Sinarmas World Academy Chinese Principal Vacancy

Sinarmas World Academy
Seeks an Chinese Principal
To commence July 2012

Sinarmas World Academy seeks a dynamic and committed person to take the position of Chinese Principal. It seeks a person with a commitment to progressive education, a vision for 21^st Century learning, experience in Chinese language programs, and has experience as an educational leader in international schools offering the IB programmes.

SWA/JWA Mission Statement

Empower our students to reach their full potential and become knowledgeable, confident and responsible global citizens’

About the School

Sinarmas World Academy (SWA) was established in July 2008, and is quickly becoming regarded as a quality with outstanding facilities and implementing innovative programs in many areas including Chinese, and IT. It opened a second campus, Jakarta World Academy in the center of the city in July 2009. SWA, which is located in the BSD suburban area in the west of Jakarta. As one school with two campuses, SWA/JWA has the vision of being a leading 21^st century school and is strongly committed to the IB programmes. Currently, JWA has an enrolment of 114 students Toddler - Grade 2 and is planned to grow to an Early Years - Grade 5 campus of 500 students. In 2012-2013 we will add Grade 3.  SWA currently has an enrolment of 475 students Nursery – Grade 12 and will graduate its first class of seniors in June 2012. SWA/JWA is a member of the Council of International Schools and is seeking accreditation with CIS/NEASC. SWA is an IB World School and JWA is currently in the process towards authorization of the IB PYP Programme. It is also a member of EARCOS.

In 2009, SWA gained the prestigious CEFPI Award for Distinction for best new education facility. This reflects the outstanding nature of the school facilities that have been built to provide a leading 21^st century learning environment for its students. The facilities include an Early Childhood Section, Elementary, Middle and High School buildings, Elementary Gymnasium, Performing Arts and Library Center, Sports and Aquatics Center.  A Design, Arts and Technology Center will be completed this year.  The JWA campus on the other hand is located in the heart of the Jakarta business district and occupies the 8^th and 9^th floors of an office tower. The facilities are intimate and high quality. The JWA facilities will expand in 2012-2013 to include two additional floors.  There are plans to develop a purpose built facility in the near future nearby.

The leadership teams across both campuses work very closely to ensure consistency of articulation in programmes and policies as well as working as a broader collaborative learning community. A wide number of support programmes are available to JWA from the SWA campus, with a number of staff visiting between campuses weekly.

SWA currently has a faculty of 120, while JWA currently has a faculty of 31. This includes 16 Chinese language teachers at SWA and an additional 9 Chinese language teachers at JWA.

In the Early Years classes on both campuses, a half time Chinese teacher is attached to each class to provide an immersion-learning environment. In Grades 1-10 students study the equivalent of one lesson of Chinese per day with the option of following an intensive language stream where they study an additional lesson per day. In the Diploma program, students select Chinese or Indonesian as their language study. Classes in Grades 1-10 are offered at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

To support the inclusion of Chinese culture the school offers a number of extracurricular activities that enhance culture studies.  Chinese culture is incorporated into the language program and is also supported by the Chinese Culture Resource Teacher. The SWA campus features a Chinese Culture Center.

SWA/JWA offers a strong IT learning environment. All teachers are provided with a Macbook. The campus is wireless and all classrooms are equipped with projectors. A range of IT tools including iMacs, iPods and iBooks are available to students. At SWA all students in Grade 4-12 are provided a Macbook by the school.

The Chinese Principal is a member of the SWA/JWA Leadership Team, which includes the CEO, Executive Principal (SWA/JWA), Elementary Principal (SWA) and Middle School/High School Principal (SWA) and the Elementary Principal (JWA) and Assistant Principals all of whom have extensive international school experience.

The upcoming vacancy represents a unique opportunity to join the leadership team of this dynamic young school at a time to make significant contributions to its growth and development.

Governance

The school is privately owned and non-profit. It is governed by a self-appointing board and the founder serves as a member of the Board.

The Background

The school’s mission is to ‘empower students to become ingenious global citizens’ and is committed to learning in the 21^st century. Within this, the school recognizes the emerging role of China in the 21^st century importance of Chinese language and culture to prepare students. The school also has a strong community base of Chinese Indonesian families who wish to reconnect with their cultural heritage, which was suppressed under the previous Suharto regime. In addition there are approximately 10% of students from China and Taiwan who speak Chinese as their mother tongue language.

The school recognizes that there is strong interest world wide in the study of Chinese in the K-12 sector and that Chinese as an additional language in this sector is at an early stage of development and is an emerging pedagogy and lacks a purpose designed resource base especially for international schools, and that there are many efforts in China and worldwide to address and opportunities to be at the leading edge of this development.

The school aspires to be a leader in Chinese language and culture studies and to work closely with educators in the region to achieve our goals to provide an outstanding Chinese Language and Culture program and to be a center of language and culture in the community.

