KEYSTONE ACADEMY Beijing, China

EXECUTIVE HEAD OF SCHOOL Start Date: July 1 2022 keystoneacademy.cn MISSION Keystone Academy is a new model of education in China. It blends distinctive traditions in eastern, western, and international education, creating a new world school with a liberal arts program that is academically outstanding. All our endeavors are framed by five shared Confucian values: compassion, honesty, justice, respect, and wisdom.

At Keystone, we embrace a world that is dynamic and ever-changing. We learn from and we learn for this enterprising, global, and diverse community.

Our keystones are:

• bilingual immersion in Chinese and English; • building character and community throughout our residential setting; • promoting Chinese culture and identity in a world context.

Our ambition is to share successes generously and to learn from failures bravely, to open our doors to many, and to engage fully with the world of education, and the world at large, beyond our gates.

Our students are hungry for opportunity, bold in their thinking, and creative in their instincts. They are encouraged to become expansive in their dreaming, determined in their actions, collaborative in their teamwork, and humble in their achievement. They learn to be stewards of the environment and to be at ease with otherness.

Our teachers are passionate about learning, rigorous in their standards, and inspirational in their methods. They are respectful listeners, attentive caregivers, interrogative thinkers, compassionate mentors, and world-minded citizens.

Our graduates will possess the intellectual, cultural, and ecological fluency to navigate gracefully the colleges, careers, and communities of their choice. They will know how to apply their emotional intelligence, character, and zest for learning to help develop and improve the communities in which they live.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 OVERVIEW

Keystone Academy was founded in 2014 as an innovative and unique school in China—and the world. A bilingual boarding/day school for students age 5 (Foundation Year) to Grade 12, Keystone is fully residential in Grades 9-12 with boarding optional for Grades 7 and 8. The majority of Keystone’s students are Chinese, with a healthy representation of other nationalities and a current enrollment of 1,600. The school’s founders consciously created Keystone as a New World School, simultaneously national and international, bringing together the best in Chinese, American, and international pedagogy and practice on its expansive and superbly equipped campus in the Shunyi District of Beijing.

The school’s commitment to bringing together the distinctive traditions of eastern, western, and international education becomes apparent throughout the school, beginning with the design of its campus, to the language immersion program and classroom practice, the structure of the curriculum, and the range of its co-curricular activities. The curriculum focuses on inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and creative problem solving in a rigorous intellectual environment, giving students the best possible preparation for the challenges of the modern, integrated world. Keystone is truly one-of-its kind in China and rare among schools around the world.

Keystone seeks to hire an Executive Head of School, to begin July 2022, who will succeed the Founding Head, Malcolm McKenzie. Among the school’s many strengths are the way in which its three keystones and five shared values serve as authentic guides in the community and decision-making. The new Executive Head will find a school that is fully enrolled, enjoys an increasingly strong reputation, and has a welcoming, kind, supportive and diverse community. Serving as the school’s academic leader, the Executive Head of School will work closely with an innovative and dynamic administrative team and faculty, who are committed to continued learning and growth for every student. This position presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to make a significant impact on Keystone by advancing the school in meaningful and strategic ways.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 Fast Facts Founded: 2014 Enrollment: 1,594 Students who are Chinese nationals: 1,475 Students who are foreign nationals: 119 Total faculty: 228 Faculty who are Chinese nationals: 98 Faculty with advanced degrees: 146 with master’s degrees, 4 with doctoral Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Scholarship and financial aid awarded: RMB 8 million Students receiving scholarship and financial aid: 48 SCHOOL HISTORY

In 2014, Keystone Academy emerged from a pressing need for a new concept in the educational landscape in China. A non-profit, self-governing, boarding and day school, Keystone’s funding comes from a generous group of founding benefactors who have provided the initial financing to create a world class academy. These founding benefactors aspired to create a new conversation about education in Beijing, and indeed in China as a whole. The school’s founders believe in the exciting possibilities inherent in combining Chinese, American, and international traditions of education in a bilingual and boarding context, and see this Academy as the “keystone” that will join and hold together in dynamic fashion the most powerful aspects of these different educational approaches. An ambitious institution, Keystone is focused on preparing Chinese students, as well as students from other nations, for successful futures in a rapidly changing world.

