Senior Associate Dr. Barry Drake joined forty-seven schools and one hundred and fifty delegates for the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISA) Heads' and Senior Leaders' Conference 2014. It was held November 7th - 9th at Patana School in Bangkok, one of the largest schools in Asia.
The organization, originally named FOBISSEA, began in 1988. At that time, the Head of the British International School in Jakarta suggested that heads of British schools in South East Asia meet. The purpose was to discuss matters of mutual interest and offer each other support in delivering a British-type curriculum to students in that part of the world. FOBISIA has since expanded its mission; it serves as a bridge, marketing quality international schools to British organizations and companies who have invested in the region.*
Barry is the ideal Senior Associate to attend Search Associates' first FOBISIA Conference this year. Like most Senior Associates, Barry has been a past administrator and teacher in international schools. His devotion to international education extends far beyond recruiting. During his forty years of teaching, Barry spent considerable time in South East and East Asia. The last eighteen years of his school-based career were in Hong Kong; therefore, he has become the prime organizer of the annual Search Associates Job Fair there.
Well known for its music festival or the Primary and Secondary Games, FOBISIA exists primarily to provide a forum for professional dialogue. FOBISIA connects administrative heads and staff of British international schools in the region, supporting professional development, training, and contact. The federation promotes excellence in British-style international schools and provides opportunities for inter-school competitions and enrichment programmes.*
Barry's presence at FOBISIA allowed heads of schools and candidates to seek counsel and support from, not only a recruiter, but also an expert in a variety of subjects. Several common subject areas include school accreditation, IB programmes, teacher improvement and assessment, bi-lingual and bi-cultural education, and service learning. Likewise, by attending the conference, Barry was able to connect with old friends, make new connections, and stay current on news from schools in the region. Search Associates makes it priority to keep well-informed in order to better serve its clients. It is our pleasure to be woven into such a thriving community as FOBISIA.
*Adapted in part from the FOBISIA website at http://www.fobisia.org/
