Nathan Oberkramer

Two years ago, I made a life-changing decision to move to Lilongwe, Malawi, to work at Bishop Mackenzie International School. It was a leap outside my comfort zone, but I knew it was the right step at the time. What I didn’t expect was just how incredible the experience would be.

Life update: I will be teaching in Luanda, Angola starting next school year.

This funding—less than 1% of the overall U.S. budget—is crucial for Malawi, a country rich in resilience. Some may argue that the Malawian govt should solve its issues, but that’s easier said than done when Malawi, faces systemic exploitation that hinders its progress.

A Cape Town vacation is a helpful reset.

To be a leader, do the work. To build trust, do the work. To build relationships, do the work. To make an impact, do the work. To have a strong mindset, do the work. To create the culture, do the work. To be a great teammate, do the work. To get better, do the work. Do the work.

We did 12 workouts in 12 hours to raise money for a charity called My Body Speaks, which is a fitness club promoting physical, mental, and environmental wellness among the youth in Malawi. @CrossFit

A healthy mind handles failure better. A healthy mind handles adversity better. A healthy mind handles critique better. A healthy mind handles success better. A healthy mind handles everything better. How you believe determines how you behave. Make your mindset your advantage.

Happy to three excellent players I coached a few years ago have their Senior Day. Fantastic young men and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.

“Some of the great leaders in history were not adored, but respected. My advice to leaders - stop trying to please everyone and do what you believe is best.” ―Nick Saban #TheLeadersMind 🏆 📚 amazon.com/Leaders-Mind-P…

“Our Be Kind” sign has been painted by local Malawian artists. It looks incredible!

Leaders are optimists. That doesn’t mean they ignore reality. It means they see the situation but lead with hope and belief that drives the team forward toward a better day. Pessimism and negativity hold us back. Optimism leads to better outcomes. Leaders stir up hope.

“Bet on people, not strategies.” #LeadLearnELPA

Malawi is a beautiful country.

The #1 reason a team has a strong culture with high standards is because the staff clearly and effectively models the standards they want to exist for the culture they want to create. People observe and follow the actions of leaders more than words of leaders. Skin in the game.

Disagreement does not have to create disconnection. Good people can disagree on an important topic and still respect and care for each other, whether they are close friends or total strangers.

Teachers can guide English language learners in using a variety of Google tools to make lessons more equitable and accessible. @edutopia @Eman_T_Magableh Using Google Tools to Support Newcomer ELLs edutopia.org/article/using-…

I’m excited to announce for the rest of this school year and 24/25 school year, I will be the Inclusion Coach & New Hire Coordinator at BMIS.

5 ways to strengthen teacher retention from @ToddWhitaker bit.ly/4324r2k