THE SCHOOL

The Keystone idea of a New World School is characterized by students who are curious, trained to ask critical questions, who reach judgments after weighing wide-ranging evidence, and who can learn to easily move, when needed, from one knowledge or epistemological system to another. A deep sense of public purpose and learning to serve also characterizes a New World School. Students and teachers are expected to learn all the time from the world, with the goal of applying their education to change the world for the better and to address the great challenges of our (and their) time. Above all, a New World School develops a positive instinct for difference and a desire to learn from “otherness.” Keystone’s ambition is to produce national and global citizens, who are comfortable in their local identity but also cosmopolitan and completely at ease with otherness. Specifically, Keystone prepares its graduates to have proficiency in both English and Chinese as well as academic mastery, creative thinking and active learning, technological skill, and intercultural communication and global competency. Keystone graduates succeed in higher education at top universities around the world.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 The faculty at Keystone is approximately split equally between Chinese and non-Chinese teachers, with a greater proportion of Chinese in the Primary School, reflecting the balance of language provision there. While many of the international teachers are drawn from the U.S. and other nations typically well- represented in international education—the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand—teachers from east and southern Africa, central and eastern Europe, and other regions add diversity to the faculty. An active faculty community engages in activities ranging from book clubs to swimming groups. Many of these bring together Chinese and western colleagues and enable all members of the community to build rich lives in their adopted home. For those who are not bilingual, a Chinese study group and other opportunities provide for Chinese language acquisition. All faculty, whether they are residential or day teachers, play a role in the wider life of the school and contribute to the community atmosphere.

Keystone is a fully active member of the Round Square network of like-minded schools (Roundsquare. org). Around 200 schools belong to the Round Square globally, and this membership offers students opportunities to attend and plan global conferences, participate in school exchanges, host visiting Round Square exchange students, and join joint service projects. Round Square is informed by the IDEALS of internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, adventure, leadership, and service.

Keystone Academy is registered with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and uses the IPC program in the Primary School grades. Keystone is an IB World School authorized to provide the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme (DP) in High School and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Middle School. Keystone is also additionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), in the United States, from foundation year to grade 10.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 “My children are very happy at Keystone; they love coming to school.” - Administrator and Parent

ACADEMICS

Students in Primary School (K-Grade 5) and Middle School (Grades 6-9) follow an integrated curriculum up to Grade 9, fully meeting the requirements of the Chinese National Curriculum alongside, first, the International Primary Curriculum followed by the IB Middle Years Programme. High School students (Grades 10-12) follow the IB Diploma Programme, with grade 10 spent in rigorous preparation for the Diploma. Keystone’s first IBDP class graduated in 2018, achieving an average score of 33, considerably above the world average.

Keystone blends the best of three educational traditions. A profound respect for education and a rigorous approach to learning are foundational to the rich and deep Chinese tradition; inquiry-based and discussion-centered pedagogy inform the American approach; and critical thinking, creativity and global mindedness are fundamental parts of international education. Woven through all Keystone’s programs is the Chinese Thread, intended to deepen student understanding and appreciation of China’s past, present, and future. The Chinese Thread connects Keystone’s ambition of being both a national and an international school.

The curriculum provides students with the opportunities to take risks, ask questions, explore ideas, and develop their imaginations while engaging them through active learning and rigorous study. In each division, teachers focus on building rich and inspiring learning experiences to help students participate in a changing world as highly competent and literate citizens. Furthermore, with the school’s deep commitment to project-based and experiential learning, students are encouraged to explore opportunities for service learning, field trips inside and outside Beijing, and other activities that extend the boundaries and experiences of learning from the classroom to the residential halls, into the community, and out into the world.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 Keystone takes seriously its commitment to bilingualism, which evolves across the school. In the Primary School, especially in the first two grades, more of the curriculum is delivered in Chinese. This balance shifts gradually in favor of English as students progress to higher grade levels. Language immersion and acquisition is closely integrated with the delivery of the curriculum. The aim is for students to be able to think, speak, read, analyze, and create, with fluency in both languages. This combination of bilingualism and biculturalism is a central feature of Keystone’s identity.

Primary School (Foundation Year-Grade 5) The Primary School program fulfills the important learning goals of Keystone by providing the social, emotional, and intellectual building blocks that students need to flourish. The school’s model of integrated education develops students who show a passion for learning and are well-prepared for secondary school. Each and every day of Primary School is exciting; students are always confronting original ideas, meeting different kinds of challenges, cultivating new forms of knowledge, practicing different skills, and learning in new ways.

Within the dual-language immersion model, the Primary School uses the widely recognized International Primary Curriculum to orient integrated learning in both Chinese and English. Academic disciplines are introduced in small classes of no more than 18 students through an integrated, experiential curriculum that fully explores international perspectives. Subjects taught in each grade of Primary School include English, Chinese, math, science, information technology, library, physical education and wellness, visual and performing arts, and global social studies.

