A Cup of Tea at Yantai Huasheng International School
School leaders inevitably represent the values and spirit of their school. This is also evident in the title and role of the Director of Team. So, in the cold of winter, after a whole day of teaching, before Christmas, the Director of Team (执行董事) and his leadership colleagues stayed well beyond the school closing time for a meeting with Tuopu’s directors in their school
Mr. Tobin Holden, the Secondary Principal, welcomed us onto the steps and into the corridors of the school. The clean and colourful environment immediately strikes you as one of purpose and dynamism; world-class facilities are visible and support the provision of world-class education for a generation committed to ‘live, lead and learn’. Safety and wellbeing are assured in a spacious corridors, state-of-the-art classrooms and nice lifts for ensure inclusion and accessibility for all. From the security gate, the guarantees of safeguarding are in place; you are not allowed in without a member of staff to welcome and guide you. There are Child Safety and Protection: Code of Conduct, Policy and Procedures, and Intimate Care Policy along with School Counseling, Health Clinic and Healthy Eating as parts of safety policy.
We were welcomed with genuinely warm smiles – the kind that is not forced, and a nice, delicate and hot fragrant tea, served in proper cups, in a very cozy office. We were then joined by the Head of School, Mr. Elliot Miller and the Director of Team, Mr. Evan Vars. When you are in the company of humble and unassuming people leaders, who are sincerely welcoming and who commit to a meeting to discuss professional development for the school and staff, until nearly 6pm, when all teachers and supporting staff have left, you are in no doubt about their commitment.
The YHIS school leaders took us to a conference room, sorted our tech stuff (wireless connection to display); we spared no time in introducing ourselves and getting right into it.
During Tuopu’s presentation, YHIS leaders asked many questions. There was a clear sense of self-less service in the kind of questions the leaders asked; all the questions were related to the specific context of YHIS, and were driven by how Tuopu’s Continuing Professional Development fitted in, how particular needs could be met.
You feel that, at Huasheng, there is one recurring theme: ‘Community’. For the Secondary Principal, YHIS is about developing an ‘active student community with engagement in rich extra-curricular activities that support deep learning connections’. The delivery on their mission rests upon ‘close-knit faculty members with a very strong sense of community support’.
The importance of community is also shared by the Director of Team: ‘Teaching at Huasheng is a joy because teachers join a community of professionals who are committed to their craft, to student growth and development. Teachers are part of a team who care for their students and want to see them reach their full potential.’
There is inclusion at YHIS, with ‘a strong ESL department to provide support for second language learners as well as training and tools for teachers to engage their second language learners more effectively. YHIS also has a learning support department to provide focused instruction and support for students who have fallen behind grade level in reading and math or have an identified learning need.’
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It is important for Tuopu to know a school and establish common grounds with school leaders in order to best support them in meeting their specific needs. Tuopu CPD suite must complement what a school already has in place to drive school improvement. This also means understanding the school’s priorities. So, it is fitting to also share what a YHIS offers to support growth and improvement - in addition to leaders being models of their values in everyday life: ‘Because YHIS is focused on student growth and transformation, we know this begins with teachers and equipping them with the tools and training needed to engage students. YHIS teachers participate in professional development meetings once a month locally through its association with LifePlus Worldwide Learning. Teachers meet monthly in professional learning communities with teachers of the same subject or grade across the LifePlus system. They also have the opportunity to participate in the LifePlus Educators Conference every year and have access to professional Coaching level I and II trainings and LifePlus’ leadership formation program. Teachers in their second employment contract with YHIS receive finances to pay for a Master’s degree related to education”.
At Huasheng, Continuing Professional Development is a reality because it is part of a holistic approach in creating genuine community and sustaining this spirit in the bodies of students, teachers, parents and leaders.
Tuopu cannot wait for the next visit to Huasheng International School. We sincerely express our thanks to the Head of School, the Secondary Principal and the Director of Team for the invitation to discuss our programs and services.