AGIS Conference 2026 Potsdam: Full Schedule

Working Together To Support Learning

9:00am CEST

College Counsellors Working Group Pre-Conference

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 3:45pm CEST

The CC meeting at the AGIS conference is an essential part of our lives as College Counselors in Germany. It is the place where we plan higher education tours, share success stories, and learn new strategies to navigate the inconsistent university application system in Germany. During this meeting, we discuss the needs of our students and schools, and we invite experts to fill knowledge gaps or to bring our knowledge up to date. It is an interesting and productive meeting that plays an important role in our work at the start of every academic year.

As every year – the detailed plan of our Septemeber Agenda and the Guest Speakers will be confirmed at our Spring meeting. It will roughly follow this structure:
08:30 - 9:00 Welcome Coffee
9:00 - 9:30 Introduction of new counsellors to the AGIS CC group
9:30 - 11:30 AGIS Fairs - Evaluation & Strategies for Moving Forward
March Fair Planning
11:30 - 12:45 Latest Developments in University Counselling - Trends and Updates
12:45 - 13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 15:00 Presentations on Admissions in Different Countries
15:00 - 15:45 Planning of Spring Conference / Brainstorming / A.O.B.

Speakers

Rita Miller

Higher Education Counsellor, Berlin International School

Carin Dsouza

Academic and University Counsellor, International School Hannover Region

To be added

Dejana Petričić

Head of University and Career Counseling, Berlin Metropolitan School

To be added

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 3:45pm CEST
0.241 Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471 Potsdam

Full-Day Workshop

Audience Secondary / Diploma learners aged 17-18

9:45am CEST

Creating Cultures of Safety: Practical Child Safeguarding for International Schools in Germany

Saturday September 19, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CEST

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International schools in Germany operate within culturally diverse communities and a unique national child protection landscape. This workshop equips AGIS educators with practical safeguarding skills they can apply immediately in the classroom and wider school environment. Participants will learn how to recognize early indicators of abuse, neglect, or emotional vulnerability; respond to disclosures using trauma‑informed, supportive language; and report concerns confidently using consistent school procedures aligned with German Kinderschutz expectations.

Intended Impact: Through interactive case studies and guided discussion, the session focuses on everyday strategies that strengthen a culture of safety—clear boundaries, consistent language, proactive relationship‑building, and effective documentation. Teachers will leave with increased clarity, confidence, and concrete tools that support the wellbeing of all students in the AGIS community.

Speakers

Chris Floor

Senior School Guidance Counselor and Child Protection Officer, Munich International School

Senior School Guidance Counselor and Child Protection Officer
Bicycles
Sailing
Music
Politics
Psychology

Saturday September 19, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CEST
0.241 Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471 Potsdam

One-Hour Workshop

Audience Whole school for educators
Subject Well-Being

11:15am CEST

Chances and Limitations of grading handwritten work with AI

Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CEST

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In this workshop, I will share my experience with Noten-Copilot, a GDPR-compliant app that transcribes handwritten student work, converts it into digital text, and assesses it using teacher-defined criteria. IS Hamburg has approved this pilot project, and I’m excited to open this space for shared exploration and professional dialogue.
I dare to say that many teachers find the idea of AI-supported assessment both appealing and intriguing - some may already have experimented with it, just as our students are doing. Together, I would like to explore not only its practical possibilities, but also how meaningful, transparent communication with students and families can be initiated and structured around its use.
Alongside this, we will engage with key questions of professional ethics, student data protection, and privacy, as well as the growing challenge of providing timely, meaningful feedback on increasingly complex student writing in middle and high school. We will reflect on transparency, trust, and the autonomy and professional competence of teachers in the assessment process.
This workshop will present one practical pathway toward fair, efficient, and pedagogically sound assessment of handwritten work - supporting high-quality feedback for students while strengthening sustainable, ethical professional practice for teachers.

