Volume XXXIV Number 1 Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A. November 2018 CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN SHENZHEN Shekou International School (SIS) in Shenzhen, China, has long been at the Amoco), SIS has grown from an enrollment of four to close to 1000 students, forefront of international education for expatriate children in the region. From representing almost 40 different countries and employing 145 world-class faculty the humble beginnings of a school created in 1998 out of necessity to provide and staff from 15 different countries. education to the foreign staff of four oil companies (CACT, Arco, Philips and (continued on page 7) NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPALS 2018 Congratulations to Tim Messick and John Smithies Tim Messick, elementary principals in by the Head Principal at the American principal of the American the United of School at School of The Hague since School of the Hague (ASH), States, who the American 2007. He previously held the The Netherlands, was selected set high School of The position Lower School Director as one of two international standards for Hague, Richard (continued on page 8) school educators for the instruction, Spradling, and 2018 National Distinguished student selected from Leading Educational Principals Award. John achievement, among several Nonprofits Form Smithies, elementary principal character, and nominees. “Critical Friendship” of The American School of climate for Mr. Messick Bombay in India, was selected the students, is a graduate of AAIE moves its central as the second International families and the Concordia office to ISS Princeton School educator. staff in their University where Tim Messick John Smithies See Page 5 The U.S. based National learning he earned a Association of Elementary communities. international schools that Bachelor’s degree, and a School Principals established From the beginning of are assisted by the Office graduate of the University of the program in 1984 to the Award program, two of Overseas Schools of the Oregon where he earned a recognize and celebrate outstanding principals have United States Department of Master’s Degree. Mr. Messick elementary and middle level also been selected from State. Messick was nominated has served as the Elementary INSIDE 3 Partnerships 9 International School of Belgrade welcomes new principals 4 Co-create authentic change 10 Reviewing the referee: Why We Treat Teachers Differently to Students When it 5 Leading Educational Nonprofits Form “Critical Friendship” Comes to Assessments 8 ISS Anniversaries 10 Top Ten Tips for Landing an International School Teaching Position 9 American Embassy School–New Delhi, India 13 A Director is Born: Former ASM Student Wins Film Festival Prize 9 Jane Thompson Heads the American School of Paris 14 An interview with Vicki Merlo 9 Mike Livingston is the new School Director of Yangon International School 16 Meet the ISS Senior Leadership Executives 23 ISS Owned/Operated Schools NewsLinks NEW POWER The Newspaper of ISS, By Liz Duffy Serving the ISS President International This summer, the ISS senior than I sometimes did of teachers school to be part of the community; School Community staff read New Power by across campus at the school I led, you merely have to be interested in Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms. because for some teachers who post international education and if you want Volume XXXIV • Number 1 • Nov. 2018 The book is an extension frequently on Instagram or Twitter (I’m to post, willing to open your classroom • ISSN: 1043-3724 • of a 2014 Harvard Business Review not a Facebook user), I get to “visit” door and share with colleagues across article that they wrote and that we their classrooms daily and regularly the world what you are doing. used to shape part of ISS’s 2016 see their students’ work. I myself use In addition to our regular social Editor: Janine Fechter strategic plan, namely our goal to Twitter to repost articles that I think media feeds, we also periodically foster co-created communities might be of use to school leaders and host webinars and Twitter chats Editorial Board among ISS educators, those who use teachers not only from educational to encourage further dialogue and Keith Cincotta our services, and other interested sources, but also from other sites collaboration. Earlier this month, Liz Duffy international school educators. that I follow, including design thinking, we ran our first Twitter Chat of Sharon Lawler-Sudell Heimans is a lifelong activist and management, sustainability, diversity the year focused on sharing our Laura Light the co-founder and CEO of Purpose, and international relations sources— dreams, and better supporting other which builds and supports social all interests of mine that I have found educators around the world. On Communications Coordinator: Aliisa Lee movements around the world, and often have relevance to education. November 7, we will host the second Advertising Coordinator: Loredana Lipari