《Advocate for Teachers and Students to Become the Best Version of Themselves》

　　The author of the book “Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise,” Anders Ericsson, suggests to the readers that:

…no matter what role innate genetic endowment may play in the achievements of “gifted” people, the main gift that these people have is the same one we all have—the adaptability of the human brain and body, which they have taken advantage of more than the rest of us (Ericsson & Pool, 2016).

　　This means experts in different fields reach their pinnacle of performance through “deliberate practice” which involves purposeful practice with four essential components: well-defined goals, sustained focus, direct feedback, and getting out of one’s comfort zone. As “[m]uch of deliberate practice involves developing ever more efficient mental representations that you can use in whatever activity you are practicing” (Ericsson & Pool, 2016), it is my greatest challenge as a school principal to support teachers and students in exploring their interests and strengths as well as to advocate for them to become the best version of themselves by tapping into their potential and talents alone with refining their skills through deep reflections on teaching and learning.

　　In my ideal educational system, curriculum development, teaching, and instruction would be student-centered and built around student learning, which would adopt the concept of holistic education and be implemented through five aspects as follows:

1. A community-based learning model that fosters leadership and followership.
2. A platform for mandatory courses on mobility and expression.
3. The development of potential courses for character strength and habits of mind.
4. A cross-disciplinary learning mechanism for health, fitness, and sports.
5. A learning and support system that focuses on career, life, and livelihood.

　　At Kang Chiao International School, our vision is “Cultivate social elites with international competitiveness, and envision a beautiful future for children”, which echoes our school’s mission statement:

We strive to prepare all students with the academic, social, and emotional skills to become self-directed lifelong learners and responsible citizens ready to meet the challenges of the future. In partnership with our families and community, our goal is to create relevant learning opportunities for students, both inside and outside the classroom, that help them develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, emotional resilience, autonomy, and confidence necessary to succeed in and contribute to the progress of an ever-changing technologically advanced world.

　　Our commitment is reflected in our efforts to assist our students in achieving success in a rapidly changing society. We encourage and cultivate students’ autonomy, critical thinking skills, innovation, teamwork, communication skills, and cultural understanding. Our actions are dedicated to earning your continuous trust by providing students with the best learning opportunities and responding to the enormous changes in the world while continuing to pursue progress in teaching and learning for all faculty members and students.