Students today are growing up in a world of uncertainty—shaped by smartphones, AI, and the experience of global disruption. In Israel, war and isolation have added deep psychological and emotional challenges for young people and their families. Education must respond with courage, relevance, and humanity. In this talk, I will share lessons from my work where we developed a policy blueprint for inclusive education during a time of conflict. Our approach puts inclusivity at the heart of systemic change, using frameworks such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and adaptive learning spaces to build the human competencies this generation needs most: resilience, empathy, connection, and critical thinking. A key feature of this model is the reimagining of schools as community hubs—bringing together students, parents, educators, and non-formal partners while amplifying student voice and responsibility for wellbeing. I argue that inclusive education is not only essential in times of crisis but also the key to shifting the educational paradigm for the 21st century. Herzliya’s experience offers a prototype for schools worldwide: safe, connected, and deeply relevant learning spaces for a generation shaped by change.

Authors:
Keren Frayman, Independent Scholar, Israel

About the Presenter(s)
Keren Frayman, Chief of Staff for Educational Affairs in Herzliya, is an educator, researcher, and policy leader. She specializes in 21st-century pedagogy, equity, and wellbeing, with global experience in innovative and inclusive school design.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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