Founding Principal

This is an exciting opportunity from a client of TopTutorJob.cn. It enables you to play a lead role in pioneering a holistic, child-centered approach to early childhood education in Beijing, China.

About the client

Founded on a passion to challenge and empower young people to live fulfilling and productive lives, YCE opened Beijing City International School in 2005. With the support of the YueCheng Educational Research Institute (YERI), this innovative school has provided the bedrock for YCE to extend its not-for-profit services to a wider community.

About the position

The Founding Principal is a senior leadership position, with overall responsibility for the campus. He or she will have considerable freedom in implementing the curriculum, which is broadly based on the foundational principles outlined above. The Founding Principal will work in close collaboration with the school’s Chinese Director who will be responsible for government relations and the management of the buildings and facilities. The Founding Principal will also collaborate closely with the Director of the YueCheng Educational Research Institute (YERI) who provides research and professional development support for all YCE institutions.

The fundamental role of the Founding Principal is to ensure a seamless fusion of the best of China and the world in implementing this pioneering, child-centred, dual language program, which will be taught by teams of expatriate and Chinese teachers.

Prior to assuming duties, the appointee will receive a thorough orientation in the social, academic and cultural considerations that will be important to the successful implementation of this important role.

Reports to: Superintendent

Collaborates with:    Director, YueCheng Educational Research Institute

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for the Courtyard Campus
  
• Ensure that the academic program is implemented in alignment with the mission, vision, and values of YueCheng Education and of the YCE kindergartens
  
• Ensure that the academic program is aligned to the curriculum’s foundational principles (see above)
  
• Ensure a safe and secure environment for students, teachers, and staff
  
• Provide inspirational leadership for the education and welfare of the children
  
• Lead ongoing development of the curriculum, and of the assessment and reporting of student progress
  
• Lead the professional development of teachers, assistant teachers, and teacher assistants
  
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with parents in support of student education and welfare
  
• Provide an ongoing education program for parents
  
•  Implement the enrolment and retention of students in alignment with YCE criteria and guidelines
  
• Implement the recruitment, orientation, appraisal, motivation and retention of teachers
  
• Establish and maintain high professional expectations for all teachers and staff
  
• Ensure the provision of high quality educational resources 
  
• Support and participate in promotional activities
  
• Ensure the understanding and implementation of all YCE policies and procedures
  
• Liaise with the Director of YERI and with the heads of other YCE institutions
  
• Provide regular reports to the Superintendent, YueCheng Education
  

In addition:

•  The Founding Principal of Courtyard Campus will contribute to the successful establishment of subsequent YCE kindergarten campuses, the next of which is planned to open in September 2019.
  
• In due course the Founding Principal will be considered for appointment as Executive Principal for all YueCheng kindergartens.
  

Requirements

• A profound appreciation of the power of education to contribute to the creation of better future;
  
• Philosophical alignment with YCE’s mission, vision, and values and with the guiding statements of the YCE kindergartens
  
• Early childhood or pre-school education qualification;
  
• Minimum 8 years’ experience as an early childhood educator;
  
• Strong leadership capacity; evidence of effective school leadership preferred
  
• Experience of and/or commitment to developing a future-oriented curriculum including personalized learning and investigative play;
  
• Experience of and/or commitment to collaborating in the development and implementation of a bilingual/dual language program for early learners;
  
• Strong desire to lead in a school which fuses the best of local and international educational principles and practices in order to create something that is better than either;
  
• Strong desire to work with both local and international teachers and to work in, and facilitate the creation of, collaborative teams;
  
• Desire to work with local student and parent population;
  
• Excellence in communicating orally and in writing; 

  
• The ability to gain and maintain the confidence of highly motivated teachers, parents and students;
  
• High emotional intelligence, including the capacity to respond with compassion and firmness while maintaining the respect of parents, students and colleagues from different cultures; 

  
• A leadership style characterized by inclusiveness, appropriate transparency, approachability and support while remaining decisive and accountable; 

  
•  A sense of humor and ability to see the good in all and presume positive intentions.
  

Benefits

• Attractive salary
  
• ​The benefits package includes furnished housing, medical insurance and annual home leave airfare for employee and family, and excellent professional development opportunities.
  
• An expatriate parent of school-age children will be granted up to two full-fee discounts on places at the YueCheng Kindergarten, Courtyard Campus, or at the Beijing City International School, depending on the child’s age and subject to student enrollment criteria and availability.