My Retirement from Schools: One Professional Door Closes as Another Opens

After 32 years of working in schools, this summer marks the beginning of my retirement from working directly in schools. This concludes my long tenure serving as head of Shanghai SMIC Private School International Division (SMIC-I).?I have been a devoted educator for 32 years—10 as a classroom teacher and 22 as a school leader.?With my retirement, I am no longer a Superintendent at SMIC-I, but I remain connected to the school as a part-time consultant to help ensure a smooth transition.?

Now, as I transition my career, I continue my work as an author on educational leadership topics. Yet, I am also embarking on an additional career direction as an educational consultant and entrepreneur, which I will write more about in an upcoming piece.

After the last 12.5 years at this school, which has been more than a third of my career, I have passed along the reins of guiding SMIC-I to our SMIC-I senior leaders, Dani Ma’u (as SMIC-I Principal) and Dr. Darshana Hegde (as MHS Vice Principal), who have been with the school 18 and 14 years respectively.? SMIC Schools Chancellor Xiaofeng (Flora) Zhuang continues to provide dedicated direction with four decades of education experience through the guidance of the School Board and SMIC company.? I have been honored to partner with all of them for many years at SMIC-I and am entirely confident they will continue to bring stability and innovation to SMIC-I just as we have since the school was founded over 20 years ago.? SMIC is in very steady and skillful hands as it continues along its course as a World Class School for students, families, and staff.?

Much of my professional passion has been about international education, which has been one of my driving forces for over two decades in my career abroad.? In my book, Teach or Lead Abroad: Easily Find your Dream Job in International Schools, and here on LinkedIn, I have written extensively about the importance of prioritizing finding the right school in a job search. It's not just words, but I have lived that ideal as well. Before joining SMIC, I undertook an exhaustive 8-month job search to find the best school to match my professional needs.?

During my search, I wasn’t looking for a perfect school, but I did prioritize finding a place that valued the growth mindset because that fit my core belief as an educator.? I definitely found that in Shanghai SMIC Private School. I chose the school because of the inspiring interviews I had with the then K-12 Principal, Peter MacInnis , and the school's long-time Chancellor, Dr. Shukuang Hu. I was deeply impressed by the candid self-reflection they showed about SMIC self-improvement.? They valued the direction it already traveled, but they saw a future for the school that was exciting and compelling in the quest to become even better.? Their vision resonated deeply with me. That vision has continued under the guiding leadership of Chancellor Zhuang, who now moves the school into its third decade.

On Feb. 1, 2012, I landed in Shanghai, China, to join Shanghai SMIC Private School.? The city and school couldn't have been more different from my origins, personally and professionally. I grew up in the small town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (USA), where I worked for 14 years as a teacher and school administrator. Going from such a small town to one of the largest cities in the world was a massive shift. It wasn't always an easy transition. Not only are the two cultures so different, but the SMIC school size is enormous. In NM, I worked in one school that had 75 students, while in Shanghai, we have over 3300 in the various parts of the school. That's more than half the size of my hometown! When including the number of parents and staff, the school community is 25 percent larger than the size of my hometown's total population. That's big!

Joining SMIC was a new chapter of my career path that offered abundant growth and opportunity.? I started as the SMIC-I Middle/High School Academic Affairs Director, then the Middle/High School Principal, then the K-12 Principal, and finally, the SMIC-I Superintendent.? Back in 2012, I had hoped to remain at the school for a while, but I never dreamed that I would find my eastern home, stay at this school for so long, write my first book about finding international school jobs, and eventually become a permanent resident of China.? Life has a way of bringing unexpected directions when we’re open to receiving it.????

I am forever grateful to Shanghai SMIC Private School for all that it has provided me professionally. I have been honored to lead SMIC International through its initial ACS WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation in 2016 and re-upping it in 2022. In 2021, under the leadership of Chancellor Flora Zhuang, we became an international division. Over the years, we've received many awards and national recognition as one of the top international-style schools in China. We’ve seen the entire school renovated systemically, developmentally, and physically. It has been an eventful time, for sure.

Sure, it hasn't always been a smooth ride, but the good far outweighs the challenges. As any leader should, I have learned from each along the way. That has made me a much better-prepared leader than I could have imagined possible when I stepped off that plane in 2012.

Yet, beyond the ups and downs, it’s the people I have worked with who make the difference.? The constant has been the spirit of teamwork that has consistently dominated the school's work culture.? We don't work in isolation but as part of a team.? Together, we accomplished so much more than we ever could have individually. I always say, there is no "I" in team. ?

It has been my career honor to serve SMIC and 1000s of SMIC families over the years.? I have been part of a team of hundreds of educators that, at its core, has been consistently dedicated to students with ever-increasing focus and quality.? Collectively, we have worked to help our students realize exceptional opportunities through outstanding academics, accomplishments, and school experiences.? Because of that effort, so many students and their families have seen their dreams come true.?

Our SMIC students absolutely amaze me at every turn. Weekly, I see regular reminders of their exceptional abilities on LinkedIn as they build their careers beyond our school and their colleges. That is what it's all about for career educators and school leaders—building a community that realizes the aspirations of students, families, and professionals with whom we work in our school communities.

There have been so many people along the way who have shaped me to be the educator I am today—far too many to list here, as I don't want to leave someone off inadvertently. So many colleagues at SMIC, former co-workers, my family, and friends have inspired and encouraged me to be a better version of myself. Each of them knows the value I have placed on their support over the years.

Thanks to SMIC, I've also met some of the most talented people from outside the school. These colleagues and vendors inspire me a lot about the future of education internationally. It's such a dynamic field, and I learn from each of them.

Whether you are an SMIC veteran, a former SMIC employee, or are new to this school, I wish you all complete success in 2024-25 and beyond, whether at SMIC or in schools you currently work for.? Whether you are staff, students, or SMIC families, I hope your time at SMIC will be as impactful and meaningful for you as mine has been for me.? I take with me the memories of working with a talented team of people and with exceptionally motivated students whose dedication shines brightly.? I learned so much from every single day of my time at this school.? I profoundly thank you for your support throughout my journey with SMIC.? As we always say at SMIC, once a Shark, always a Shark.?

As one door closes, another opens in my work as an author, consultant, and entrepreneur. I remain an educator in heart and soul as I begin my new career chapter outside the school, empowering educators globally.? I continue my work as an author on educational leadership topics. Now, I am the founder of EduNetPro Consulting , where I offer online classes and coaching based on my books in my School Hiring Mastery Series: Teach or Lead Abroad, and my upcoming one, The GIFT Hiring Method.

Onward to a new chapter.

Copyright 2024 by Kelley Ridings

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