Panthers of ISKL #262: Franny Bakker - The LCE Expert
“What I'll miss most about ISKL are the students and my wonderful colleagues on the LCE team. Having the opportunity to work with students over multiple years allows me to build strong connections with them and witness their growth. As for my colleagues, I feel fortunate to work alongside such knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated professionals.”
Meet Franny Bakker, an Elementary School (ES) Life-Centered Education (LCE) educator at ISKL. Franny, originally from The Netherlands, brings a genuine passion for teaching, collaboration, and lifelong learning to her work. Her background includes Psychomotor Therapy, Education, and even circus training, making her journey unique.
Franny is passionate about inclusion and empowering students, which led her to ISKL in 2019, where she became a valued member of the ES LCE team. As she prepares for her next adventure in Nairobi, we celebrate her contributions and learn about her inspirations inside and outside the classroom.
Here is Franny’s story:
Please tell us more about yourself.
I was born in the Netherlands, near the Belgian border, in a region where my family’s roots run deep for generations. However, from a young age, I always felt a strong desire to explore the world beyond the low, flat lands. I dreamed of living overseas, discovering diverse landscapes, learning about different cultures, and contributing to communities far from home.
After finishing high school, I found a university program that combined two of my greatest passions: sports and child psychiatric care. This led me to pursue a degree in Psychomotor Therapy. Later, I expanded my qualifications by earning a degree in Education.
Between my studies and early professional years, I also had the unique opportunity to work as a circus trainer. We traveled across the Netherlands and to various parts of the world, leading social circus projects aimed at promoting inclusion for people with disabilities.
Professionally, I began my career in The Netherlands, working in the field of child psychiatry as both a teacher and therapist. My international teaching journey began in Cairo, followed by roles in Accra and Kuala Lumpur.
When and why did you join ISKL?
I joined ISKL in 2019. I chose ISKL because of its drive to create an inclusive educational environment, including the LCE department.
Can you tell us more about your position as a LCE Teacher in ES? What are your daily activities?
Let me start by saying that my role keeps me on my feet—both literally and figuratively—as I walk to and from every corner of the ES. I work with students ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Since our goal is to ensure that all students are included in their homerooms as much as possible, a lot of my work happens outside of my own classroom.
Ultimately, I aim to empower students to become increasingly independent by equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in all settings. The goal is to shift the support gradually from the LCE team to other ISKL educators, as well as peer support, if appropriate.
Achieving this requires a lot of communication and collaboration. I regularly meet with teachers, therapists, and parents to ensure strategies are aligned and implemented across settings.
What will you miss most about ISKL?
What I’ll miss most about ISKL are the students and my wonderful colleagues on the LCE team. Having the opportunity to work with students over multiple years allows me to build strong connections with them and witness their growth.
As for my colleagues, I feel fortunate to work alongside such knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated professionals.
What are your plans once you leave ISKL?
My plan is to take the L away… I will be moving to Nairobi to work at ISK!
Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?
After work, I love being active with my hubby and our twins, whether inline skating, cycling, rock climbing, or exploring a new part of the city together.
My biggest passion is hiking. I’ve grown to know KL’s surrounding hills like the back of my hand— with a little help from the AllTrails app, which sometimes gives me a nudge in the right direction.
Before moving to Malaysia, I wasn’t sure the jungle would be my kind of place, but I quickly fell in love with Malaysia’s incredible rainforests. Every hike feels like a new adventure, from the peacock ferns and waterfalls to the massive monkey ladder vines, hidden turtles, bamboo forests, and breathtaking lookouts.
Who or what inspires you?
In my journey as an inclusion teacher, ISKL has been a valuable source of inspiration, especially in supporting students' social and emotional development. I’m enriched by the educators at ISKL with whom I have collaborated with, and I also enjoyed diving into ISKL’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and resources. What inspires me most is the opportunity to step into a wide variety of classrooms.
Every teacher brings unique talents, perspectives, and creativity to their work, and I’m always learning something new. Whether it’s a fresh strategy, an innovative approach, or simply witnessing their rapport with students, I walk out of every classroom with a nugget of joy and inspiration.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.