1 - The American School in Japan

The American School
in Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Elementary School Principal
July 2015
www.asij.ac.jp
The Position
Mission Statement
The American School in Japan has been educating
students in grades K-12 for more than a century.
Individuals hailing from approximately 40 nations
comprise this vibrant, diverse community of
approximately 1,500 students located on two
campuses in Tokyo, and a strong faculty of 150
teachers forms the lifeblood of this rigorous, highachieving school. ASIJ provides an American-based
college preparatory education, offering a full-suite
of Advanced Placement and honors courses, and
providing a firm grounding in educational basics
as well as cutting-edge electives and programs that
help prepare students for success in a global, 21st
century world. Life at the school is rich and robust,
with over 100 activities offered for students in grades
K-12, a dynamic community service program, and
well-equipped, state-of-the-art campus facilities. As
the oldest and largest international school in Tokyo,
ASIJ has much of which to be proud, including its
commitment to innovation, its strong governance
and leadership, its environmental sustainability
efforts, and its quality of college acceptances and
matriculation.
“Developing Compassionate, Inquisitive Learners
Prepared for Global Responsibility.”
Strategic Objectives
Students at ASIJ will:
• Become adept at identifying problems and using innovation and collaboration to design and
evaluate solutions.
• Take risks, explore passions, develop their
strengths, and pursue their personal paths with
resilience.
At this time, the school seeks a strong and capable
leader to head its top-tier Elementary School. The
successful candidate will be a strong instructional
leader, who fosters the success of all students by
supporting the ongoing growth and development
of all teachers through professional growth and
evaluation. S/he will be integral in maintaining a
rigorous, respectful, and positive school climate, will
communicate and collaborate effectively with all
school constituencies, will be a model of professional
integrity and ethics, and will demonstrate strong
organizational leadership skills.
• Develop the capacity to understand different
perspectives.
Vision
To be an exemplary international learning community that nurtures each student’s full potential.
Values
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School History
Students
Excellence
Environment
Honesty and integrity
Heritage
Service
Community
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ASIJ began as the Tokyo School for Foreign Children
in 1902, when a dynamic group of women recognized
the need for a school to support the city’s growing
foreign community. The initial school was contained
in rented rooms of the Kanda YMCA, and over the
next several decades it grew in size and stature and
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moved to its own campus.
After closing during the war
years, ASIJ reopened in 1946
to support the military and
civilian families present in
post-war Tokyo.
A greater influx of both students
and teachers precipitated a
move to a new, speciallydesigned campus in Chofu in
1963. Since then, the school
has continued to grow, and it
now serves 1,500 students on
its two campuses. Throughout
its history, the school has
remained dedicated to its
founding principles: diverse
multicultural learning and
lasting personal connections.
ASIJ is one of the oldest and most respected international institutions in Japan, and it provides an education
that prepares students for successful futures in a global world.
The School
Today, life at ASIJ is defined by a desire to foster academic excellence, creativity, and individuality. The
union of the school’s mission and defined Student Learning Outcomes provide a solid foundation for some of
the best academic programs in the United States and internationally. Teachers instruct the “whole person,”
instilling in students the skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and compassion. ASIJ celebrates
the diversity of its community and encourages each student to formulate his or her own innovative, authentic
learning experience.
Students begin their years at ASIJ in the Early Learning Center (ELC), in a program and building that are both
specially-designed to meet the needs of three-, four-, and five-year-olds.
The cornerstone of the ELC is the belief that young students learn best by having direct sensory encounters with
the world as well as teacher-directed experiences. Students in the ELC learn in a variety of ways, crafting a
strong base of experiences essential for later learning
Fast Facts
as they explore, manipulate, create, and construct.
When they leave the ELC, they have well-developed
Elementary Enrollment: 488
senses of excitement, curiosity, and self-esteem. As
Elementary Faculty: 51
students progress through the elementary and middle
Student/Teacher Ratio: 10:1
schools, they learn to navigate the intellectual,
Elementary Faculty with Advanced Degrees: 61%
physical, social, and emotional changes that arise on
Annual Operating Budget: $40 million
their paths to adulthood. Coursework is challenging
Financial Aid Awarded in Elementary: $2 million
yet supportive, and teachers encourage students do
Nationalities in Elementary Student Body: 29
their best work at all times. Throughout their years
at ASIJ, students take advantage of the vast resources
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College Acceptances
The following is a partial list of colleges and universities to which ASIJ
students have recently been accepted:
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American University of Paris
Boston College
Boston Unviersity
Brown University
Cambridge University
Carleton College
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Durham University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
International Christian University
Johns Hopkins University
Keio University
King’s College London
London School of Economics
University of Michigan
MIT
Nagoya University
New York University
University of Notre Dame
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
University of Oxford
University of Pennsylvania
Princeton University
Temple University Japan
Tufts University
Rice University
University of St. Andrew’s
Stanford University
UCLA
United States Naval Academy
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
Wellesley College
Yale University
available to them in Tokyo and Japan, through frequent field trips
off-campus. Middle school students take part in the Extended
Campus Program, the aim of which is to broaden a student’s
learning in unique settings in the mountains, lake regions, cities,
and coastlines of Japan.
ASIJ’s high school program offers a challenging, diverse college
preparatory experience to its students. With a wide range of
Advanced Placement courses and co-curricular options, students
challenge themselves and pursue their interests. Students may
take elective courses in subjects such as robotics, marine biology,
and digital video making. Additionally, students whose interests
extend past the breadth of opportunities offered at ASIJ may
elect to take independent studies online through the school’s
membership in the Global Online Academy.
Each year, students gain admittance to top-tier colleges and
universities in the United States, UK, Canada, Japan, and
Australia. 23% of students attend non-American universities, and
approximately 98% of all ASIJ graduates choose to go directly to
college.
