International School Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

seeks a new

Head of School
Effective July 2011

Three opportunities in Vietnam . . .

The Board of Management of the International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)
seeks a dynamic and versatile Head of School who, at this stage in the development of
this school, will have three special opportunities. The new Head of School will be
the key person to lead the school to:

1. Embark upon the next cycle of school improvement

The new Head of School’s arrival will coincide with the beginning of the school’s
next cycle of joint CIS/NEASC accreditation and IB authorization. The timing will
be ideal to lead the further development of the school, including :
 Extending 1:1 tablet/laptop program from current use in high school through
other divisions of the school as appropriate.
 Developing other programs for meaningfully integrating technology into
instruction throughout the school.
 Expanding recent “start up” initiatives: differentiation of instruction, First Steps
in mathematics and literacy, English in the Mainstream , Atlas curriculum
mapping, interactive Online Learning Community and data-driven assessment of
the learning environment and institutional outcomes.

2. Foster Vietnamese educational innovati on and cross-cultural education.

In collaboration with the Vietnamese Ministry of E ducation and Training, ISHCMC
has been developing an integrated bilingual program for Vietnamese students. This is
in addition to the school’s established program for intern ational students. In 2010-
2011 the Vietnamese bilingual section, City College Campus, will relocate close to
the international campus. The goals and the challenges are to:
 Develop a whole-child approach to learning in a Vietnamese context.
 Create a broader curriculum and a more international perspective for Vietnamese
students, while helping those students maintain their Vietnamese identity.
 Foster staff and student interaction between the international and bilingual
sections for mutual benefit.

These initiatives were strongly recommended in the school’s la test accreditation

report and the school’s progress in these area s could create models for more
meaningful cross-cultural education at international schools in Vietnam as well as an
innovative approach to foster internationalism within the Vietnamese educational
system.

3. Refine a future governance model for international schools.

In recent years the number of international schools has dramatically increased. As
"globalization" continues and middle c lasses enlarge in many countries, the number of
international schools will continue to grow. Most of these new schools do not and

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will not use the traditional parent-elected board model for governance. However,
many of these new schools have also failed in their attempts at alternative governance
models, sometimes replicating the very issues of concern found at schools with
parent-elected boards. For the past decade ISHCMC has been developing a more
effective model based on a company -appointed Board of Management and an
Advisory Council with community membership. The approach has achieved role
clarity and continuity. However, as ISHCMC matures further, this model will need
refinement. Here is an opportunity to work within this model and improve this model
that is likely to be used in international schools of the future.

The School

The International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISH CMC) was founded in 1993 as a
joint-venture company under Vietnamese la w. ISHCMC is a proprietary, non-
denominational, co-educational and multicultural international school providing a
broad based education for both the international and the Vietnamese community .

ISHCMC enjoys a very strong reputation as a leading international schoo l with high
academic standards and a commitment to delivering curriculum in an innovative and
dynamic way within a caring, supportive environment.

The current enrolment is approximately 1000 students. There are 850 in the
international section from close to 40 nations in Pre K – Grade 12 and 150
students in the bilingual section. The largest nationality groups are Korean,
Vietnamese, American, British, and Australian. Over 70% of the students are
non-native speakers of English.

The school is an IB World School and is authorized for all thr ee programmes (IBPYP,
IBMYP, IBDP). The school is recognized as a Cambridge International Examinations
Institute for the provision of the International General Certificate of Secondary
Education (IGCSE) and Advanced Level (A Level or AS Levels). Courses, based on
the national curriculum, approved by the Ministry of Education and Training in
Vietnam, are also offered.

School Mission and Philosophy

The mission of ISHCMC for both sections is: To foster individual ability.

The school provides a positive academic and caring, social environment that
emphasizes the development of the whole child, fostering individual ability within an
intercultural community.

The school is committed to instilling the attributes of the IB Learner Profile in all
students and staff and ensuring a continuum of learning across all school sections.
Collaborative planning and differentiation are key elements of the ISHCMC working
environment with an emphasis o n an interdisciplinary approach to instruction.

The school prides itself not only on academic excellence but in addition, aims to
develop the full potential and personality of students. The school caters for a wide
range of needs and stresses the importance of encouraging students to learn through
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discovery. This results in a n emphasis on all round personal and learning
development, which is so important for successful entry into other high quality
institutions world-wide.

Accreditation and Affiliations

The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and New
England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The school participates
actively in East Asia Regional Council of Overseas School ( EARCOS) and the
Mekong River International School s Association (MRISA); it is also a member of
AAIE, NASSP and other professional organis ations.

School Location and Campus

Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial capital of Vietnam. It is a thriving, developing

city. The school is located on a purpose built campus in An Phu, a residential suburb
10 kms from the city centre. The campus consists of general classrooms, science
laboratories, information technology centre s, library and specialist rooms for teaching
art, drama and music. Multi-purpose rooms/gymasiums provide space for physical
education, school production s and art exhibitions. Two major construction projects
are currently underway, one to provide additional facilities for the international
section and one to provide a c ompletely new facility for the b ilingual section.

Faculty and Staff

The teaching faculty comprises 105 teachers come from approximately 15 countries,
principally from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. There are 123 support staff
in the departments of accounting, purchasing, human resources, marketing,
admissions, administration and m aintenance.

