Leadership that Cares: Launching Guyana’s Community of Practic
14 September 2026
Leadership that Cares: Launching Guyana’s Community of Practic
Leadership that Cares: Safer and More Inclusive Schools in Guyana
Held on 14 September 2026, this online event brought together education leaders, practitioners, families, learners and development partners to explore practical approaches to preventing and responding to bullying, violence and technology-facilitated harm. The event also marked the launch of the Guyana Community of Practice.
The recording is available below. Participants can access the certificate activity using their platform account.
Stronger Schools Brighter Futures
Watch the Event Recording
Revisit the launch of the Guyana Community of Practice and the dialogue on leadership, safer schools, inclusion and coordinated action across Guyana's education community.
About the Event
Violence and bullying, including technology-facilitated harm, affect learners' well-being, belonging and achievement. These challenges extend beyond school premises and require coordinated action among schools, families, districts and education authorities.
The event was tailored to Guyana's education community, including school and middle-tier leaders, teachers, officials, families and learners. It connected national commitment, local realities and evidence-informed leadership practice.
The launch marked the beginning of the Guyana Community of Practice, a structured space for sustained peer exchange, professional learning, collaboration and implementation support.
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Stronger leadership. Safer schools. Brighter futures for all.
When leaders listen to learners and families, support teachers and act with care, schools become places where everyone feels safe, respected and ready to thrive.
Programme and Contributions
The event featured national, regional and international perspectives on educational leadership, school safety, inclusion and sustained professional collaboration.
Part I
Official Opening and Transition
11:00 AM - 11:35 AM
Welcome and event framing
Quenita Walrond · Moderator
Leadership as implementation capacity
Martín Benavides · Director, IIEP-UNESCO
Partnership, national ownership and scale
Lorena Solórzano Salazar · IDB Country Representative in Guyana
Equity, accountability and sustained reform
Ciara Cristina Rivera Vazquez · Country Program Officer, Global Partnership for Education
National commitment and policy direction
Ms. Mischka White · Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Education, Guyana
Part II
Guyana's Realities
11:35 AM - 12:00 PM
District perspective
La Shanna Anderson · Region 10
Recurring challenges across schools and the areas in which district and school leaders most need guidance, coordination and additional capacity.
School leadership perspective
Melissa Glen · Queen's College
Everyday leadership practices that strengthen safety, belonging, communication and teacher collaboration.
Family and PTA perspective
Nadia Hollingsworth
Building trust between schools and families when concerns about safety, bullying or online harm arise.
Learner perspective
Abhivir Singh · Queen's College
Practical actions that help learners feel safe, respected and genuinely heard, both at school and online.
Leadership that cares in practice
Dr. Mark Anthony Lyte, JP
Leadership as an ethical responsibility for protecting learner well-being, supporting teachers and strengthening shared responsibility.
Part III
Expert Perspectives
12:00 PM - 12:25 PM
Whole-school prevention and digital safety
Xavier Hospital · Team Leader, Safe Healthy Schools and Data, UNESCO
An integrated whole-school approach to preventing violence and bullying, addressing cyberbullying and emerging AI-related risks, and strengthening safe and inclusive school cultures both offline and online.
Leadership and education in the digital era
María Fernanda Prada Patiño · Senior Education Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank
Leadership, inclusion, relevant skills and implementation capacity in the context of digital transformation.
Part IV
Dialogue, Community of Practice and Closing
12:25 PM - 1:00 PM
Dialogue and Priority Challenges
Quenita Walrond · Moderator
A moderated exchange connecting Guyana's realities with the expert perspectives and identifying leadership challenges requiring collective learning, practical guidance or sustained support.
Why the Community of Practice Matters
Candy Lugaz · NELA IIEP Project Lead
Strategic reflections connecting the Ministry's national direction, NELA's leadership-development pathway and the Community of Practice as a continuing space for professional learning, peer exchange and implementation support.
Presenting the Community of Practice
Fernando Salvatierra · IIEP-UNESCO Community of Practice Coordinator
Introduction to how the Community of Practice works, the different ways members can participate and how their priorities shape its agenda.
Formal Closing
Candy Lugaz · NELA IIEP Project Lead
Final reflections, acknowledgements and an invitation to remain actively involved in the Community of Practice.
FAQ
Where can I watch the event recording?
The complete recording is available above in the “Watch the Event Recording” section.
How can I get my certificate?
Participants can access the certificate activity through the platform. Get your certificate.
What is the Guyana Community of Practice?
The Guyana Community of Practice is a structured space for ongoing peer exchange, professional learning, collaboration and implementation support among education stakeholders.
How can I join the Community of Practice?
Sign in to the platform using your account to access the Community of Practice, participate in discussions and explore members-only resources.
Continue the Exchange Revisit the event, access your certificate and take part in the Guyana Community of Practice for continued peer exchange, professional learning and collaboration.
