Eight years that leave their mark.

For eight years, Headteacher Anke Käding has led the Deutsche Schule Medellín (German School Medellín) with a clear conviction: that excellence is not built solely on academic results, but on a community that learns, transforms and acts with meaning. Her leadership was a constant invitation to view the school as a living bridge between cultures, a space in which every decision had to answer the essential question: How can we learn better in order to develop well-rounded individuals who are committed to the world? “The headteacher is the face of the school”, said Ms. Käding, adding that “they must align processes, seek unity in diversity and maintain a vision that integrates the academic, the cultural and the human side of things”.

Leading a school between two cultures.

Taking on the leadership of the DSM (German School Medellín) meant that Ms. Käding was leading an institution with more than five decades of history and a great mission: to be a meeting point between Germany and Colombia. In her words the challenge was always “for the school to be a bridge between two cultures and for all processes to point in the same direction”.
This vision translated into a leadership style that understood the role of the headteacher as a facilitator between the German government and the Corporation, between teachers and families, between academics and administrators. During her tenure, institutional sustainability, adaptation to social transformations and educational quality were constant topics of her work. “The headteacher must be aware of trends, of what is happening in society and how all this affects the school”, she says.

Eight years of transformation.

Her time as headteacher of the DSM (German School of Medellín) left visible marks in various areas. Under her leadership, the Training Centre was consolidated as a space for professional teacher development and pedagogical exchange. From there, projects were born that strengthened student support and interdisciplinary work.
One of her most significant achievements was the creation of the School Development Plan, which integrated the school's improvement plans into a single document. This process, led by mixed teams from the academic and administrative areas and the Board of Directors, allowed for more collaborative and transparent management. “I always sought to strengthen participation and open communication”, she explained.
She also promoted long-term projects, such as the Workshop of the Future, a three-year initiative that involved teachers in understanding the German Quality Framework and generating ideas for adapting it to the local context. At the same time, she strengthened German language teaching and the connection between subjects taught in that language, as well as, promoting autonomy and self-management of learning as daily key elements, through Lernzeit spaces.

A community that learns and adapts.

Under her leadership, the school faced complex challenges such as the pandemic, which forced a rethink of teaching, technology and human connection. This experience gave rise to a new perspective on digital education. Interculturalism, inclusion and the emotional well-being of students were also priorities. From campaigns to raise awareness of the German language to emotional management strategies and education in values, she promoted an education that goes beyond the classroom. “We are not static”, she said. “We have to adapt, understand differences and take action so that students learn in the best way possible”.

Farewell, continuity, and the future.

With Ms. Käding's departure, the Deutsche Schule Medellín (German School Medellín) closes one chapter, but also opens a new one that seeks to continue building on what has already been achieved. Her legacy will live on in projects that will continue to strengthen academic excellence, multilingualism and intercultural education that distinguishes the DSM. Eight years later, the message she leaves behind is that of a community in motion, capable of reinventing itself without losing its essence. A community that understands that leadership, like education, is a collective action, and surely Mr. Arne Gudjons, who will take over as Headteacher of the school starting the following year, will know how to interpret this in order to respond to the challenges of the next six years. Click here to read Ms. Käding's farewell letter.