Speakers

Andrea Dreyer

Head of Department (Modern Foreign Languages MFL), International School of Hamburg

Before becoming a teacher, I worked in a fast-paced professional environment shaped by tight deadlines, complex workflows, and demanding client expectations. This made me an early adopter of digital tools and someone who enjoys exploring new technologies as practical solutions - not... Read More →

Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CEST
0.241 Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471 Potsdam

One-Hour Workshop

Audience Secondary / Middle learners aged 11-16; Secondary / Diploma learners aged 17-18
Subject Transdisciplinary (teaching pedagogy & Methodology)

1:15pm CEST

Using Vertical Whiteboard Surfaces in Mathematics and Science

Saturday September 19, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CEST

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Discover how vertical whiteboards can spark visible thinking, collaboration, and deep understanding in both math and science. This hands-on session, inspired by Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, bridges two disciplines: Sadra shares how the approach transforms mathematical reasoning, while Catherine extends it to science through model-based inquiry and figuring out phenomena. Participants will experience the routines firsthand and leave with adaptable strategies for their own classrooms.

Speakers

Sadra Isaacs

Cross-Divisional Mathematics Instructional Coach, Frankfurt International School

Sadra is the Cross-Divisional Mathematics Instructional Coach at Frankfurt International School, where she supports faculty and students from Primary through Grade 8. With a career spanning two decades, beginning with the Teach For America corps in 2006, Sadra has taught mathematics... Read More →

Catherine Walton

Science Lab and Makerspace Teacher & Coach, Frankfurt International School

Catherine Walton is the Science Lab and Makerspace Coach at Frankfurt International School, where they coordinate the elementary science curriculum for grades 2–5. With nearly 30 years of experience—including 15 years in middle school classrooms and 6 years as a curriculum writer... Read More →

Saturday September 19, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CEST
0.241 Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471 Potsdam

One-Hour Workshop

2:30pm CEST

From Commitment to Coherence: What One International IB School Reveals About Inclusive Practice in 2026

Saturday September 19, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CEST

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This session draws on dissertation research conducted in an international IB World School in Germany to examine how educators and senior leaders understand preparedness for inclusive practice, and which school structures most strongly support or constrain implementation. Focusing on the gap between inclusive values and daily practice, the session explores where inclusive practice appears to rely on individual effort and where greater school-wide coherence may be needed to support diverse learners.

Participants will leave with practical questions and a clear framework for reflection, based on the study’s findings, to help them identify where inclusive practice in their school is well aligned, and where it still relies too heavily on individual effort rather than consistent systems. The session will also point to the Index for Inclusion as one possible tool for whole-school reflection and review.

Speakers

Claudia Freitas

Learning Support teacher, Bavarian International School

I have 35 years of experience in education and have worked in five international schools across five different countries. I am Brazilian and began my career in international education in Brazil. For the past 22 years, I have worked at the Bavarian International School. I hold a bachelor’s... Read More →

Saturday September 19, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CEST
0.241 Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471 Potsdam

One-Hour Workshop

Audience Whole school for educators
Subject Transdisciplinary (teaching pedagogy & Methodology)

5:15pm CEST

Unlocking the Power of Data: Insights and Collaboration for Educators

Saturday September 19, 2026 5:15pm - 6:15pm CEST

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The AGIS Data Usage Working Group aims to create a collaborative space for educators to explore how different types of data can be used thoughtfully to support student learning and inform school improvement. Participants will have the opportunity to share practices from their schools, discuss approaches to collecting and interpreting data, and reflect on how data can meaningfully inform teaching, learning, and decision-making. The group will also serve as a network for ongoing collaboration among AGIS educators. We hope to begin this work with our first face-to-face meeting at the upcoming AGIS Conference.

Learning OutcomesParticipants will deepen their understanding of data-informed practice and gain insights into how different schools collect, organize, and use data to support student learning. The working group aims to foster collaboration across AGIS schools, encourage reflective dialogue around data use, and support educators in developing practical approaches for using data to inform teaching, learning, and school development.Participants will deepen their understanding of data-informed practice and gain insights into how different schools collect, organize, and use data to support student learning. The working group aims to foster collaboration across AGIS schools, encourage reflective dialogue around data use, and support educators in developing practical approaches for using data to inform teaching, learning, and school development.

Speakers

Merve Korkmaz

Lower School Assistant Principal, International School of Stuttgart

Merve Korkmaz is an experienced international school leader with over 16 years in education. Her work focuses on curriculum design, leadership development, and school improvement, and she is known for bridging strategic vision with practical classroom practice to support sustainable... Read More →