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Staff Spotlight
Dr. Eric Sands began a career in international school administration over 17 years ago as a secondary school principal at the American International School of Johannesburg, South Africa. He has since worked in Malaysia, Taiwan, and most recently Serbia, as the Director of the International School of Belgrade (ISB). Dr. Sands will take the helm at Qatar Academy in the fall of 2012, continuing his role as Director of an International Baccalaureate School (IBS).Dr. Gregory Hedger wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the faculty, staff, community and most importantly students at QA for a wonderful 5 years . “I welcome Dr. Sands to his new role as director and I am confident QA will continue to move forward from the promising position we are in as a school & community. He continues: “I can hand over the leadership of QA assured that the great curiosity our students and faculty have about education and life will be encouraged and broadened under Dr. Sands’ direction.”
There are many similarities between ISB and QA, leading QA’s Board of Governors to believe that this major transition to a new director will be relatively seamless. Like QA, ISB has witnessed enormous growth over the past five years. Both schools use the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) in the upper grades and each has a 1:1 laptop program. The dynamic curriculum at both schools is based on the highly regarded International Baccalaureate Diploma, Middle and Primary Years programs. ISB and QA are each accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council of International Schools. Moreover, both schools are authorized IB World Schools where students learn to implement change with compassion and creativity in a complex global environment.
Dr. Sands is well versed in the IB’s teaching methodology and believes that when instruction is clear and focused and input is varied, students gain a greater understanding of the subject matter. “Student learning becomes the means for teachers to monitor and adjust their teaching, rather than having the students adjust their learning style to fit the teacher,” notes Sands. “As a result, class time is used efficiently so that teachers spend minimal amounts of time on non-learning activities.”
Even with a busy work schedule, Dr. Sands found the time this year to coach the boys’ varsity basketball team at ISB. “[The experience of coaching] brought me closer to the students while taking an interest in them outside the regular classroom,” wrote Dr. Sands recently. “Certain coaching strategies I use with athletes are also applicable in my working relationship with staff members and members of the Board of Trustees. I have found teachers positively respond to action verbs such as encourage, teach, listen, facilitate, and support. Frequently using such verbs and patiently helping teachers develop the skills needed to make quality and sustained contributions to our school is a priority for me,” he continues.
The staff at Qatar Academy looks forward to the opportunity to work with Dr. Eric Sands and will welcome him as the new director in August 2012.
