Remembering Dr. Jane Goodall: A Friend, Mentor, and Inspiration to TASIS England

Her message of compassion, action, and hope has left an indelible mark on generations of students and educators.

Since beginning its partnership with Jane’s Roots & Shoots in 2007, TASIS England has empowered students – from Kindergarten through Grade 12 – to take positive action for people, animals, and the environment. The School received its first Gold Award in 2008, followed by three more in the years that followed. These honors allowed students to present their projects at award ceremonies, often in the presence of Jane herself.

Throughout the years, TASIS England students have continued to attend the ceremonies, learning from other schools’ initiatives and being inspired by Jane’s message of hope and compassion.

In 2015, TASIS England teacher Ms. Wendy Gediman was one of only two educators invited to spend seven days at Windsor Castle with Jane, members of the Jane Goodall Institute, and representatives from Roots & Shoots Global. “It was an amazing opportunity to spend each day working on projects with Jane and hearing her stories,” she recalls. “I was proud to share the work our TASIS England students were doing.”

The following year, Upper School student Isabella Harford earned the prestigious Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Most Outstanding Individual Award, a distinction given to just one person annually.

TASIS England’s connection with Jane continued in 2017, when she graciously visited the school to speak with students. Ms. Gediman was asked to personally drive Jane from Bournemouth to campus – a task she admitted made her “terrified” but honored. “All went well,” she recalls with a smile.

During the visit, Jane enjoyed a quiet lunch with Ms. Gediman and Jasmina Georgovska, the UK head of Roots & Shoots. Joining them was Ms. Gediman’s rabbit, Baxter, who quickly bonded with Jane. The following year, Jane featured Baxter in an article titled “Animal Friends Around the World” on her website, Good For All News, where she wrote fondly about meeting him.

TASIS England students have since been featured in birthday tributes, Roots & Shoots videos, and even a two-page spread in National Geographic Kids, highlighting their environmental projects. One standout project was the creation of a wildlife pond in the school garden, which won a special award presented by Brian May, legendary guitarist of Queen and wildlife advocate. The pond was designed in partnership with Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue, who helped the students adopt a rescued hedgehog named Guy.

Throughout the years, Jane's message has profoundly shaped TASIS England’s community. Her philosophy of compassion, environmental stewardship, and hope continues to inspire both students and teachers. As Jane once said:

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

Reflecting on Jane’s legacy, Ms. Gediman shared:

Jane touched all of us – her care for all life, her perseverance, and her kindness made a lasting impact. She will be greatly missed, but her message lives on in the hearts of our students. They’ve learned from her to take action and make a positive difference in the world.