by LYIS
Last week, Leading Your International School had the fortune of visiting ISA Wuhan International School to meet with the ISA Tianhe International School Head, Elizabeth Jones. During our talk, Beth shared some fabulous insights about international school leadership and her deep respect and admiration for the company she has been with for almost a decade.
Beth started off by telling me how much she enjoys her visits to Wuhan and what a great city it is. It isn’t long before I begin to understand her passion and her desire for every child to succeed.
Beth’s role continues to focus on the ongoing development of academic standards and excellence. She always tries to “make decisions based on the impact that they have on children”. Sound advice for any aspirational international school principal. Lesson plans, I hear, should be adaptable. “Children can be creative and should be encouraged to explore their own interests”, she adds.
Beth’s extensive knowledge of language development has helped to ensure that English and the way it is taught enables students to communicate, articulate and be confident speakers from an increasingly early age. “When parents can see what our Year 5 students can do, they are always delighted”, she tells me.
As we talk deeper about teaching practice, I learn about the importance of making learning ‘active’ and bringing concepts to life that students can touch and experience within their range of senses. At her Tianhe campus, every day at 9:15 am, Beth welcomes a group of students in her office to congratulate them on their progress.
Similar to what we have heard from other international school leaders, there is a growing balance in how schools both prioritise academic rigour and, yet, at the same time, seek to grow the quality of their overall holistic and wellbeing programmes.
I asked Beth what she looks for in teachers and she responded, “They have to enjoy the job and what they do…I look for teachers who have a deep level of respect and ultimately will share the values of the school in what they do”.
ISA – or Inquire, Succeed and Act is a wonderful motto that is evident in the group’s wider charitable work. I was given a campus tour by our very own Leadership Your International School member, Timothy John Glare. The campus itself is a modern-day feat of architectural design and what is possible.
LYIS extends its appreciation to Elizabeth Jones and Timothy Glare for taking the time to meet with us and discuss the ISA Schools and their ideas and experiences within leadership.
If you are a school leader and would like Leading Your International School to visit your school, or if you are interested in becoming a member, email: andre@leadingyourinternationalschool.com
