Ben Thrash

at International School of Helsinki

Ben Thrash, Deputy Head of School at the International School of Helsinki, recently transformed a traditional homeroom program into a supportive, mixed grade advisory to provide students a more authentic support network and strengthen relationships across divisions. Ben has focused his career on creating safe communities based on meaningful connection.

As Lower School Director at Waynflete School in Maine, USA, he oversaw a division of inclusive, energized mixed age classrooms designed in the responsive classroom model. In his role as Assistant Head at Whitby School in Connecticut, USA, he integrated the IB curriculum with a Montessori approach to prioritize mixed age groupings to meet the range of learners’ needs.

In previous positions at the American School of Warsaw and through his work in US public schools, Ben consistently recognized the power of community that extends beyond narrow definitions of grade level. Ben’s approach to leadership prioritizes relational learning, building leadership capacity, the power of close listening, and the importance of taking action.