As a trained and certified International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme teacher, Chidiebere Obi Bi (Chidi) has long been guided by a clear vision: to teach within a multicultural, diverse learning community. With extensive experience at one of the oldest IB Diploma Programme schools in Lesotho, she advanced into the role of IBDP CAS/Service Learning Coordinator, where she helped shape globally minded students prepared to enter universities around the world with the skills and perspective to make a meaningful impact.
Chidi’s passion for education began early. Growing up in Nigeria, she would gather younger children and recreate the classroom experience, inspired by her own teachers. A high school chemistry teacher left a lasting impression, leading her to pursue a career in teaching that subject. After earning her credentials, she began her professional journey teaching the national curriculum in her home country.
Seventeen years ago, Chidi stepped into international education, accepting a position at Machabeng International School in Lesotho, where she would remain for 14 years. There, she immersed herself in a richly diverse environment, teaching students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. She expanded her expertise to include international curricula such as the IB and Cambridge programs, while also benefiting from robust professional development opportunities and a collaborative learning community. These experiences fostered not only her growth as an educator but also her connection to a global network of colleagues and lifelong learning.
Chidi’s international career has also deeply influenced her family. Chidi’s children have thrived in international schools, studying programs such as the Cambridge IGCSE and the IBDP, and going on to attend and graduate from universities around the world.
With the support of Search Associates (SEARCH), Chidi took her career even further, relocating to Kazakhstan to teach at Nazarbayev Intellectual School. Her introduction to SEARCH had come during a conference for the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), where she attended a presentation by Senior Associate Gez Hayden. Reflecting on that pivotal moment, she shares:
I was intrigued by how SEARCH provides support to teachers until they settle in their new-found jobs or throughout the recruitment process, and ever since I joined, Gez has been guiding and supporting me, to this day.
After three fulfilling years in her previous role, Chidi felt ready to take the next step in her international teaching career. In the fall of 2025, she attended her first in-person recruitment fair, embracing the opportunity to connect directly with school leaders and engage in meaningful conversations about her future. At the same time, she made full use of the SEARCH platform, exploring opportunities and submitting applications with confidence and ease.
Even when challenges arose—including one promising placement that ultimately could not move forward because of visa complications—Chidi remained focused on her goals. With the steady support and guidance of Gez Hayden, along with her own resilience, optimism, and trust in the process, she secured her position at KIS International School in March 2026. Today, she reassures fellow educators who are considering teaching overseas:
I have been encouraging colleagues to join Search Associates, and quite a few of them have joined, and some have secured jobs.
