The following template letters may be helpful for you if you are an educator writing to your principal to convince the school to finance your attendance.
Please copy and paste and feel free to modify as necessary!
Dear [Approval’s Name],
I am writing to request your approval to attend the International School Technology Leadership Certification (ISTLC) program, Cohort 3, which will be held at the Harbour Grand Hong Kong from 5–7 November 2026.
A little bit of background about ISTLC — this is a certification program rather than a conference, developed by 21st Century Learning and guided by an advisory board of practising international school technology leaders. It bridges two worlds that are usually treated separately: educational technology leadership and strategy on one side, IT infrastructure, team management and change leadership on the other — tailored specifically to the international school context. Whether a participant’s background is in teaching or in IT, the program is designed to equip them to lead across both.
The program runs on a blended model, so the three days in Hong Kong are the beginning rather than the whole of it:
- A 3-day in-person workshop — deep, hands-on learning with expert facilitators and a cohort of peers from international schools worldwide
- Work-embedded practical application — everything learned is applied directly in our school context, not in the abstract
- A final Leadership Action Plan — a capstone in which I plan and document a real, school-based technology initiative, submitted with a reflection on the development process and key takeaways
On completion I would be certified as a Level 1 International School Technology Leader. The certification does not expire, and comes with a blockchain-secured digital credential, a digital badge and email signature graphic.
This is where I think the value to the school is clearest. Most professional learning asks the school to trust that ideas will make their way back. ISTLC’s capstone requirement means I return with a completed, written action plan for a technology initiative here — built during the program, reviewed by experienced facilitators, and ready to put in front of leadership. [Optional: name the specific challenge — I would focus this plan on [our device refresh cycle / our data privacy and compliance position / our approach to AI use across the school / our helpdesk and support model], which is something we have needed to address for some time.] I would also come back with facilitation strategies I can use to run professional learning for our own staff, and with an ongoing professional network of technology leaders across international schools that I can draw on well after the program ends.
Here is a quick breakdown of the costs to cover my attendance:
- Program registration: Early Bird $1,150 USD (register by 31 August 2026) — Regular $1,250 USD (by 30 September 2026), Last Minute $1,350 USD thereafter. All prices in USD and subject to a 5% registration fee.
- Hotel costs: Harbour Grand Hong Kong — Superior Harbour View Room at $225 USD per night — booking is done through the same registration link, and staying in the event hotel maximises the networking and collaboration opportunities
- Flights: Google flights search
- Estimated travel costs: (below for reference)
- Currency exchange rate: USD > HKD
- Recommended ride booking apps: Uber or HKTaxi
- Airport transfer: the Airport Express runs from Hong Kong International Airport to Hong Kong Station in 24 minutes, with free shuttle bus connections
- About the airport: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
- Program venue: Harbour Grand Hong Kong — a five-star harbourfront hotel on Hong Kong Island with convenient MTR access to Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Central
- Accommodation: Harbour Grand Hong Kong (the program takes place at the same hotel)
I appreciate your consideration of my request. Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Dear [Approval’s Name],
I am writing to request your approval to attend the International School Technology Leadership Certification (ISTLC) program, Cohort 4, which will be held at the Insel Hotel Bonn, Germany from 8–10 April 2027.
A little bit of background about ISTLC — this is a certification program rather than a conference, developed by 21st Century Learning and guided by an advisory board of practising international school technology leaders. It bridges two worlds that are usually treated separately: educational technology leadership and strategy on one side, IT infrastructure, team management and change leadership on the other — tailored specifically to the international school context. Whether a participant’s background is in teaching or in IT, the program is designed to equip them to lead across both.
The program runs on a blended model, so the three days in Bonn are the beginning rather than the whole of it:
- A 3-day in-person workshop — deep, hands-on learning with expert facilitators and a cohort of peers from international schools worldwide
- Work-embedded practical application — everything learned is applied directly in our school context, not in the abstract
- A final Leadership Action Plan — a capstone in which I plan and document a real, school-based technology initiative, submitted with a reflection on the development process and key takeaways
On completion I would be certified as a Level 1 International School Technology Leader. The certification does not expire, and comes with a blockchain-secured digital credential, a digital badge and email signature graphic.
This is where I think the value to the school is clearest. Most professional learning asks the school to trust that ideas will make their way back. ISTLC’s capstone requirement means I return with a completed, written action plan for a technology initiative here — built during the program, reviewed by experienced facilitators, and ready to put in front of leadership. [Optional: name the specific challenge — I would focus this plan on [our device refresh cycle / our data privacy and GDPR compliance position / our approach to AI use across the school / our helpdesk and support model], which is something we have needed to address for some time.] I would also come back with facilitation strategies I can use to run professional learning for our own staff, and with an ongoing professional network of technology leaders across international schools that I can draw on well after the program ends.
