Shanghai American School Shanghai, China High School Principal−Puxi Campus July 1, 2017 www.saschina.org
The Position
Mission Statement Shanghai American School inspires in all students: • A lifelong passion for learning • A commitment to act with integrity and compassion • The courage to live their dreams.
Core Values We believe that: • Embracing diversity enriches individuals and communities • Acts of compassion and generosity of spirit create a better world • When individuals take responsibility for their own decisions, they are empowered to make positive impact • Each individual has intrinsic value and the potential to contribute to society • Collaboration is key to overcoming complex challenges and achieving common goals • Integrity is the foundation of enduring rela¬tionships, quality institutions, and well- func-tioning communities • As global citizens we have a duty to care for the earth and its inhabitants to ensure the well-being of humankind • Creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for learning are essential to personal fulfillment and to meet the challenges of the future.
Located on two campuses on either side of the Huangpu River in the heart of Shanghai, Shanghai American School (SAS) is China’s largest international school, enrolling nearly 3,000 students from 40 countries. For over 100 years, the school has prided itself in being a toptier benchmark school in China and the world. Its vibrant community is characterized by students who are endowed with a lifelong passion for learning, with integrity and compassion, and with the courage to live their dreams. Ninety-eight percent of SAS graduates go on to enroll at some of the most selective colleges and universities in the world, fully prepared for the next steps in their educational journeys after their time at SAS. To further strengthen its team, the school now seeks a committed and enthusiastic High School Principal for the Puxi Campus who will contribute to advancing the school’s mission and values. The High School Principal serves in all matters as the Educational and Community Leader of the High School. The Principal ensures that all programs and practices of the faculty and staff support the school’s mission and philosophy, as well as the High School’s vision that on a day-to-day basis, all students are provided with an exceptional academic program, a supportive environment, and diverse opportunities to grow and excel. The successful candidate will be an experienced educator who will act as the instructional leader of the High School and gain the respect and confidence of all constituencies of the school.
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School History Established in 1912 and one of the oldest international schools in the world, Shanghai American School continues a long legacy of educational excellence with an extraordinary array of academic programs and extracurricular activities. SAS serves Shanghai’s expatriate community, and the vast majority of students hold foreign passports. Already outstanding educational opportunities are constantly enhanced in this self-reflective culture. SAS offers its students a comprehensive educational program from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on two state-of- the-art campuses. Educational technology, libraries, laboratories, playing fields, and other learning resources are among the best in the world. Located on both sides of the sprawling city of Shanghai, the two SAS campuses serve as educational and cultural centers for much of the expatriate community in Shanghai. Since 1993, growth and enrollment have been dramatic, driven mostly by the rapid increase in Shanghai’s international business community. Shanghai American School has a long history in China’s largest metropolis. When SAS first opened its doors on September 17, 1912, the school boasted 38 students. By the 1920s, SAS had attracted over 500 students in grades K-12. Students came from expatriate missionary, diplomatic, and business families. Many of them went on to distinguished careers in academia, research, medicine, or diplomatic work. SAS closed in 1950, following the change in government in China.
The school reopened in 1980 on the grounds of the U.S. Consulate General. A growing foreign community and expanding foreign business activity quickly drew increased enrollment, prompting a move in 1989 to the campus of the Shanghai Number 3 Girls’ Middle School. When that campus became too small, SAS gradually moved to new locations—one in suburban Zhudi, in Puxi (the west side of Shanghai), and the other on the east, or Pudong, side of the Huangpu River. The school’s growth since then has been tremendous: from approximately 20 students when it reopened in 1980, it is currently nearly 3,000 for the 2016-2017 academic year. The first graduation of high school students in 50 years took place in 1995 with a class of six students. The concept of “one school on two campuses” emerged and was promoted beginning in 2005.
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College Enrollment The following is a partial list of colleges and universities at which SAS graduates have recently enrolled: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Amherst College Boston College Boston University Brown University Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University Georgetown University Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Johns Hopkins University Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology McGill University MIT Middlebury College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Pomona College Princeton University Purdue University Swarthmore College University College in London University of British Columbia UC Berkeley UCLA University of Chicago University of Edinburgh University of Michigan University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Toronto University of Virginia Vassar College Wellesley College Williams College Yale University
The 29-acre campus in Puxi serves students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The purpose-built facility features separate elementary, middle, and high school buildings; three gymnasiums; music facilities; a cafeteria with separate eating areas for the upper and lower schools; and an operations center that houses offices for technology and support services. Well-equipped playground areas supplement extensive athletic facilities for track and field sports, softball, and baseball. There are eight computer labs, a library/media center for middle and high school students, and black box theatre. A state-ofthe-art performing arts center and an aquatic center were opened in 2005. A new Elementary Library and Media Center was completed in January 2007. Over the last year, new state-of-the-art science facilities were completed, and the Secondary Library is scheduled for renovation in 2018. SAS is proud of its unique history and broad community of accomplished alumni who have made a difference in every corner of the world. Graduates hold regular reunions in the United States, and smaller gatherings take place annually in April at the time of the Alumni Lecture series on both SAS campuses. Renewed outreach efforts are underway to engage the burgeoning population of graduates from the post-1980 era. The school’s centennial festivities in 2012 gave SAS the opportunity to celebrate both a rich past and a promising future. SAS cherishes a long legacy of educational excellence and a reputation for keeping ahead of the changing demands of 21st century education. Providing the technology, creative teaching, and opportunities for real life and service learning continue to be of utmost importance to all of the SAS constituents.
