SENIOR ASSOCIATE AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Nick started his international teaching career in 1995 and has since worked across 3 different continents. He began at Hong Kong International School, where he held a variety of positions in the Upper and Lower Primary schools.
After spending 9½ years in Hong Kong, Nick moved back to Australia to take up a Deputy Principal role at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston, Tasmania. After 4½ years in this role, Nick moved to Cairo in 2008 to become the Head of Primary at the New Cairo British International School. He completed his time in Cairo and returned to Australia in July 2011.
Nick and his wife Paula (also a teacher) run the Australasian Search office, and together they bring the experience of over 25 years in international schools.
With his experience as a school administrator and now over a decade in recruitment, Nick provides a unique perspective to the Search team of associates and is a valuable resource to both candidates and schools.
You can read about Nick and Paula’s time in Hong Kong and Egypt here
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Paula worked in Hong Kong at Hong Kong International School in a variety of teaching roles, the most recent of which was as a Physical Education Teacher for Students from Reception to Year 2. Paula was then invited to coordinate a 4 year old program at a prestigious British Kindergarten in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. After having two children of her own, Paula designed and operated her own private play school in Hong Kong for children aged 18 months to 3 years.
On her return to Tasmania Paula worked as an Early Childhood teacher and music specialist for Kindergarten children in a school that utilised the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Her most recent role in Cairo was as a PYP classroom teacher in a British International School.
Paula taught Reception age children for 3 years and worked on the development of a Literacy strategy for Early Childhood Education.
Paula provides a very realistic view of life internationally and she is willing to offer advice, counsel and share her wealth of experience with candidates and schools. Her experience and expertise in many different educational settings and her love of learning, enable her to fit easily into the Search Associates team.
Together, the Kendells’ commitment to personalised service and their recent experiences in schools make them an ideal couple to run the Australian and New Zealand branch of Search Associates.
CONSULTANT AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Deidre brings a wealth of experience as an educator for students and adults, and as a former Head of Pre-School to Grade 12 International Schools, including –
• Director of the International School of Ulaanbataar (Mongolia),
• Superintendent of Cebu International School (Philippines) and
• Interim Head for Bali International School (Indonesia).
Deidre has lived and worked in various countries – Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, India, PR China, Hong Kong, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc
Her goal is to improve student learning through her work with School Board members, leaders, teaching and non-teaching staff. Her expertise reflects depth and range of experiences and her mode of work ranges from statistical analysis, to workshops on-site, always with practical applications for the participants. The style she employs is reflective of her personal work philosophy: “find ways to connect with your people and help them reach their potential” – building relationships through trust and utilising capacity within schools and is inspired by Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools, 2nd Edition”, Megan Tschannen Moran. All of her work can be connected to her company mission as she strives to support effective learning environments for all students.
CANDIDATE ADVISOR
Chris is an educator and school leader with over 30 years experience in international schools. With a deep commitment to global education and particularly the development of intercultural competency, she has worked in diverse educational settings, including proprietary and not-for-profit schools, start-up schools with an enrolment of under 100 students, to a large, established school of 2000. Her experience has spanned a variety of roles from teaching economics to shaping institutional policies.
She has lived, taught and provided leadership in schools in Australia, Kuwait, Sudan, Cambodia, China, Mozambique, Jamaica and Thailand. A teacher of economics, social studies and English language acquisition, Chris has also held a variety of leadership positions including Principal, Interim Head of School and Executive Board Chair. Some of the international schools she has worked at include:
· Khartoum American School, Sudan
· International School of Beijing, China (Principal)
· Aga Khan Academy Maputo, Mozambique (Interim Head of School)
· American International School of Kingston, Jamaica (Principal)
As an educational consultant, Chris has supported schools in their journey of continuous improvement through accreditation and authorisation processes. She has facilitated professional learning for the development of intercultural competency, global citizenship and competency-based assessment.
One of the key roles of any school leader is to recruit the best teachers possible, and Chris brings her expertise and perspective as a recruiter as well as international educator to guide those eager to join the international schools community.
CANDIDATE ADVISOR
Mick started his teaching career in Australia before heading overseas in the late 1980’s. He thoroughly enjoyed the classroom setting and was a teacher for the entirety of his career. He is committed to the framework and programmes of the International Baccalaureate, and much of his international career was as an IB Diploma Programme economics teacher. He also founded an alumni programme for one of his schools. He has lived and worked in Australia, Kuwait, Sudan, China, Mozambique, Jamaica, Cambodia and Thailand.
Mick is an advocate for teachers and school leaders taking the chance to leave their home country and embrace the countless opportunities offered by working in an international school. He is a strong believer in what Search Associates offers candidates, and himself attended the Search Cambridge Fair in the United States securing a position at the International School of Beijing.
Mick brings the perspective of a teacher to his role at Search Associates, guiding candidates to find a position that suits their talents, skills and interests as an educator. Like many on this journey, he expected to work overseas for several years and return home to Australia. More than 30 years later, having experienced an expatriate lifestyle, he is still part of the international schools community. Mick has been lucky to make lifelong connections and friendships with colleagues and former students from the countries and schools in which he has worked, and considers leaving his home country to teach internationally, one of the best decisions of his life!