Intentionally Small Schools SIG Webinar – Small Schools, Big Voices: Cultivating Democracy in Daily School Life

10:00 (London time)
In a time when democratic values are increasingly under pressure, schools have a critical role to play in cultivating the next generation of engaged, responsible citizens. In this webinar, Ben Kestner, Director of The Learning Project in Ibiza, will explore why embedding democracy in school life is not just relevant, but essential. He’ll share his school’s journey toward becoming a truly democratic learning community, offering concrete examples of how students are given real voice, responsibility, and trust. Ben will also highlight why small schools are uniquely positioned to lead this work—and what it looks like when democracy becomes a lived experience, not just a lesson.

Ben Kestner (Presenting), Jeremy Majeski (Facilitating)

Presenter bio:
Ben Kestner is an experienced educator and advocate for student-centered learning, currently serving as Head of The Learning Project in Ibiza—a self-directed, democratic school where students take ownership of their educational journeys. With over 25 years in education, Ben has held leadership roles in international schools across Germany and Belgium, and co-founded Glacier Lake School in Montana, the state’s first self-directed democratic school. A passionate speaker and innovator, he was a key organizer of TEDxKids Brussels and a featured speaker at TEDxBrussels. Ben is committed to reimagining education by fostering environments that prioritize curiosity, responsibility, and authentic student voice.