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The School Shanghai American School is an international school with a comprehensive, American standards-based curriculum. SAS takes pride in its student-teacher relationships and a climate of mutual trust and respect is encouraged within the school community. Individual learning styles are recognized and teachers use diverse teaching strategies to encourage independent learning. Classes have a maximum of 20 students and a concerted effort is made to balance classes according to background, language, academic ability, nationality, and gender.
High School The SAS High School provides a rigorous academic program while promoting personal growth for all students. A talented teaching staff, supported by exceptional resources, provides the opportunity for all students to reach their full academic potential. The aim is to create an environment of high achievement without antagonistic competitiveness, where academic rigor and creativity are celebrated side by side. A core college-preparatory curriculum prepares students for further study and offers a broad range of options enhanced with an international perspective, including fine arts (music, art, and theater), foreign languages (Chinese, French, and Spanish for beginning through advancedlevel language learners), as well as courses in computer science. Students at both campuses have the option of taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program and Advanced Placement courses in 16 subjects. One third of SAS students take the full IB Diploma, one third focus on AP courses, and one third take a combination of AP and IB certificates. Extensive college preparatory support is provided for all students by a team of experienced guidance counselors. SAS provides students with opportunities to participate in interscholastic athletics, music, and drama. As a member of the Asian Pacific Activities Conference (APAC) and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), SAS students compete and perform with other schools from around the region. The Model United Nations program enables students to gain a better global view on a variety of issues, while promoting public speaking skills and personal confidence. Participants in these extra-curricular activities travel to events hosted by international schools around Asia. Cultural travel opportunities are also part of the high school curriculum. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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Shanghai, China At the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta in eastern China, Shanghai is halfway between Beijing and Hong Kong. Shanghai is the largest city in China and, counting the population within the city limits, the most populous city in the world. Shanghai has experienced unprecedented double-digit growth over the last two decades and has been named one of the fastest developing cities in the world. A global city and major financial center, Shanghai is also one of the primary industrial centers of China. The world’s busiest containership port is Shanghai Port. A cosmopolitan metropolis with a rich history dating back over a thousand years, Shanghai offers distinctive architecture, including some of the tallest buildings in the world, cultural attractions including many of China’s finest museums, and more than 30 colleges and universities. More than 150,000 foreigners live in Shanghai, mostly Japanese, Americans, and Koreans. Shanghai is well-known for historical landmarks including The Bund, City God Temple, and Yuyuan Garden, as well as the extensive and growing Lujiazui skyline
Opportunities and Challenges As SAS begins its search for a new High School Principal, it presents abundant opportunities to interested and qualified candidates. The school is a dynamic place to work and learn, and is truly the best replication of a U.S. high school in China. The student body is empowered and while the environment is very focused on academics, there are also activities and programs for every type of interest and something for everyone to participate in. For the faculty, the culture is extremely collaborative and morale is high. They approach their work with a team mindset and operate with the autonomy and trust given to them by the school. Learning opportunities are significant and the school is well-funded with abundant resources for teachers. It is a great time to be joining SAS as a leader. The next High School Principal will be charged to: • Define the dichotomy of academics versus innovative learning and re-embrace the language of excellence in order to celebrate both. At the same time, the Principal will need to ensure teachers The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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are comfortable with innovation and creative pedagogy, and simultaneously be mindful of student stress levels that go hand-in-hand with academic excellence. Create an open dialogue with a highly-active parent body. The Principal will need to be transparent, communicative, open-minded, and present on campus and at events in order to rebuild parent trust while meeting their often high expectations. Incorporate the High School Strategic Plan with systems schoolwide. The high school has a strong Strategic Plan that is morphing into a school-wide plan as other divisions are now looking at innovation and learning spaces just as the high school has. Create and integrate programs while ensuring their sustainability and easing fear of change. There have been many changes in past years, especially in terms of physical spaces, and the Principal now needs to empower change in teacher practices to best utilize these spaces, connecting them with measurable learning results. Address enrollment challenges. As competition from other schools is increasing, the Principal will need to find ways to attract new students, increase enrollment, and establish stability.
Qualifications and Qualities of the Next High School Principal (Puxi Campus) • Direct relevant experience in leading a prominent, high-outcome educational division or institution. • Extensive understanding of and experience with high school philosophy and research-based best practices. • Demonstrated commitment to creating and participating in a culture of collaboration. • Demonstrated skills and experience in successfully supervising and supporting teachers in the development of school programs and instructional excellence. • Demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders in creating—then mobilizing stakeholders to work collaboratively to achieve—a shared vision and targeted improvement goals. • Demonstrated ability to think, plan, and act strategically. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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Excellent interpersonal communication skills. Understanding of and experience with the integration of technology to improve student achievement. Understanding of and enthusiasm for experiential and project-based learning. Understanding of and enthusiasm for working in an international setting. Direct relevant experience managing enrollment, staffing, scheduling, and budget. Direct experience with and passion for recruiting and supporting the professional growth of highperforming teachers. • Demonstrated passion for nurturing a strong community identity where all stakeholders-staff, students, and parents-feel a sense of belonging and unity of purpose.
To Apply Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one e-mail and as separate documents, preferably in PDF format, the following materials: • An application letter outlining the reasons for your interest in and qualifications for the position • Current résumé • Statement of educational philosophy and practice • List of five professional references with title, years of association, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers Please send to John Chandler, Ralph Davison, or Fred Wesson, Senior Search Consultants, at: john.chandler@carneysandoe.com, ralph.davison@carneysandoe.com, or fred.wesson@carneysandoe.com Carney, Sandoe & Associates 44 Bromfield Street Boston, MA 02108
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