Menu

More Lessons From Bhutan

6 years later, change takes root and flourishes

By Learning Forward
Categories: International perspectives, Leadership
June 2015
In April 2011, JSD published “Lessons from Bhutan: Embrace cultural differences to effect change” (Levine, Telsey, & McCormack, 2011), which described the experiences of several U.S. educators who learned their own transformative lessons while leading professional learning in special education abroad. In this follow-up article, the authors reflect on what they learned and discuss their challenges and successes after six years of working with teachers and principals in Bhutan. It has been six years since we began our work promoting sustainable special education programs and practices in Bhutan, a small Buddhist country in the Himalayan Mountains. Working with the Special Education Advisory Committee, under the auspices of a nonprofit organization, the Bhutan Foundation, we have volunteered our time working as professional learning facilitators to foster

Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Log In
   

Authors

Alison Telsey and Laurie Levine

Alison Telsey ([email protected]) is a professional development consultant and licensed psychologist. Laurie Levine ([email protected]) is regional special education training specialist at Rockland BOCES in New York. 

References

Levine, L., Telsey, A., & McCormack, K. (2011, April). Lessons from Bhutan: Embrace cultural differences to effect change. JSD, 32(2), 38-41, 45.

Sinek, S. (2009). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. New York, NY: Portfolio.


Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


Categories: International perspectives, Leadership

Search
The Learning Professional


Published Date

CURRENT ISSUE


Recent Issues

APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING
April 2026

Cognitive science illuminates how people learn. This issue shows how...

LEARNING WITH AI
February 2026

Generative AI can be a powerful tool for professional learning design and...

WHAT STUDENTS NEED NOW
December 2025

For all students to thrive, we need to understand who they are and what...

LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR LEADERS
October 2025

Leaders need opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with peers just as...

×

Register your interest

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.