In international education, like any industry, it doesn\u2019t take long to build a reputation amongst your colleagues and peers.\u00a0 This is no different for Mark Ulfers, Head of the American School of Paris, who has been described by others as knowledgeable, dependable and a change-maker.\u00a0 Mr. Ulfers\u2019 storied career stretches around the globe including headships in Frankfurt, Taiwan, Cyprus as well as leadership positions in Singapore and the USA.\u00a0 Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with him and what struck me the most in our conversation was his commitment to making others around him better.\u00a0 This is a valuable skill to have in Western Europe, where he explained the challenge of labor laws has encouraged him to develop talent within and across the school.<\/p>\n
(If not specifically quoted, Mr. Ulfers’ responses to these questions have been\u00a0paraphrased)<\/p>\n
You became a Principal at 27, what made you decide to step into school leadership?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI think it was a sense that you could bring a little more rationality than what you had been witnessing\u2026[although] I\u2019m not sure I\u2019ve been able to do that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0You\u2019ve worked in schools all over the world, how is working in Europe different from your experiences in Asia?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c[Actually] I find more commonalities at our schools than differences.\u00a0 Clearly culture has a tremendous influence…[but] the needs of young people seem to be so much the same [anywhere in the world]\u2026their desires, needs, aspirations\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0I suppose the biggest difference is that labor laws are refined to a science in Western Europe compared to Asia\u2026\u201dI hear people whine, moan and complain about the labor laws in Europe, but I think it\u2019s a tremendous strength\u201d If you turn it on its head it can be a powerful tool because \u201cyou know whomever you\u2019re hiring you\u2019re marrying without divorce in western Europe.\u00a0 So high quality recruiting is essential, then you really have [no choice but] to focus on professional development.\u00a0 The cool part is we\u2019re not looking for what is wrong, but rather the opportunities to grow professionally, we\u2019re always looking to develop people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0To do this we\u2019re working hard to create a culture of development. \u201c[In fact] we\u2019re relentless about the notion of continuous improvement.\u201d\u00a0 We do this by investing a lot into our teachers professionally.\u00a0 We always have people attending conferences and workshops or, more importantly, we\u2019ll bring someone in to work closely with our people for a week.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>You\u2019ve obviously developed throughout your career, what has been most fundamental in your growth as a leader?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe most influential aspects of my development have probably been aligning with really strong mentors.\u201d I\u2019ve been very lucky to spend a lot of time working along side icons in international education\u2026[like] Bob Gross, David Toze, Kevin Bartlett, Bill Gerritz, Robert Landau and Robert Sills.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Secondly, my interest in curriculum building and curriculum development has been fundamental in my growth in schools.\u00a0 A big part of this is \u201cknowing the research about what we know is good teaching\u201d\u2026a lot of which I\u2019ve learned from great teachers.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Thirdly, a key component of my development comes from the philosophy that \u201dthere\u2019s an attitude that one brings to leadership, of not needing to be right all the time (and standing tall and admitting an error) and not needing to have all the answers\u2026but [instead] having more of an attitude of a learner\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0When you\u2019ve moved to a new school do you feel like you\u2019re bringing a certain set of skills?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>During my interview for ASP they asked me a similar question about why I wanted to come to Paris, and to be honest, part of it was the allure of Paris, but more importantly \u201cI could identify that there were some issues here that my skill-set matched\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n What are those skills?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I\u2019ve had a lot of experience and am \u201cconfident around setting strategy with people and through people\u2026the notion of defining our blueprint as an institution.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0How to transform research into useful practice.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0The ability to be a symbolic leader through stories.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0I work hard at building meaningful relationships throughout the school.\u00a0 To do this you must be visible, so I get in the hallways, to the events, visit classes (yet never doing this enough)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Seeing conflict as a friend\u2013 that is, not shying away from a good debate as an exercise in open and honest communication, and yet another opportunity to grow.\u00a0 One should walk straight toward the conflict. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cBuilding confidence and predictability across the organization\u201d, which often has to do with making sure the \u201cif-then statements are reliable in the culture\u201d This is so important because we are always victims of the past.\u00a0 However, I\u2019ve found that the \u201cquality of the relationships across the school with the adults will define the quality of relationships with our young people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Lastly, I can help facilitate change while respecting the past culture and traditions of the school.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve heard you described as a \u201cfixer\u201d when you arrive at a school?\u00a0 Do you agree with this reputation?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u201cI don\u2019t mind that label, but I might not agree with it\u2026[because] no one person is a fixer\u201d and that model is unsustainable.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 However, I\u2019m willing to work with people to create a climate where change is possible.\u00a0 We need to pass the personal pronoun test\u2013 that indeed, \u201cWE\u201d accomplished the needed innovation together.\u00a0 Schools need to have the capacity to change and adapt to fit the needs of our students and we are \u201cdoomed to failure if we can\u2019t master change.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s really not about me; instead I like the idea that WE\u2019VE fixed something.<\/em><\/p>\n What\u2019s your greatest priority when choosing teachers and administrators at ASP?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>I have the reputation, in the hiring process, of being a person who can\u2019t make up my mind, but that\u2019s not true.\u00a0 We always conduct at least 3 to 4 interviews, plus reference checks, before we\u2019ll hire someone, and I have to meet them face-to-face, because \u201cI\u2019m looking for the right person\u2026I\u2019m making the assumption that they already have the content knowledge at the point I see their information\u2026[I look for] a person who sees a wide horizon on their job description, sees within and beyond the classroom into the life of school.\u201d\u00a0 I want to hear about how people were integrated into their community.\u00a0 Also it\u2019s great when you feel like you\u2019ll learn from the person and of course they have to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>What\u2019s your advice for the next generation of international administrators?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Don\u2019t stop teaching.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always made a commitment to stay in the classroom because it keeps me connected to the pulse of the school.\u00a0 Also teachers respect administrators who teach.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Focus on 21st<\/sup> century skills and curriculum.\u00a0 Know the research on best teaching and learning strategies, brain theory and focus on strategic thinking, especially around the ability to create and lead change.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In international education, like any industry, it doesn\u2019t take long to build a reputation amongst your colleagues and peers.\u00a0 This is no different for Mark Ulfers, Head of the American School of Paris, who has been described by others as knowledgeable, dependable and a change-maker.\u00a0 Mr. Ulfers\u2019 storied career stretches around the globe including headships 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