Timms is the president and CEO Some popular #issedu Twitter chat on contemporary learning of the 92nd Street Y in NYC and the hashtags are featured below. I spaces. I hope to see many of you co-founder of #GivingTuesday, which encourage any of you who would like online and thank you in advance for ISS Board of Directors 2018–19 has become an international day to not only follow #issedu, but also to embracing new power and helping Anastasia Vrachnos of philanthropy. use the hashtag on your own posts. to co-create a vibrant community of Arka Mukherjee, Chair Elect The major thesis of their book You don’t have to work at an ISS international educators. Cheryl Q. Xu is that people now want to be Craig S. Kramer co-creators and co-producers of On October 10, we hosted an #issedu #twitterchat and asked Jerry Casarella products, services and experiences our community about hopes and dreams for the upcoming John McGrath rather than merely consumers of John T. Crisan school year. Here's a snapshot of the popular words and them. Such a transformation has hashtags generated from the event. John Taylor been made possible by Web 2.0 and Joshua Palau other social tools and platforms and Popular Words: Liz Dibble will continue to evolve both as the Liz Duffy, ISS President technology become more developed Marcus Mabry (think virtual reality, augmented reality Mark Schorpion and blockchains) and as we become Peter Vermeulen, Chair more sophisticated and discerning users of them. International Schools Services, Inc. While Heimans and Timms are 15 Roszel Road, PO Box 5910 clearly advocates for the potential Princeton, NJ 08543-5910 U.S.A. and importance of new power, they Tel 609.452.0990 are by no means Pollyannas. In Fax 609.452.2690 particular, they recognize both that Email [email protected] old power is still appropriate in www.iss.edu many circumstances and that new power can be used for both good and bad purposes. The ISS Mission Probably the most extensive use As the nonprofit leader in global education, of New Power at ISS can be seen ISS provides comprehensive, customized, in the vibrant #issedu and @issedu student-centered services to schools and communities on Twitter, Instagram educators that exemplify best practices, and Facebook. Using those social catalyze innovation, foster collaboration, and Popular Hashtags: connect educators around the world. We are tools, teachers at ISS schools across committed to creating and supporting world- the globe and at other international class schools across the globe that educate schools are connecting to share students to be thoughtful, imaginative leaders what they are doing in their and promote global understanding. classrooms, pose questions to other teachers and educators, and point International Schools Services is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1955. For each other to helpful resources of more than 55 years, ISS has been dedicated all sorts. Participants also often to supplying international schools with share tips and insights about living everything they need to provide their students overseas, developing a career at with a world-class education. Headquartered international schools, and raising in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, ISS offers only third culture children. the best in staff recruitment, job placement, For me, following #issedu has school supplies and other services that help been a fun and easy way to keep position your school for success. abreast of some of what is going on at our schools and other international For advertising information contact: schools. It’s striking that I now know [email protected] more about what is happening in classrooms thousands of miles away November 2018 NewsLinks • Page 3 CO-CREATE AUTHENTIC CHANGE By Luke Meinen LEVEL 5 Coordinator, Riffa Views International School, Bahrain We were recently given the opportunity to create a second LEVEL 5 at Riffa • Synthesizing our ideas via Affinity Diagrams; Views International School in Bahrain. For those not familiar with LEVEL 5, it’s • Developing STAR proposals to assist participants with generating and pitching an innovative space that hosts events for students, educators and the wider comprehensive proposals; community (www.thelevel5.org). • Leveraging Futures Wheels to determine potential impact After reflecting on the development of our first location at Shekou We were also cognisant to activate social media during these events to International School, we realised how integral the community had been to each ensure the wider community could engage in the co-creation process. stage of development. Even though our engagement 4. Synthesize the wisdom process had been largely informal, the volunteers Once your event(s) is completed, set aside time to pour through the emerged from everywhere to solutions, challenges, and ideas that have been generated. Use affinity diagrams assist with the design, fit-out to group similar ideas and then discuss findings with your core team to ensure and operation of LEVEL 5.