NIST Becomes First School to Host Search Associates Leadership Fair

Search Associates, one of the most well-established and well-recognized international teacher recruitment organizations in the world, set a new milestone this year as it hosted its leadership fair in a school for the very first time. From 14 to 16 November, over 150 experienced administrators converged on Thailand and joined together at NIST International School in Bangkok to connect with 35 top schools representing countries from Japan to Tanzania. Over the course of the three-day event, they not only met with school and Search Associate representatives, but also had the opportunity to hear from experts in a field that has dramatically changed in the past two decades.

As an industry, international education is booming. The skyrocketing number of international schools, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, and an increasing demand for options other than public education systems has led to a severe shortage of talented teachers. Seeking to fill that void, recruitment organizations have worked with schools to match them to the best educators and leaders around the globe. For 25 years Search Associates has taken a lead in the field and now helps connect over 3,000 individuals with schools each year, in large part through its teaching and leadership recruitment fairs.

By partnering with NIST as a host, the organization was able to take full advantage of the resources at The Professional Learning Hub (PLH). Launched in 2014, The PLH at NIST aimed to create new standard for professional development in international education. While many schools invest heavily in training by sending teachers and administrators to workshops and conferences overseas, NIST has developed an in-house model that enables the school to partner with other organizations in hosting development opportunities at its central Bangkok campus.

Over three dozen events have been held at The PLH over the past year, ranging from large conferences such as the Thailand Google Summit and Learning 2.0 to workshops for the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) and Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This coming January NIST and The PLH will host the biannual 2016 Alliance for International Education World Conference. Its success has resulted in large part from NIST’s extensive resources, both in facilities and services. Through the school’s modern multipurpose learning spaces, in-house catering service and dedicated staff, it serves as an ideal location for professional development events.

As a not-for-profit, NIST has sought fiscal responsibility, and by adopting a more innovative model that attracts top talent, the school can redirect more of its resources back to students. More importantly, by partnering with organizations such as Search Associates, NIST can identify and connect with other top educators and schools, further enriching the opportunities it provides for the community.