The New Global American School
Founding Head of School
Start Date: July 1, 2026
Co-ed, Grades 1-12
Independent Day School
Singapore
Educators Collaborative is pleased to assist The New Global American School in its search for its Founding Head of School to begin July 1, 2026. This is an outstanding opportunity for a leader who will establish this new school in one of the world’s most desirable locations.
Background
Plans are well underway to open The New Global American School in Singapore for the initial 2025-2026 academic year. The school will eventually serve 1500-2000 students from grades 1 through 12, and it is the intention of the school’s founders to begin initially with enrolling students in the lower school, with growth occurring over time into older grades.
Jeff Bradley currently serves as the Interim Head of School and will continue in this role until the Founding Head assumes their responsibilities in 2026. In his role, Mr. Bradley is leading the initial startup of the school – overseeing facilities, hiring faculty, establishing policies, implementing a marketing plan, and recruiting students. Mr. Bradley brings to his role extensive experience in international and independent schools, having served as the Director of the Commission on International Education of New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC); the co-founder and Program Director of OESIS – The Online Education Symposium for Independent Schools; the Headmaster of TASIS – The American School in Switzerland; and the Founding Director of the School Year Abroad Program in Italy. He previously served as a teacher and administrator at The Bullis School in Maryland and St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire.
The for-profit school is backed by The New Global American School, Pte. Ltd, a joint venture between a financial benefactor that is a leading energy provider in China, and Three W International, a leading education services provider with operations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, China, and other countries.
The school will benefit greatly by its connection to experienced educators and a world-class institution. The school’s Advisor Board includes the following:
- Tony Wang, CEO of Three W International
- Ed Shanahan, former Head of Choate Rosemary Hall, Founding President and current Board Chair of Keystone Academy in Beijing, and former Dean of the College at Dartmouth;
- Richard Gehman, Former Head of Oak Hall School, and Former Board President of the Florida Council of Independent Schools;
- Stephen Robinson, former President of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and former Head of Orme School and Saddlebrook Prep;
- Nat Conard, former Head of The Pingry School, former President of New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, and current co-managing partner of Educators Collaborative LLC.
The New Global American School in Singapore will provide students with a world-class education informed by cognitive science and learner-centered innovations. Experiential learning at all levels will be a central curricular and pedagogical approach. It will offer a challenging and creative curriculum utilizing global best practices, supplemented with thematic interdisciplinary units and project-based learning. It aspires to do this by blending the best curricular and pedagogical elements of the most effective and compelling university preparatory schools in the world and by creating an educational community for students and faculty alike that helps students shape their character in community with others. Students will graduate from the New Global American School with a world-class formal education, a depth of appreciation for the history and culture of others, and a commitment to making important and lasting contributions to society and the welfare of others while at The New Global American School and afterwards.
The New Global American School is currently in the final stages of identifying a site for their campus in central Singapore, and it is expected that the school will open in September of 2025 with three lower school classes, with significant expansion planned in the immediate future. An English-language, American-curriculum school utilizing student-centered, constructivist, inquiry-based, collaborative, and experiential pedagogy, The New Global American School could also have a bilingual English-Mandarin track.
Partnerships
The New Global American School has formalized a unique partnership agreement with Riverdale Country School in New York City, one of the top private schools in the United States. Riverdale is internationally recognized as being at the forefront of K–12 educational innovations. The partnership with Riverdale will be an extraordinary asset in achieving The New Global American School’s goal of creating a school where students receive the finest, most research-based, and up-to-date education possible.
After years of research, Riverdale has developed a curriculum that is highly innovative, experiential, and rich in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary opportunities. This provides The New Global American School with a deeply embedded partnership that provides it with exclusive rights to implement and administer Riverdale’s curricular and instructional models in Singapore as well as ongoing support to develop curriculum and instructional practice. This partnership includes collaboration on curriculum, instruction, student assessment, and other teaching elements of The New Global American School in alignment with Riverdale’s high academic standards and expectations.
Riverdale Country School will support The New Global American School in program development and ongoing quality control. All aspects of the collaboration with Riverdale will reflect the world-class standards synonymous with Riverdale. The New Global American School has also established a long-term agreement with Riverdale for ongoing faculty training from Riverdale’s professional development subsidiary, Plussed Learning.
Living in Singapore
Singapore has developed a reputation for being one of the most desirable locations in the world to live and work. According to HSBC, “Singapore has quickly developed a unique hybrid culture that makes it a favorite among expats. Singapore’s identity is built on multiculturalism, and Singaporeans are proud to attract people worldwide. This ‘Singapore Spirit’ significantly impacts new arrivals who feel welcomed with open arms into their new community, which is a great help with the practicalities of daily living. It’s unsurprising that the country is the best destination for expats moving with children.”
Singapore is well known for its safety and cleanliness. Moreover, given its location in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore is ideal for travel. Residents can easily escape for the weekend to one of the region’s many idyllic beaches and islands.
The Position
The Head of School is the School’s Chief Administrative Officer and is responsible, by delegation of the Board of Directors, for all aspects of the School. The Founding Head of School’s responsibilities and authority include the following:
- Leading and guiding the School to be an international school in Singapore of the highest distinction.
- Working with the Interim Head of School to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.
- Further developing and implementing policies, processes and procedures around technology infrastructure; school security; facilities maintenance, human resources; classroom design/furnishing; and risk management.