Middle School (Grades 6-9) The Middle School program at Keystone is exciting, challenging, and full of new academic opportunities for students. Keystone offers a model of integrated education that develops the foundations for success in High School and university. Learning in the Middle School is engaging and demanding; students engage with universal concepts, learn through inquiry, challenge conventional approaches, cultivate new forms of knowledge, and master the skills that lead to breakthroughs in their own learning. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 The strength of the Keystone program is the consistent and well-organized emphasis on rigorous student learning in the context of both Chinese and international perspectives. The Middle School continues the dual-language study started in the Primary School but with greater emphasis on English; students use both languages throughout the day. Small class sizes allow students to explore a wide range of academic disciplines in depth.

The Middle School curriculum is a holistic program designed to promote students’ intellectual development, as well as their emotional, social, and physical development. All students are required to study all eight courses from Grades 6-10 as well as some Keystone courses, specific to the school, that enhance the Middle School experience. In order to be eligible for a Keystone IB MYP Certificate, Grade 10 students must meet an overall minimum standard of the requirements of the Academy, pass the Personal Project, and meet the requirements of Service as Action. The courses offered in each grade in Middle School are language and literature in English or Chinese, language acquisition in English or Chinese, individuals and societies, the sciences (Integrated modules in biology, chemistry, and physics), mathematics (Standard and Extended levels in Grades 9 and 10), the arts (drama, music, visual arts), physical and health education, and design.

High School (Grades 10-12) The Keystone educational model finds extended expression in High School where global perspectives, inquiry-based learning, and character and community building are cultivated in both academic and residential settings. Through all three years of High School, Keystone educational practices help students deepen essential skills in critical reasoning and research capabilities. The camping and experiential learning trips in which all students take part every year provide them with opportunities to connect and expand their learning and personal development. Teachers encourage students to make interdisciplinary connections in order to understand and participate effectively in their natural, social, and cultural environments. Participation in service-learning projects on and off campus puts learning into action.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 College Acceptances The Keystone Academy Class of 2020 received 380 offers of admission from leading colleges and universities in the U.S., UK, Australia, and across the globe, including the following representative list:

U.S. Schools Other Arizona State University Rochester Institute of Technology Aberystwyth University Art Center College of Design Rutgers University-New Brunswick American University in Bulgaria Babson College Salve Regina University Cardiff University Bard College Santa Clara University City, University of London Bennington College Sarah Lawrence College Coventry University Bentley University Savannah College of Art and Design Durham University Berklee College of Music School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fudan University Boston College School of Visual Arts Imperial College London Boston University Skidmore College King’s College London Brandeis University Smith College Kingston University London California College of the Arts St. Mary’s College of Maryland Macquarie University Carnegie Mellon University State University of New York at Binghamton McMaster University Case Western Reserve University State University of New York at Buffalo Monash University Centre College Stony Brook University New York University, Shanghai Colgate University Syracuse University Northwestern University in Qatar Colorado University Boulder Temple university Oxford Brookes University Columbia University The New School, Parsons School of Design Peking University DePaul University Trinity College Queen Mary University of London DePauw University Tulane University Queen’s University Drexel University Union College Renmin University of China Emerson College University at Buffalo Royal Holloway, University of London Fordham University University of Arizona Ryerson University Franklin & Marshall College University of California, Berkeley Trent University George Mason University University of California, Davis University College London George Washington University University of California, Irvine University of Bath Georgia Institute of Technology University of California, Los Angeles University of Birmingham Harvey Mudd College University of California, Riverside University of Bristol Hofstra University University of California, San Diego University of British Columbia Hope College University of California, Santa Barbara University of Calgary Hult International Business School University of California, Santa Cruz University of Cambridge Indiana University Bloomington University of Connecticut University of Durham Ithaca College University of Delaware University of Edinburgh Kenyon College University of Denver University of Exeter Lafayette College University of Florida University of Lancaster Lawrence University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Leeds Loyola Marymount University University of Iowa University of Manchester Loyola University Chicago University of Maryland, College Park University of New South Wales Marist College University of Massachusetts - Amherst University of Newcastle Maryland Institute College of Art University of Massachusetts - Boston University of Nottingham Massachusetts College of Art and Design University of Michigan, Ann Arbor University of Ottawa Miami University-Oxford University of Missouri University of Queensland Michigan State University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Sheffield Middlebury College University of Oklahoma University of Southampton Mount Holyoke College University of Pittsburgh University of St Andrews Muhlenberg College University of Rochester University of Surrey New York School of Visual Arts University of San Francisco University of Sydney New York University University of Southern California University of the Arts London Northeastern University University of Vermont University of Toronto Northwestern University University of Washington, Seattle University of Toronto Mississauga Occidental College University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Toronto Scarborough Ohio State University Vassar College University of Warwick Ohio Wesleyan University Villanova University University of Waterloo Otis College of Art and Design Virginia Commonwealth University University of Westminster Pennsylvania State University Wake Forest University University of Windsor Pepperdine University Washington and Lee University Western University Pratt Institute Washington State University York University Princeton University Whitman College Purdue University Whitworth University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 The language program in the High School represents a full transition from the dual-language immersion model. While most classes are conducted in English, students continue to develop their Chinese language through Chinese language and literature classes, electives, and the IB Diploma Program Theory of Knowledge course which is taught in a dual-language format.