The European location makes this a particularly efficient option for us, with lower flight costs and no significant time-zone recovery either side of the program.
Here is a quick breakdown of the costs to cover my attendance:
- Program registration: Early Bird $1,150 USD (register by 18 December 2026) — Regular $1,250 USD (by 26 February 2027), Last Minute $1,350 USD thereafter. All prices in USD and subject to a 5% registration fee.
- Hotel costs: Insel Hotel Bonn — Regular Room at $100 USD per night — booking is done through the same registration link, and staying in the event hotel maximises the networking and collaboration opportunities
- Flights: Google flights search
- Estimated travel costs: (below for reference)
- Currency exchange rate: USD > EUR
- Recommended ride booking apps: FREENOW, Bolt or Uber
- Airport transfer: Cologne Bonn Airport is roughly 30 minutes from Bad Godesberg by car; the SB60 airport bus connects to Bonn Hauptbahnhof, with light rail lines 16 and 63 continuing to Bad Godesberg
- About the airport: Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) — Düsseldorf (DUS) and Frankfurt (FRA) are also viable, both with direct rail connections to Bonn
- Program venue: Insel Hotel Bonn — an owner-managed traditional superior hotel in the quiet Bad Godesberg district, close to local parks and cultural landmarks, with rapid transport links to central Bonn (5–10 minutes) and Cologne (around 35 minutes)
- Accommodation: Insel Hotel Bonn (the program takes place at the same hotel, which also has an on-site restaurant, wellness area and fitness room)
I appreciate your consideration of my request. Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Dear [Approval’s Name],
I am writing to request your approval to attend the International School Technology Leadership Certification (ISTLC) program, Cohort 5, which will be held in Dubai from 12–14 May 2027.
A little bit of background about ISTLC — this is a certification program rather than a conference, developed by 21st Century Learning and guided by an advisory board of practising international school technology leaders. It bridges two worlds that are usually treated separately: educational technology leadership and strategy on one side, IT infrastructure, team management and change leadership on the other — tailored specifically to the international school context. Whether a participant’s background is in teaching or in IT, the program is designed to equip them to lead across both.
The program runs on a blended model, so the three days in Dubai are the beginning rather than the whole of it:
- A 3-day in-person workshop — deep, hands-on learning with expert facilitators and a cohort of peers from international schools worldwide
- Work-embedded practical application — everything learned is applied directly in our school context, not in the abstract
- A final Leadership Action Plan — a capstone in which I plan and document a real, school-based technology initiative, submitted with a reflection on the development process and key takeaways
On completion I would be certified as a Level 1 International School Technology Leader. The certification does not expire, and comes with a blockchain-secured digital credential, a digital badge and email signature graphic.
This is where I think the value to the school is clearest. Most professional learning asks the school to trust that ideas will make their way back. ISTLC’s capstone requirement means I return with a completed, written action plan for a technology initiative here — built during the program, reviewed by experienced facilitators, and ready to put in front of leadership. [Optional: name the specific challenge — I would focus this plan on [our device refresh cycle / our data privacy and compliance position / our approach to AI use across the school / our helpdesk and support model], which is something we have needed to address for some time.] I would also come back with facilitation strategies I can use to run professional learning for our own staff, and with an ongoing professional network of technology leaders across international schools that I can draw on well after the program ends.
Dubai is also one of the most well-connected cities in the world for air travel, which keeps flight routing simple and costs competitive from most regions.
Here is a quick breakdown of the costs to cover my attendance:
- Program registration: Early Bird $1,150 USD (register by 29 January 2027) — Regular $1,250 USD (by 31 March 2027), Last Minute $1,350 USD thereafter. All prices in USD and subject to a 5% registration fee.
- Hotel costs: Venue hotel and nightly rate to be confirmed — booking will be done through the same registration link (for reference, the equivalent rate for the Hong Kong cohort is $225 USD per night)
- Flights: Google flights search
- Estimated travel costs: (below for reference)
- Currency exchange rate: USD > AED (the dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so costs are stable and easy to forecast)
- Recommended ride booking apps: Careem or Uber
- Airport transfer: the Dubai Metro Red Line runs directly from Dubai International Airport Terminals 1 and 3 along the main city corridor; taxis and pre-booked transfers are readily available at all hours
- About the airport: Dubai International Airport (DXB) — Al Maktoum International (DWC) is the secondary option
- Program venue: To be confirmed
- Accommodation: To be confirmed
I appreciate your consideration of my request. Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
