student Kathryn McMahan ‘26, who impressively competes on three varsity teams – soccer, swimming, and softball – the podcast examines time management, motivation, dealing with pressure, and the impact sports can have on leadership and mental health.

Kathryn spoke about her own personal journey, heavily involved in Dwight Athletics, saying, “I love the person that I am because of sports… the community, the people that I meet, the relationships that I make, it literally changed me. And so just showing up every day and just being with your friends … being with the community that it gives you, that's what makes it worth it. And that's what drives me to go every day.”

Sparking Genius continues to produce new and exciting content, aiming to illuminate the path forward by amplifying the expert voices that contribute to education – and ultimately shape its future. Whether you're a parent, educator, industry leader, or student, the podcast provides a powerful platform for new ideas, relevant conversation, and an unwavering commitment to igniting the spark in every learner all over the world.

Listeners can play episodes of Sparking Genius directly on the Dwight Global Network website or subscribe on their favourite platform.