Associate Director, School Evaluation & Development Council of International Schools (CIS)

Ji’s professional journey has included positions as Director of Curriculum, Principal, classroom teacher and educational consultant in many schools and countries around the world. After 30 years of serving within schools, she is now working as an independent educational consultant and continues to partner with leaders to develop and foster professional growth, most recently with the Council of International Schools as Associate Director. She is passionate about supporting schools in developing successful communities that promote professional growth and agency through pedagogical leadership, shaping school culture, and appreciative inquiry. She remains active in promoting collaboration and sharing mutual best practice through her involvement as a coach, workshop facilitator, conference presenter, accreditation leader and a member of various professional groups.
Empowering Schools: Navigating the New CIS International Accreditation Framework and Pathway
Saturday session
Join us to explore how the CIS Accreditation pathway empowers schools to advance strategic priorities related to Learning, Well-being, and Global Citizenship, and an opportunity to explore and engage with the exciting new CIS International Accreditation Framework. In 2025, the initial cohorts of schools re-accredited through this pathway will embrace the opportunity to effect relevant changes that impact their communities in ways that matter.
We will explore the newly launched accreditation pathway which highlights choice, breadth and depth as key principles to supporting schools on the journey to school improvement. Join us to share our vision on how this exciting new framework will support school communities towards transformation and growth.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will understand how choice and flexibility in the international accreditation process can transform educational institutions.
Preview how key principles, such as choice and futures thinking, underpin the redesign of the forthcoming CIS International Accreditation Framework.
Empowering Leaders: Trends and Strategies for International School Leadership
Saturday session
In 2023, CIS asked school leaders to describe their biggest challenges, personally and professionally, as part of an annual benchmarking survey. International school heads are leading their communities through a growing number of unpredictable events, natural disasters and human conflicts, while the context and requirements for their leadership of international education are changing.
Their responses portray a changed profession in a changing world, where the pace and complex demands frequently exceed the capacity and training of international school leaders.
Join us to find out what we learned and engage in a discussion about implications on our roles as leaders and how we might continue to find opportunities for growth and support.
Learning Objectives:
During this session you will learn the findings and trends identified in multiple international school surveys and gain insights via analysis of the data.
Understand the most frequent challenges faced by leaders, professionally and personally, and how these differ by gender and ethnicity.
Learn actions you can take organizationally and individually to enable the development of socially responsible leadership through international education.