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Appointed - Jane Magee
Apr 1, 2014
May 7, 2014
Position of the School Director
Vientiane International School
The Vientiane International School of Laos seeks a new School Director.
Effective July of 2015.
www.vislao.com
General Description
Vientiane International School (VIS) is an independent, non-profit day school offering a quality international curriculum from preschool to Grade 12. The school is located 2 km from the centre of town in the diplomatic housing area of the city.
VIS is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). VIS is the only truly ‘international’ school in Laos, and is one of a small selection of international schools in Asia accredited by both the CIS and WASC. VIS is also accredited with the International Baccalaureate Organisation for the Diploma Program (DP), Primary Years Program (PYP) and the Middle Years Program (MYP).
The school today has about 460 students with a very strong international profile of over 40 nationalities and 34 languages. The school has developed a strong mother-tongue program that reflects the diversity of its students. Students graduating from VIS attend quality universities around the world. There is a high level of parental involvement encouraged by the school. The School Board of Trustees is an 8 member volunteer group of parents committed to upholding the values and ethos of the school.
The school is in the process of preparing its next Strategic Plan 2014/15 – 2019/20.
Mission Statement
The VIS mission is to challenge, inspire and prepare learners for life. The school provides a safe, respectful, collaborative and sustainable learning environment, a high quality holistic education, empowers learners to be internationally-minded global citizens and enriches learning experiences through interaction with the Lao community and their international communities.
Our Community
VIS primarily serves the international expatriate community in Vientiane, which comprises a diverse community from embassies, international development organizations, bilateral development agencies, international non-governmental organizations operating in Laos as well as the international and local business community.
Accreditation
Vientiane International School is accredited with the Council of International Schools (CIS) and also the Western Association of schools and Colleges (WASC).
Curriculum
Vientiane International School is an IB World School that offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma (DP) curriculum.
The Position
The current Director, Greg Smith, will be stepping down from this role on completion of his contract in June 2015. The school is now looking for a successful and dynamic educator with energy, vision and the ability to motivate, inspire and challenge staff and students. The ideal candidate will have all the attributes that are necessary to build a strong and supportive team of educators for our children, while developing and maintaining a trusting and respectful relationship with the culturally diverse communities of VIS. The incoming Director will appreciate a previous era of remarkable growth of VIS and will be required to focus on enforcing the established fundamentals while embarking on implementing a new Strategic Plan and vision.
Job Description
The Director of Vientiane International School is responsible for its day to day management and general welfare. The Director also reports to an 8 person Board of Trustees on all policy matters and works with the administrative team to carry out responsibilities, which include:
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Implementing the Strategic Plan for the School and specifically assisting the Board with the review, on-going development and management of the plan.
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Responsibility for the financial management of the school, including the preparation of the annual budget for Board approval.
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Carrying out other duties that may be requested by the Board.
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Meeting the necessary requirements to sustain the accreditation of CIS and WASC.
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Communicate to the School community the philosophy, policies and objectives, as well as decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
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Responsibility for the administration and personnel management of the school.
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Responsibility for the implementation of school policies, as well as the development of new policies for Board approval.
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Responsibility for the continued development of the IB philosophy into the curriculum.
Required Qualifications and experience
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Previous experience at an IB World School in a leadership position.
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Proven track record of success as previous administrator.
Preferred Qualifications/Experience:
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Graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in Education or Educational Administration Administrative certification.
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Proven record as a strong decision-maker who will not compromise the school’s core principles and educational standard.
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Record of excellence in instructional and curriculum leadership.
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Prior experience in international education, especially in a developing country.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English language.
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Ability to provide strategic direction for the school, taking into account its international mission and its cultural composition.
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Ability to recruit and retain quality administrators and faculty.
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Ability to represent the school to the greater school community – the local government, and to the diplomatic and international business communities.
Desired Personal Characteristics:
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An approachable interpersonal style, a visible presence on campus and in the community.
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Ability to create a learning community in which all members have a desire to inquire, evaluate and challenge thinking.
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills that have been applied within a diverse cultural environment.
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Good time management skills and the ability to delegate.
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Ability to generate trust among all constituent groups and to develop a shared vision for the school.
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A proven problem solver
Compensation Package
Application Process:
Procedure for Filing Application
A vigorous search for outstanding candidates is now underway. We seek candidates who must be available for a July 2015 start.
The Board of Trustees has appointed Search Associates (Nick Kendell), to act as consultant in the search for a new Director. The deadline for application is Monday May 7th, 2014. Long-listed candidates will be interviewed by Skype. A short list of candidates, with partners, if appropriate, will have the opportunity to meet with faculty, parents, students and non-teaching staff in Vientiane. The Board hopes to make an appointment no later than September 2014.
While it is the intention of the Board to make an appointment as soon as possible after the conclusion of the interviews, the Board reserves the right to close the selection process and to make an early appointment, should the right candidate be found prior to the deadline indicated above. For this reason it is important that interested candidates apply at the earliest possible time. Search Associates will review applications as soon as they are received, and those that are selected will be forwarded promptly to the search committee for further review.
Candidates should send the information requested below. It must be submitted EXACTLY in the form and manner requested. Please DO NOT send any information, other than that which is specifically requested:
why you are interested in this particular position.
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A current resume not to exceed two pages.
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A one-page statement outlining educational beliefs and leadership style.
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3 references with phone numbers and email contact details.
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A maximum of four letters of reference which may already be in your possession.
Please note that ALL the above materials must be scanned into a SINGLE PDF ATTACHMENT (low resolution preferred) and sent to Search Associates at the e-mail address listed below. Also, please note that it is important to limit the size of your SINGLE PDF to 5MB.
Nick Kendell email: nkendell@searchassociates.com
