Founding Director
American School Hong Kong (ESOL) (China/Hong Kong)

Position Announcement

Founding Director

American School Hong Kong

Beginning August 2016

Esol Education, a leading international school operator, is seeking a Founding Director for its American School Hong Kong, to begin service in August 2016 for 2016-2017, the opening year of the school. 

American School Hong Kong

Set to open in September 2016, American School Hong Kong (ASHK) will be a non-profit, non-denominational school, offering an accredited American educational program delivered by highly qualified North American teachers. ASHK will be managed by Esol Education, an organization with a 40-year track record in establishing and operating premium international schools. Esol Education was awarded the opportunity to establish ASHK through a competitive bidding process conducted by the Education Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong. The school will serve as the showcase school for Esol Education in East Asia.

Located in Tai Po in the New Territories, ASHK will serve the educational needs of children from Hong Kong’s expatriate and local communities. ASHK’s holistic approach to education will promote a student’s full intellectual, physical, moral, and social development. A strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) focus will be a key characteristic of the school, along with a nature program which will take advantage of the school’s lush, green surroundings. The school will initially open for Kindergarten through Grade 6, basing its curriculum on the US Common Core. ASHK will then evolve to a full-scale K-12 school, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Grades 11 and 12, in addition to a US High School Diploma and Advanced Placement options. The spacious school site will undergo a full-scale upgrade and will open with advanced laboratories and specialty rooms, along with extensive sports and activities programs.

Esol Education

Founded in 1976, Esol Education is an organization specialized in the establishment and management of high quality international schools. Esol currently operates a total of nine international schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Cyprus, and Lebanon.

Each of the Esol schools follows an American or British curriculum and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and/or the Council of International Schools (CIS). Seven Esol schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) with some offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP).

Since its inception, Esol’s focus has always been the attainment of the highest standards of educational excellence. The Esol schools enjoy the benefits of experienced leadership and management, excellent facilities, and caring and dedicated teachers.

The Position

The position of founding Director of ASHK is a unique and exciting opportunity to establish and lead a world class American school in one of the world’s most important and dynamic cities. Esol Education is currently working on many fronts to prepare for the school’s opening in September 2016. Esol is currently conducting a major renovation of the Tai Po campus. Its educational leadership team is collaborating to define the vision, educational program, and desired culture of the school, and to recruit a first-rate leadership team and faculty for the school’s first year of operation.

Once ASHK opens, the founding Director will be responsible for managing its day to day operation, working with its leadership team and faculty to monitor and continuously improve and develop its educational program. He/she will have the opportunity to validate and refine the defined aspirations through execution in the school’s initial years of operation, and to leave his/her mark on its ethos and culture.

The Director will report regularly to the school’s governing board, which will be composed of members of Esol Education’s leadership team, on the school’s progress. The leadership team and faculty of ASHK will benefit from the support of Esol Education in all aspects of the school’s operation, including educational functions such as recruiting and professional development as well as critical support functions such as technology, finance, and communications.    

Qualities Desired in the Founding Director

The Search Committee has established the following desired qualities for the founding Director of the American School Hong Kong:

•  A proven track record in educational leadership, including at least three years of experience as the Head of a high quality American or international school
•  The ability to lead and work collaboratively with a large and talented team of teachers, administrators, and other school personnel
•  A strong and outgoing personal presence
•  Proven commitment to a well-balanced program that focuses on the whole child
•  Strong communication skills, with the ability to reach out to many constituencies
•  The ability to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers
•  The flexibility to learn and adapt to new cultures and situations
•  Familiarity with the International Baccalaureate Programme is preferred
•  Familiarity with college admissions procedures
•  Experience or familiarity with the East Asian/Hong Kong educational landscape
•  Ability to operate in a startup environment

 Application Procedure and Timetable

Esol Education seeks to appoint ASHK’s Founding Director prior to December 15, 2015.  Please apply by submitting the following materials to leadership@esoleducation.com no later than October 15, 2015:

1.  A letter of application no longer than two pages, explaining your educational beliefs, leadership strengths and professional and personal interests.
2. A current resume/curriculum vitae
3. A list of at least three references with current telephone numbers and email addresses.

Attention: If you apply for this position, please inform the school and us (Admin@searchassociates.com) that you saw the notice on the Search Associates website.