- Overseeing the determination of the proper enrollment based upon the School’s philosophy and admission standards, physical plant, financial needs, and future plans.
- Creating and overseeing the Admissions & Financial Aid Department’s policies and activities including the administration of financial aid to qualifying students.
- Overseeing the further development of the marketing, communications, and publicity program for the School, highlighting the School’s activities and accomplishments.
- Overseeing the administration of the School’s budget and financial affairs with the continuing objective of achieving the School’s financial targets.
- Recommending and implementing additional policies, guidelines, rules, regulations, and procedures for the School as deemed necessary or beneficial for the School.
- In collaboration with appropriate administrators, creating a learning culture of exploration, joy, curiosity, discipline, and respect.
- Ensuring the health, well-being, and safety of the School’s students and employees when on campus or on school business.
- Modeling, and representing publicly, the mission and philosophy of the School.
- Executing and administering the policies of the School, as set by the Board of Directors, and maintaining respectful and productive relations with all governing agencies of the school, both internal and external.
- Overseeing the program of the School (academic, cultural, experiential, extra-curricular, and co-curricular), and any other subsidiary activities related to the School.
- Ensuring that the academic, cultural, experiential, extra-curricular, and co-curricular programs of the School reflect the best practices of teaching and learning based on the science of learning.
- Consulting with the Board of Directors and its committees as to School affairs and making recommendations in a timely manner as to those matters requiring Board attention.
- Providing leadership, and otherwise overseeing, the senior officers (including the Division Heads) of the School, and coordinating their respective activities, as well as their interactions with the Board of Directors and local agencies as necessary.
- Overseeing the proper maintenance of school facilities and property.
- Maintaining relations with the administrators and faculty that are conducive to good morale, unity, and collaborative teamwork.
- Creating and overseeing the discipline system and procedures for the withdrawal of students when circumstances warrant such action.
- Overseeing, when necessary, the discipline or dismissal of faculty and administrative personnel, and overseeing the evaluation of job performance and professional growth and development of all employees.
- Reporting on the state of the School at meetings of the Board of Directors and at any other time as requested by the Board. In this area, the Head of School serves, with the President of the Board, as the chief agenda officer for meetings of the Board and its standing and ad hoc committees.
Performance Objectives
The New Global American School in Singapore will be a brand-new school, the first of an expected significant group of schools in Asia. As such, it is critical that the School starts strongly and performs as the “flagship,” demonstrating an ability to create a world-class school in Singapore that succeeds in achieving our vision and mission. Given this charge, the Founding Head of School will need to pay particular attention to the following performance objectives:
- Be the face of the school in its critical startup phase, building upon the foundation created by the Interim Head of School.
- Successfully communicate the unique vision, mission, and programs of the school to a variety of constituencies, including prospective students and parents, local media and government officials, and any other group that could have a positive impact on the early success of the school.
- Build positive relationships and strong connections within the School community and the greater Singapore community.
- Ensure that the School hires and retains a high-quality administrative team that has the experience and expertise necessary to build a world-class school from the ground up.
- In collaboration with other members of the administrative team, ensure that the School hires high-quality faculty and staff who embrace the vision and mission of the school, and who have the capacity to lead in developing programs in their specific areas. From the outset be mindful of developing pathways for their ongoing pedagogical growth and professional advancement.
- Guide the school in the evolution of its educational vision and remain current regarding successful developments and trends that occur in the world of progressive education.
- Monitor student admissions closely, particularly in its first two years when the school will establish its general student profile.
- Effectively lead and manage toward an exemplary school as demonstrated by exceptional exam results and an excellent reputation within the Singapore and international schools’ community.
Traits and Characteristics
The founding Head of School will:
- Have documented experience with successfully creating and implementing policies, procedures, and processes that address the particular needs of a start-up school.
- Possess the energy and expertise to be a vibrant and articulate leader and communicator who is comfortable and confident speaking in front of parents, students, and others in the Singapore and international school communities.
- Have a track record of leading with integrity and possess sound character and judgment.
- Be curious, open to new ideas, and open to criticism.
- Be a thoughtful decision-maker, introspective and self-aware.
- Be a team-builder and natural collaborator with strong cross-cultural competencies.
- Be a person with a global mindset who embraces working in a highly diverse environment.
- Be a strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Be able to adjust and adapt to changing conditions and requirements.
- Have a good understanding of school finance.
- Have a sense of humor.
Specific Requirements:
- Head of School or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
- Some international experience preferred.
- Experience with grades 1-12 would be a plus.
- Master’s degree or higher required.
- Experience with managing the start-up operations of a new school would be a plus.
Compensation
The New Global American School offers a generous compensation package to the Founding Head of School, including a very competitive salary, housing, and benefits.
Application Materials Requested
We encourage a preliminary conversation with Mary Seppala or George Sanderson (see below) to learn more about this exceptional opportunity. Those interested are asked to submit these materials, in the order listed, in a Single Merged Document:
- EC Candidate Summary Sheet (contact consultants below for this document)
- Letter of Interest addressed to the Search Committee
- Current résumé
- Statement of Educational Leadership
- A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses)
- EC Disclosure Form (contact consultants below for this document)
If interested, please contact:
Mary Seppala, Partner, Educators Collaborative
George Sanderson, Partner, Educators Collaborative
Listing Date: October 18, 2024
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