GESS welcomes Travis onboard the school management team this new school year. Travis brings with him over 14 years of international experience in education, including a decade in senior leadership roles. His expertise in pedagogy and leadership will be invaluable in advancing the mission of our Middle School, European Section.
Tell us about your academic and career background.
I have a Bachelor of Science in education and a master’s in educational leadership, both from the USA. With eleven years of teaching experience in the USA and ten years in international leadership, I continued my formal professional learning, receiving a Certificate of International Leadership through the Principals’ Training Centre.
I learned early on in my life that I have a passion for education and teaching. My first job at the age of fifteen was teaching swimming and I quickly learned that I love to work with others and help them grow and improve. This passion still resonates with me now and has been further developed when I transitioned to a leadership role.
What made you join GESS?
When looking for a school to create my next career journey, GESS stood out for many reasons. GESS is a unique school that balances a focus on both student wellbeing and high expectations for student learning. Many schools highlight this but don’t appear to live it. GESS made this balance a focal point in our five-year Limitless Learning Plan, that is very well developed with a clear outline of both academics and the student.
When I visited GESS, I had the opportunity to not only interact with students and teachers, but also observe the community together at the school. It was evident GESS has clear core values and a commitment to community, and these were ingrained in the school culture.
I believe GESS is an outstanding school so here I am!
How have you been preparing yourself, to kickstart your new career chapter at GESS?
As a family, we moved to Singapore following our departure from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, so we could settle into our apartment and get all the logistics of a move completed first. I cannot thank my family enough for accommodating this as it allowed me to then focus on and give undivided attention to GESS and the upcoming school year. I cannot imagine having to do both relocation and work onboarding at the same time!
On the work front, I was able to have multiple meetings since March that were very informative and allowed me to jumpstart my onboarding. In April and May, I completed two MYP courses to begin my transition into the programme. Additionally, I have been meeting with members of Middle School and Senior Leadership Team since March to facilitate a smooth transition in GESS.
What are some of your early impressions of GESS so far?
I continue to be impressed more and more with GESS with each conversation, interaction and opportunity to learn more about the school and community. When I first read the recruitment posting for Director of Middle School and began researching GESS, I was immediately drawn to the school’s robust Limitless Learning Plan and the eight pillars that align with my own educational beliefs. I am further drawn to the focus on holistic learning and being a part of a strong community. I am thrilled to be part of GESS and its management team, focused on continuous improvement while already a great school.
What are some of your preliminary plans here, weeks into your role?
As a first step, I plan to spend some time getting to know the school and community. I believe it’s important to have a solid understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement before articulating a focus. I have had the opportunity to read the most recent Council of International Schools (CIS) report which gives some direction into potential areas of focus for continued development.
With a well-established Limitless Learning Plan at GESS, including initiatives that target teaching and learning as well as student wellbeing, I will begin by focusing on supporting both areas. In my previous role, I was involved in K-12 initiatives that brought about significant positive change in both areas – I believe this experience is aligned with my work ahead in GESS’ Middle School and K-12 and will help me successfully transition and immediately contribute to the school improvement initiatives already in place.
What are some challenges you foresee in this new role at GESS, and how would you overcome them?
Joining a new school is always a challenge as each community and organization is unique. As with any transition, it takes time to fully acclimate and integrate into the culture of the organization. My most recent posting was not at a MYP school, so I am looking forward to GESS as a different challenge.
My personal philosophy and practices in learning align with the IB, so the greatest challenge with this will be the language and curriculum. I have already taken two important MYP courses and have spent time with numerous colleagues learning more about the MYP. Additionally, I have been reading the numerous guides and overarching documents provided by IB.
Lastly, give us a glimpse of what you like to do off work and in your leisure time?
My leisure time is mostly family time! My wife is teaching at another school in the city and my daughter will join GESS in Grade Four this year. Our dog made the move with us and loves the new environment full of new plants, animals and exciting walks through nature.
We love games as a family and look forward to times when we can get together with other families for an evening. Spending the summer in Singapore has provided the opportunity to go for long nature walks and rides, as well as getting out to see shows and concerts in the city. Appreciating arts is a big part of our life, with my wife being a drama and dance teacher – we love having the opportunity to attend events in the city and have already been able to take advantage of some of the plays and concerts offered.
Travel, reading and food round out the list for me. I love experiencing new places, cultures and cuisine. Many of our travel plans seem to focus on food as we plan out our days!