Grade 10 offers a challenging and innovative curriculum that prepares students for the rigors of the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. In Grade 10, subjects include language and literature (Chinese and English), language acquisition (Chinese and English), humanities and social sciences, the sciences, mathematics, the arts (drama, dance, music, and visual arts), physical and health education, design technology, and Chinese Thread (Chinese Civilization plus a choice of Chinese Visual Arts, Chinese Dance, Chinese Music, or Wushu). Students complete the MYP personal project and also a Keystone specific China capstone research essay.

The school offers a robust and thoughtful college counseling program that guides and supports students in the process of selecting and applying to colleges and universities. College counselors lead parent and student sessions and meet one-on-one with students and families to address the individual needs of each student.

STUDENT LIFE

Community, excellence, challenge, opportunity, leadership development, and support are all words used to describe life at Keystone. Students and faculty alike see the community as a special place, full of academic challenge, the opportunity for students to discover a unique self, and the chance to learn by getting outside one’s comfort zone. Students are able to mature and develop character, scholarship, and leadership. They have the opportunity to forge lifelong friendships while finding themselves surrounded and supported by caring adults who, beyond teaching them, function as mentors and extended family. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 Boarding and Residential Life Keystone’s comprehensive residential life program is part of the boarding experience of every High School student and the students in the Middle School who elect to live on campus. High School faculty and all members of the School Leadership Team reside on campus. While Primary School students do not board, they are full members of the community that is forged from this emphasis on residential life.

The vibrant residential community is organized in a style reminiscent of American New England boarding schools. Dormitory floors have approximately 70 students with four or five faculty serving as dorm parents to provide supervision, support, mentoring, and advice, as well as organizing activities. The boarding program offers the chance for students to live together, learning how to lead and follow, how to collaborate with and gain lifelong insights from others, to resolve conflicts, and to become more mature, independent, and responsible self-starters.

Keystone Activities Program The educational program extends to Keystone’s Activities Program (KAP) and complements classroom learning. An integrated part of the Keystone program, KAP provides a wide range of interscholastic and intramural sports, recreational clubs, service-learning opportunities, and performing and visual arts programming allowing students the opportunity to try new activities or continue developing mastery of acquired skills. Activities are designed to meet the varied interests and developmental skill levels of students and provide them with opportunities for meaningful social, intellectual, and physical growth.

The majority of activities are run by Keystone faculty. KAP participation provides opportunities to enjoy activities with like-minded students, to explore exciting new topics, and create social connections. Teachers and students work together and identify areas of mutual interest in the formation of clubs each year. Offerings for Primary School include music and movement, makers space, chess club, creative painting class, swimming, and more. In Middle and High School, activities range from debate and student council, dance team, and garden club, to choir and orchestra, table tennis, basketball, soccer theater, and yoga. This is a tiny sample of a truly extensive program. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 11 “It’s the most amazing school I’ve ever worked in.” - Administrator

Service Learning Student participation in the Community Service Learning Program seeks to instill in students a sense of purpose, responsibility, and personal commitment to life-long service. Service programs offer students the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of others, both at home and abroad. Students build a commitment to: social justice and equity; embrace and respect diversity; develop concern for the environment and sustainable development; and cultivate a sense of empathy and compassion for all sentient beings. Keystone students may also elect to join other international service trips throughout the year to destinations such as Cambodia, London, Nepal, Hong Kong, Tanzania, and Australia, among others.

CAMPUS

Located in the Shunyi neighborhood of Beijing, Keystone Academy is situated on a striking 20-acre campus designed by Chinese and American architects and reflects both architectural styles. The main academic building accommodates the three divisions of the school in distinct areas, with classrooms designed for small classes of 14-18 students. It also includes more than 25 laboratories for biology, physics, chemistry, and robotics; three libraries; and art and design spaces. Facilities are purpose-built for each grade level with a sophisticated level of IT infrastructure and support.