The Position

The Chinese Principal reports to the CEO/Head of School and the Executive Principal who oversee both campuses. The Chinese Principal works across both school campuses and is responsible for nurturing the School’s vision for Chinese Language and Culture within the IB philosophy and framework and to manage and develop the programs supporting this. The Chinese Principal works closely with section principals, curriculum coordinators and Chinese Coordinators/HOD’s to ensure a coherent pedagogy and program and  takes a key responsibility in the recruitment, retention, performance management and professional development of Chinese teaching staff. The Chinese Principal also manages the school wide Chinese Studies Program Project in association with Peking University and the acquisition and development of resources and networks to support this.

The Chinese Principal also supports the Chinese Culture component of the school’s extracurricular program and is responsible for the development and management of the school’s China Studies exchange programs and summer school. The Chinese Principal is responsible forthe promotion of the program amongst the community managing and promoting the school’s relationships and partnerships with key support organizations.

Upcoming Challenges

The Chinese Language Program has a very high profile within our school community and upcoming challenges for the new Chinese Principal will be to complete the current Curriculum and Resource Development Project, and to manage the partnership that has been forged with Peking University and Han Ban to support Curriculum Development, Professional Development, University Placement, and Culture Exchanges and to establish a Confucius Classroom. The Chinese Principal will also support the schools’ efforts towards seeking PYP and MYP authorization and Accreditation with CIS/NEASC.

Job Description

Sinarmas World Academy is a young but fast developing school with a core of experienced and committed teachers. The school requires a leader to build on this foundation by working collaboratively with parents and teachers alike. The ability to lead innovation and development while best realizing SWA’s potential as a leading school is paramount. In our ideal profile, the successful candidate should:

• Embrace, articulate and model the school’s Mission, Values and the IB Mission and IB Learner Profile
• Be responsible for curriculum review, development and delivery
• Monitor student performance and programme development to support optimal levels of student achievement
• Continue the development of SWA as professional learning community with a common ethos and culture
• Plan and support professional development for Chinese staff so that SWA may develop as a leading school
• Work collaboratively with the school’s leadership team and champion the faculty to help create new paradigms and programs, achieve excellence and to ensure a cohesive school operation and development
• Facilitate and develop positive and effective communication and relationships in a complex environment with the various constituents of the community including the Board, parents, students, staff as well as the international school network at large
• Monitor teacher performance in line with SWA’s Performance Management Policy
• Present confidently and articulately in meeting with parents, teachers, students and visitors
• Work collaboratively with admissions and marketing personnel

Person Specification

The successful applicant is expected to have the following skills, abilities, knowledge and experience:

1. Personal Skills and Abilities
   • Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, students, parents and community members
   • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and written to a wide range of audiences
   • Ability to quickly adapt to a ‘new school’ environment and contribute to and assimilate to our school’s collaborative and developing culture
   • Proven skills in teaching and leading Chinese language programs and established relationships and networks within the international education community
   • Proven skills and abilities as a visionary who demonstrates leadership, resourcefulness, flexibility and creativity in identifying solutions
2. Knowledge
   • A strong understanding and experience of early childhood, elementary, middle and high school education, including the International Baccalaureate Programs (IB PYP, MYP, Diploma), general curriculum and current theories and practice of pedagogy and assessment, and school improvement
   • A strong understanding and knowledge of contemporary leadership practices in a complex school environment
   • A strong knowledge of cognitive theory and learning styles
   • Knowledge of using school student achievement data to improve school programmes, to inform teacher professional development and enhance student learning
3. Experience
   • Direct working experience in a dynamic and energetic school
   • Experience as a leader in Chinese language and Culture programs
4. Required Qualifications
   • Degree in Education or Educational Administration
   • IB Training Preferred

Compensation and Benefits

The initial contract will be three years and is renewed at the discretion of the school. The package is competitive and commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the experience and qualifications including

• Competitive salary
• Provision of Indonesian income tax
• Accommodation
• Annual home leave
• Pension contribution
• Health insurance and international coverage
• Shipment of personal effects
• Relocation air tickets

Guidelines for Applying

Deadline for receipt of applications 30 January 2012

Candidates should email application as one PDF no larger than 5Mb, which includes

• Covering letter outlining candidates interesting and suitability for the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Educational and leadership philosophy
• A recent photograph (head and shoulders)

(Note candidates with active files with Search Associates or ISS may simply submit Covering letter and reference active files with Search or ISS)

SWA reserves the right to close the selection process if the right person is identified prior to the closing date.

Candidate should send their application to:

John McBryde CEO/ Director
John_McBryde@swa-jkt.com

And copied to:
Ivan Setiawan
Human Resources Manager
Email: hrd@swa-jkt.com

Sinarmas World Academy
Jalan TM Pahlawan Seribu
CBD Lot XV, BSD City
Tangerang 15322
Indonesia
Phone: + 62 21 5316 1400
Fax: + 62 21 5316 1401
Website: www.swa-jkt.com