Dr. Eric Sands joined the Consulting Services Team as Senior Consultant in September 2020. Dr. Sands brings several competencies to the CSD team that mirror developments in the international schools’ world. His tenure (2016 – 2020) at Stamford American International School, Singapore (SAIS) was tailored towards leading a large school (+3000 students) while operating within a proprietary model as part of a schools group. These three features are of increasing significance in the world of international education. In addition to these management attributes, he has led well-known non-profit schools including Qatar Academy, Doha (Director), International School of Belgrade (Director) and Taipei American School (Upper School Principal).
As Director for The International School of Belgrade, Serbia (ISB), Eric reversed a half million U.S. dollar deficit and turned it into an operational reserve of six months. As Director of Qatar Academy, Doha, while overseeing an operational budget of 140 million QAR, he worked to expand the student population from 1,455 to 1,800 within three years. At SAIS he made improvements to the school’s Bilingual and Mother Tongue K-12 Programs and oversaw a budget of 90 million SGD, expanding student population over three years from 2,859 to 3,264. At each of these schools, he worked closely with the school community to develop student-centered, far reaching strategic plans.
Dr. Sands’ own education has served him well. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Iowa before earning a Master of Educational Administration from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education Leadership & Policy from the University of South Carolina. Eric is married to Patricia, and their two adult children are educators in the United States.