Two multi-story residences face the academic building across the quadrangle. Between them on one side is a Performing Arts Center, and on the other the athletic facilities: a field, three gymnasia, a 25-meter swimming pool, squash courts, fitness and training center, indoor and outdoor running tracks, wushu and dance studios, and safe outdoor play spaces.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 12 Faculty residences are comfortable, well-designed, and spacious. In welcoming new faculty, the school sets up the apartment with thoughtful touches to assist with adjustment to the new setting and helps newcomers with shopping, bank accounts, communication, and transportation needs.

The Executive Head of School will live in a well-equipped and spacious apartment on the campus, as do all Senior Administrators. There is ample space for a family. As with all collegial and community- oriented boarding schools, living on campus has many virtues, from convenience to social to financial. There are about 120 faculty, some with families, living on the campus, and about 450 boarding students.

BEIJING, CHINA

Keystone Academy is located in Shunyi District in north-eastern Beijing, a spacious, largely residential area, with easy access to shopping and entertainment. The school provides weekly shuttles to a number of downtown locations and faculty take advantage of area amenities that are within walking or biking distance. Beijing is an extraordinary city, full of opportunity, adventure, and expanding horizons, and Keystone’s proximity to the Beijing subway affords convenient access to all the city has to offer. Beijing Capital Airport is a 20-minute drive away and most of Asia lies within a four-hour flight.

Beijing is also a fascinating place to live. It is one of the world’s most engaging cities, with 3,000 years of history and more than 21 million people. Covering an area of about 16,800 square kilometers, it is the political, cultural, spiritual, and educational center of China. It is an intriguing metropolis packed with exhilarating contrasts: futuristic architecture and ancient temples, an extensive highway system and a mysterious maze of hutongs (alleyways), thriving urban development, and captivating rural landscapes and natural preserves. The city served as capital to many Chinese dynasties, and the physical and social remnants of these histories juxtapose a thoroughly modern urban landscape with lush greenness.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 13 “Keystone has an environment of curiosity and appreciation of beauty in every sense of the word.” - Administrator

Beijing’s air quality is significantly better than in the recent past, and the city is no longer in the World Health Organization’s list of 20 major cities with the most serious air pollution. While there are days with poor air quality, the government continues to aggressively implement measures to reduce emissions. These have had rapid results and poor air quality days are far outnumbered by those when pollution levels are low: blue, clear skies are more and more frequent. Nevertheless, Keystone uses air and water purification systems to ensure high levels of air and water quality on campus.

Beijing’s climate is characterized by cold winters and hot summers. While the summer months, largely coinciding with Keystone’s vacation period, can be humid, many visitors to Beijing are surprised by how dry the climate is for most of the year. Cities at roughly the same latitude include New York, Lisbon, Seoul, and San Francisco.

Expatriate faculty and staff can certainly expect to experience some cultural adjustment in Beijing, but, very quickly, the unfamiliar becomes familiar and the city blooms in the mind and heart of those who embrace it. Prior research, being open-minded, flexible, adventurous, and patient, and having a positive attitude are essential to adjusting to life in Beijing and appreciating a breadth, depth, and richness of experience beyond that likely to be encountered elsewhere.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

• Continuing to balance and manage the interplay between the three keystones. • Improving the connection and collaboration between diverse community members, especially the Chinese and expat faculty and administrators. • Managing increased governmental interest in and influence upon Keystone’s operations and practices. • As the school continues to grow and change rapidly, creating and adapting systems and structures— especially around communication—to serve and support the community. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 14 • Increasing the geographic and socioeconomic diversity of the student body. • Improving the already-consistent communication and education of the parent body about Keystone’s program and its value. • Continuing to clearly articulate and connect the innovative curriculum K-12. • Improving the evaluation and professional development of the faculty. • Supporting the recruitment and retention of strong expat faculty. • Diversifying and expanding the Board. • Succeeding a widely admired Founding Head.

DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Someone who understands, respects, and is authentically interested in China and Chinese culture. • Someone who has international experience and is culturally sensitive and competent • Someone who enjoys connecting with students of all grade levels and who is student-centered in all decision-making processes • A community builder and connector • A strong communicator and a good listener • Someone with significant educational leadership experience with the capacity to lead, inspire, motivate, and empower others • A visible, approachable, and engaged presence • A strong advocate and spokesperson for the school’s mission and vision with the particular ability to connect and communicate with parents and educators worldwide. • A thoughtful and clear decision maker. • Someone who is visionary and forward thinking. • Excellent academic credentials.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position; • A current résumé; • A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice; • A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Art Charles Managing Associate, International Schools Practice [email protected]

John Chandler Senior Consultant [email protected]

Jennifer Christensen Search Consultant [email protected]

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