The Elementary School
The foundation for the rigorous, exploratory academics and rich
co-curricular program that extends through high school begins in
the ASIJ elementary school, which enrolls students in grades K-5.
At this level, students follow a six-day cycle that allows them to
focus on core academic subjects (reading, writing, and math) as
well as “specials” (art, music, physical education, and Japanese
language) each day. Technology is integrated throughout the
elementary school program, and students become adroit users of
laptops and iPads to enhance their learning.
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A strong team of learning specialists
helps children as they learn at
different speeds and different levels
at this young age, and each child
feels nurtured and encouraged
as well as challenged. Teachers
focus on literacy, in both English
and Japanese, and students gain
familiarity and comfort with the
written word, completing reading
and writing exercises and beginning
to study Japanese in first grade.
Teachers address the needs of
the whole child: beginning in
kindergarten,
the
curriculum
promotes a love of learning and
encourages social, emotional, physical, and academic development. Classroom teachers provide a program
that emphasizes the development of social skills required for successful learning and living within the
classroom community. The integrated curriculum focuses on thematic units and incorporates early reading
development and math skills based on the Everyday Math Program. Students continue to learn in handson, multi-sensory ways at age-appropriate levels throughout the remainder of the elementary program, and
as they grow older they focus increasingly on developing independence—as readers, writers, and critical
thinkers. Throughout their time in the elementary school, they continue to focus on the Japanese culture that
defines and distinguishes the school. By the time they leave the elementary school, students are strong and
independent learners, as well as active, collaborative members of a larger community.
Physical Campus
ASIJ’s Roppongi Campus was specially designed to accommodate the ELC, which opened in the heart of
Tokyo in Roppongi Hills in 2003. The classrooms were designed with the Reggio Emilia philosophy in mind,
where they physical environment of the classroom is often labeled the “third teacher.”
The school’s main 14.33 acre (5.8 hectare)
campus offers the largest and most complete
international school facility in Japan and is
located in the suburbs of Tokyo. The spacious
campus features extensive open areas and
landscaped grounds and is adjacent to Nogawa
Park. A custom-designed kindergarten
outdoor classroom and elementary outdoor
play area provide dedicated spaces for our
younger students to enjoy. Students also have
access to the school’s main athletics field
during recess, as well as outdoor and covered
basketball areas in the elementary and middle
school. The state-of-the-art facilities include a
570-seat theater, blackbox theater, band and choir rooms, three gyms and two artificial turf athletic fields (one
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with lighting), six tennis courts, wrestling room, dance studio and a 25m indoor pool.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, which means “Eastern Capital”
in Japanese, is the capital of Japan and
the most populous metropolitan area in
the world. The home of the Japanese
Imperial Family and the seat of the
Japanese government, the city’s splendor
is unmatched by any other in the country.
Over 9 million people call the city
home, and 51 of the Fortune 500 Global
companies have outposts in Tokyo—the
highest number of any city in the world.
It is an alpha-plus world city, and in 2014
was ranked the “Best overall experience”
in TripAdvisor’s World City Survey. The
city takes pride in its nightlife, dining,
shopping, public transportation, and
cleanliness.
Tokyo’s humid subtropical climate ensures that residents enjoy warm summers and mild winters. Residents
can escape the congestion of the city by visiting many of Tokyo’s national parks. Visitors learn about Japan’s
culture and history by visiting the city’s various museums, from the Tokyo National Museum to the National
Museum of Western Art, the Ueno Zoo, and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.
An eminently livable city steeped in history and culture as well as modernity, Tokyo is a wonderful place to
call home.
Opportunities and Challenges
For 27 years, the current Elementary School Principal has set a high standard for faculty care and support.
As the school enters a period of increased retirements—there are 15 new elementary teachers this year and
6 expected for next—professional development, integration, and attunement with the school’s Mission is
essential. Fortunately, the well-articulated Strategic Plan ensures clear direction through the many initiatives
underway. Several specific initiatives are underway including the following for School and Principal:
• A new schedule next year.
• Admission challenges, including under-enrollment in Grades 1-3.
• Active engagement in Learning Support and ELL programs.
• Support the 1:1 iPad and laptop programs specifically, and be thoughtful about the appropriate uses of
technology, generally.
• Create spaces for students to be learning with their hands as well as their minds, including 2D and 3D
modeling.
• Endorse and support the Everyday Math curriculum.
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Qualifications and Qualities of the next
Elementary School Principal
Professional characteristics of the Elementary School Principal:
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A strong student-centered philosophy.
A passion for the ASIJ Mission and its strategic objectives.
A strong vision for 21st century elementary education.
Experience as an elementary principal.
A deep understanding of the ASIJ literacy initiative, the Columbia Writing and Reading Program.
Experience and knowledge of ELL and Learning Support programs.
Data-driven decision making.
A collaborative leadership style, excellent interpersonal skills, and high emotional intelligence.
Strong, professional membership on the Administrative Team.
Vision and expertise for the use of technology at the elementary school level.
Experience working with a strong local language program and community.
Good communication skills, both orally and in writing.
A mindset of growth as a student of our profession -- constantly looking for opportunities to learn and
grow, while inspiring colleagues to do the same.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials confidentially as separate PDF attachments in
one email to both search consultants and Liz Schultz, research Associate:
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Cover letter expressing interest and perceived fit in the American School in Japan position;
Current resume with dates and websites for previous employment;
Statement of educational philosophy and leadership practice;
List of five references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will be
contacted only with the candidate’s permission).
Fred Wesson and Tim McIntire
Senior Search Consultants
Carney, Sandoe & Associates
44 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA 02108
fred.wesson@carneysandoe.com | timothy.mcintire@carneysandoe.com
liz.schultz@carneysandoe.com
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