KIST currently has a total staff complement of around 130 across the three areas of the school: Preschool, Elementary and Secondary. Our staff are enthusiastic, motivated and caring individuals who are committed to achieving the goals identified in our school’s guiding statements.
Our staff is divided into two divisions: an educational division that includes all those involved in the direct instruction and guidance of students, and an operational division based in the school office.
Educational division
Teachers
The impact teachers can have on students cannot be underestimated. At KIST, we strive to maintain a quality teaching staff who are aligned with our school’s academic focus and are dedicated to our goal of supporting students in achieving high academic results. KIST has approximately 65 full-time teachers representing a range of age groups and nationalities. Over 20 different nationalities, including Japanese, are represented amongst the current teaching staff. Hired both internationally and locally, our teachers bring with them a wide range of skills and experiences.
To gain employment at KIST, teachers must have a university degree relevant to their teaching area as well as a valid teaching certificate. Around 40% of our current teaching staff have postgraduate degrees (Masters or PhD). Additionally, they must have two years’ full-time teaching experience or be graduates of the IB Diploma Programme.
In the main, new teachers are employed initially for two years. Based on their performance during this period, they may be offered the chance to extend their employment for a further period. Due to the nature of international education, teacher turnover changes from year to year; some teachers may choose to leave at the end of their initial contract while others may stay on for several years.
Meet some of the members of our educational leadership team…
“KIST is a school that embodies the spirit of inquiry and fosters an academic freedom for both students and faculty not found in most schools. In this sense, KIST is intellectually refreshing and a vibrant place for learning.”
(Secondary School teacher, USA)
Performance appraisals
Our teachers undergo an annual work performance appraisal that encourages them to reflect on their professional practice through the celebration of strengths and identification of areas for improvement. Appraisals cover aspects such as instructional planning and delivery, organizing and managing the learning environment, and evaluation and assessment. Through this process, we aim to promote excellence in teaching in order to ensure that our students continue receiving the highest quality education possible.
Professional development
Another aspect of our commitment to providing a high-quality education for students is through the professional development of teachers. As members of a professional learning community, teachers participate in regular professional development activities that assist them to keep abreast of developments related to best practice in education and to develop and update their teaching skills and knowledge in ways that enhance student learning within the school. By participating in professional development, our teachers also act as models to students in encouraging them to become lifelong learners.
Teacher development scheme
Providing a high-quality education for students requires the sustainment of a population of exceptional teachers. Despite the high demand for teachers around the world, the number of exceptional teachers able to guide students in achieving high academic scores is limited, particularly those skilled in teaching within the DP.
In order to secure exceptional teachers who demonstrate long-term commitment to working at KIST as either classroom teachers in the Elementary School or as subject teachers in the Secondary School, we introduced a teacher development scheme from the 2019–20 school year in partnership with the University of Sunderland in the UK. Through this scheme, individuals interested in undertaking a career in teaching are able to complete online studies as part of a one-year teacher education program through the university, while undergoing on-the-job training as teacher-trainees at KIST from experienced teachers who act as mentors to guide the trainees in the practical aspects of the job.
To ensure that participants are fully aware of the challenges of the educational programs offered at KIST, and who have demonstrated long-term commitment to working at KIST, the opportunity to take part in this scheme is offered only to individuals who are either high-achieving KIST DP graduates who have completed their undergraduate university studies, or those who are currently working as instructional staff at KIST (i.e. ELS instructors, teaching assistants).
We believe that this scheme has great potential in helping us to maintain our population of exceptional teachers as current staff move on to other teaching opportunities or retire, and look forward to the benefits this brings to students.
ELS instructors
ELS (English language support) instructors, employed locally and representing a variety of nationalities, provide English language support (and other academic support in the Elementary School) to students from K3 through Grade 10 who require additional assistance in accessing the school curriculum. The instructors are based in individual classrooms (for K3 and Grade 1) or work across several classes or grades (for Grades 2 through 10). They also lead instructional sessions for students attending before- and after-school support classes and the summer programs.
Teaching assistants
Teaching assistants are employed in the Elementary School for classes from K1 to Grade 1. Working under the guidance of the classroom teachers, the assistants perform duties that are instructional in nature to support students in their learning and development both inside and outside the classroom, while at the same time, work collaboratively with classroom teachers on organizational and administrative matters. They also lead instructional sessions for students attending before- and after-school support classes and the summer programs. Employed locally, the assistants represent a variety of nationalities.
Other educational staff
Other staff in the educational division include our University Guidance Counselors, Student Care Coordinators, and the Library Team.
Operational division
Around 20 office and support staff are employed to oversee areas such as accounts, admissions, human resources, IT support and facility maintenance, and there are also bus drivers, a school nurse and other general administrative support staff. Many of the members of the operational team are Japanese nationals; however, other nationalities are also represented.
