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To the SSIS School Community:

In the last few weeks, the Search Committee has been busy carefully vetting the short list of candidates for the Head of School position. After a thorough process, we had two potential finalists. However, one of the potential finalists subsequently dropped out of consideration, having accepted a job elsewhere. This leaves SSIS with only one suitable candidate for consideration. This is, of course, not an ideal situation. From discussions with our search consultant, the primary reason for not having more suitable candidates is due to the lateness in starting SSIS’ 2012 Head Search. In fact, at this time, many schools have already concluded their 2012 head search process, and others have already begun the 2013 head search process.

After careful deliberation of all the options, the Search Committee, in conjunction with the Board, has concluded that SSIS’ long term interests will be best served by terminating the search for a permanent head for 2012. Rather, SSIS will shortly start the process to hire an interim head to serve for one year (2012-2013), and a search for a permanent head to start in 2013. This will give SSIS ample time to field a larger and deeper pool of candidates, and identify several suitable candidates from which to select a permanent head for 2013. The Search Committee and the Board have the best interests of all the constituents at SSIS in making this decision.

By way of explanation on hiring an interim head, in the international school and US private school community, hiring an interim head to serve for one year is commonly used by schools who face unexpected situations that arise, or when a school runs out of time to hire a suitable candidate. There is a qualified and experienced pool of retired heads of schools that primarily serve as interim heads for schools, such as ours, who have the need. Schools such as Hong Kong International School, and Shanghai American School, have used this option in the past. From our discussions with our search consultants, we understand that now would be a good time for SSIS to initiate a search for an interim head.

The Search Committee and the Board are committed to the long term and the best interests of SSIS and all its stakeholders, and have spent considerable time and effort on the search thus far. We will continue to do so, and are committed to finding the right head to lead SSIS.

If you have questions, please direct them to the Search Committee by contacting Ms Hien, administrative assistant to the Head Search Committee. Ms. Hien’s contact details are tel:08-5413-0901 ext. 6; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sincerely,

The Search Committee and the Board of Directors