Administration

The Administration Team comprises a H eadmaster and a Head of Section for each of
Junior/Elementary School, Middle School, High School and City College Campus.

The Position

The Head of School will:

1. Ensure responsible manage ment of the school.

2. Monitor the financial management of the school.

3. Assist and advise the Board of Management on the development of Board Policy.

4. Assist the Board of Management in the preparation, implementation, and

monitoring of a Strategic Plan for the school’s development.

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5. Effectively and efficiently manage the delivery of the educational program at the
school, ensuring that the educational programs and the operations of the school
reflect the school’s mission and philosophy.

6. Provide on a day to day basis professional leadership, supervision and evaluation

of the school’s programs and staff.

7. Promote and market the school locally, regionally and internationally.

8. Foster a network of supportive and mutually beneficial relationships with the host
government agencies, consulates, embassies, corporate customers, the
international business community in general and the appropriate Vietnamese
educational authorities and institutions.

9. Recruit, appoint, evaluate and dismiss all school personnel within the policies of
the Board of Management.

10. Effectively and efficiently facilitate communication and collaboration among

staff, students and parents, and ensure that all school groups are provided with
accurate and full information on all matters of concern to the m.

11. Ensure that standards maintained at the school meet the exp ectations of the school
community.

Qualifications

The school seeks a well-qualified, experienced Head of School with proven leadership
skills.

The successful applicant is expecte d to have the following abilities, qualities,

knowledge and experience.

Personal abilities and qualities:

 Ability to establish effective team leadership and working relationships with staff,
students, parents and community members .
 Strong interpersonal skills with th e ability to communicate effectively both orally
and in written form to a wide range of audiences.
 Cross-cultural openness and understanding, willingness and interest in becoming
involved with local and international communities.
 The personality and abilit y to quickly adapt and assimilate to the school’s
collaborative and dynamic culture and appreciate the host country ’s culture.
 Proven skills in international accreditation and IB authorization and relationships
and networks within the international educati on community.
 A clear predisposition and personality for nurturing a family -based school
atmosphere, especially as a school matures and develops.
 Ability to develop a clear vision for th e development of the school reflecting its
current strengths and upcom ing challenges – motivating and inspiring both
students and staff, together with the skills and resourcefulness to implement such
a vision.

Knowledge:

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 A strong understanding and experience of the International Baccalaureate
Programmes, general curriculum and current theories and practice of pedagogy
and assessment.
 A strong understanding and knowledge of contemporary leadership practices in a
complex school environment full of varying cultural expectations.
 A excellent understanding school development proc esses, with an emphasis on
meeting and exceeding the school’s educational goals .
 A firm grounding in planning and implementing the integration of technology
into curriculum and instruction through the school.
 A solid foundation in school business practices, with an emphasis on developing
and implementing budgets that meet and exceed the school’s financial goals.

Experience:
 An advanced degree in education.
 Successful experience as the head of a school of at least 500 students for at least
three years, in an international or multi-cultural community, preferably in the
developing world.
 Demonstrated experience of effectively working with a diverse groups of
students, parents, and staff with different cultural backgrounds and expectations.
 Proven planning and organisational ability leading to attainment of previous
schools’ educational and financial goals.
 Experience of effective supervision and appraisal of staff, including senior
administrative staff.

Terms and Conditions

An initial three year contract is offered. The salary, benefits and terms of contract
will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience sought in the candidate.
The candidate should be available to comm ence work no later than mid-July 2011.

Application Procedure:
Interested candidates should send an application at the earlier possible time but no
later than 31 August 2010. (The review of files will begin as soon as applications are
received.)
Candidates should note that, in the event an outstanding applicant is identified ea rly in
the search process, ISHCMC reserves the right to make an appointment before the
deadline mentioned above and to bring the search to a close. For this reason it is very
important that interested candidates apply at the earliest possible time.
Please submit information in the form and manner requested below. Please do not
send any information other than that which is specifically requested at the present
time.

 A letter of application, no longer than two pages, explaining your strengths as a

candidate and why you are interested in this particular position.
 A current résumé not to exceed two pages.
 A one-page statement outlining educational beliefs and leadership style.
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 The names, current email addresses and telephone numbers, and positions of at
least four confidential referees, all of whom should have served as your
supervisor. By submitting this information you agree that we may contact these
referees directly.
 Optional: Up to four previously written letters of recommendation.
Please note that all the above materials must be scanned into a single pdf attachment
and sent to Search Associates at both of the e-mail addresses listed below.
rittervis@hotmail.com
search.susan@gmail.com

Also, please note that it is important to limit the size of your single pdf to 5MB
(please no photographs, color, etc).

Consultant’s Comments:

I have visited and worked with ISHCM C for the past 11 years. During 1999 to 2006 I
was the head of a school in a neighboring country which joined ISHCMC in planning
and conducting student activit ies and staff professional development programs. Since
2006 I have worked with the school once or twice a year as a consultant assisting the
school’s Board of Management, Advisory Council, and administration in creat ing
their governance practices and in planning the development of the school. This is an
outstanding opportunity for the right head to help an excellent school reach its next
level of success, to develop innovative approaches to cross -cultural education and
internationalism within the Vietnamese educational system, and to refine a
governance model which we are likely to see increasingly used in new international
schools in the future. This is the right school for a seasoned head who seeks some
truly exciting and important opportunities in his or her next school.

-- John Ritter, Senior Associate, Search Associates

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