Lina Paumgarten - International Counselor & Psychology Consultant

Click here to listen to the Podcast: 51 min

We all seek to belong. It’s part of the hierarchy of needs. If you’ve ever moved schools (and all international educators have done so at least once!) then you know how challenging the transition can be. That feeling of not being sure where you belong can be overwhelming at times. At some stage, you may even have thought, “I’m really struggling here. I wonder if other people feel this way, or if I’m the only one?” or maybe, “I wonder if there’s a more effective way to manage all of these changes?”

Even if you haven’t been the one to leave, you may have gone through a hard time when a close friend or colleague left your school and asked yourself, “What could I have done to ease this loss?” Well, wonder no more! There is a tried-and-true framework available for schools to follow. It’s based on the Safe Passage Across Networks program, also known as SPAN, developed by Dr. Douglas Ota during his time at the International School of The Hague. In this two-part interview, we were fortunate to speak with Amy Shuflin and Lina Paumgarten, who have worked with SPAN and who have also developed a Student Ambassador Program Guide that lays out a plan for including students in the process of setting up a safe passage system to provide care for those transitioning in and out of any school - and even for those who are staying.

Amy has served for 17 years with Oasis International Schools in Venezuela and Malaysia and currently serves as the SPAN (Safe Passage Across Networks) volunteer Resource Lead. Amy is passionate about schools intentionally caring for the needs of the entire community (students, staff, and parents) and has integrated positive transitions-care into her work as a teacher, curriculum writer, social-emotional counselor, and chaplain. She is committed to sharing resources to be able to reach the growing population of TCKs/CCKs and TCK/CCK caregivers around the world. She has a B.A. in Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and is a certified debriefer and Youth Mental Health First Aider. As SPAN’s Resource Lead, Amy has authored both the Safe Passage Book Study and the Student Ambassador Program Guide. She enjoys meeting people, sharing coffee, making food, and spending time with her husband and two TCK children.

Lina previously served as a High School Counselor, Wellness Coordinator, Varsity Coach, and student-led program advisor at the International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile. After nearly a decade in that role, she took a meaningful sabbatical to focus on therapy dog training with her Golden Retriever, Josie; collaborate on youth suicide prevention projects with ISCA and Dr. Scott Poland; and begin her doctoral studies in psychology, focusing on suicide prevention in international education. As a passion project, Lina contributed to SPAN’s transitions-care work by recommending the creation of a student ambassador program guide, and thoroughly enjoyed working closely with Amy Shuflin on this initiative.

Over the past 25 years, Lina has coached athletes, taught more than 1,000 students and 600 parents and educators in mindfulness-based practices, and led workshops on emotional regulation, resilience, transitions, and wellbeing. She holds a BSc in Psychology, an MA in Counseling Psychology, a Master of Advanced Studies in Health and Fitness, and is a certified yoga instructor and mindfulness teacher.

When she’s not working, Lina enjoys exploring the outdoors with Josie, swimming, staying active, playing Rummikub with her mom, and spending quality time with friends and family. She believes in the power of small steps, honest connection, and embracing our full humanity through life’s changes—because change is not only inevitable, but also an opportunity for growth.

Amy and Lina offered a wealth of content information and practical strategies to support transitions for all members of your school community. They had so much to share that we recorded two shows with them!

The guiding question for the first show was: “How can schools build or enhance a Student Ambassador Program rooted in positive transitions-care?”

In this first episode, Amy and Lina shared:

An overview of the Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN) program
A description of how the SPAN program supports community arrivers, leavers, and stayers
Reasons why international schools need a transitions care program
Practical strategies for transitions support

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Educator's Going Global Contact Information: Website

Amy’s Contact Information: LinkedIn

This episode was recorded on July 13, 2025.

Categories: Transitions | School Life | Curriculum

Finding Our Way Forward Through Tough Transitions:

Click here to listen to the Podcast: 51 min