The new school year's first notes have already begun playing at Tsinghua International School (THIS). Preparations started long before, with the leadership team launching a two-day intensive training on August 4 to set the year's direction. Soon after, our vibrant new teachers joined the THIS family, diving into leadership workshops, onboarding, and team-building activities that quickly made THIS feel like home.
By August 11, all staff gathered for our 2025–26 Differentiation Deep Dive Week — a schoolwide training built on one belief: every student deserves a learning experience designed just for them.
One Week, One Mission: Differentiation
Over four days, differentiation took center stage, with targeted sessions for primary and secondary divisions and specialized workshops for each subject. This systematic approach reflects THIS’s unwavering commitment to personalized learning.
Internationally renowned expert Jane Kise worked with all staff — teachers and student support teams alike — underscoring that successful differentiation needs schoolwide collaboration, shared values, and a supportive culture.
About Dr. Jane Kise
Dr. Jane Kise is an internationally renowned educational consultant, author, and leadership development expert with deep academic expertise and extensive practical experience in educational reform and psychological applications. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA in Finance from the Carlson School of Management, providing a strong interdisciplinary foundation for her research.
|
|
As a leading authority in **Differentiated Instruction**, Dr. Kise is dedicated to helping educators tailor teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of students. She has also pioneered innovative frameworks in **Coaching Leadership**, with works like *Differentiated Coaching* offering strategies for adapting mentoring approaches based on individual differences. Her research integrates **Jungian personality theory**, and as an MBTI® Master Practitioner, she was honored with the Isabel Briggs Myers Research Award (2005)—the highest recognition in psychological type studies.
Dr. Kise's career spans academia and practice: she has taught university writing courses, conducted research at the Center for Applications of Psychological Type, and delivered leadership training to schools and corporations worldwide, including in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. She has authored over 25 books, such as Unleashing the Positive Power of Differences and Holistic Leadership, Thriving Schools, bridging psychological theory with educational leadership.
A former president of the Association for Psychological Type International (APTi), she holds multiple professional certifications, including Hogan Assessments and EQ-i 2.0. Her work continues to empower educators and leaders to build more inclusive and effective development models.
Empowering Teachers,Supporting Students
Our goal: equip every THIS teacher to recognize each student’s unique strengths, needs, and learning styles, and to design lessons, processes, and assessments that help them grow at their own pace.
As our new Associate Head of Secondary Mr. Bernard Geoxavier said:
“The first few days of in service and I'm already in awe. THIS has invited world renown differentiation expert Jane Kise to work with all Faculty and Staff in better understanding all the learners in our classrooms. A testament to intentional and inclusive teaching and learning.”
Beyond Training — Living the Promise
The Differentiation Week is just the beginning of our journey this year. After diving deep into strategies for personalized learning, our teachers rolled up their sleeves for a wide range of collaborative sessions designed to bring those ideas to life. Subject teams met to fine-tune curricula, ensuring lessons connect meaningfully to real-world contexts. In project-based learning workshops, teachers explored how to spark curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on, interdisciplinary projects. Assessment policy discussions helped align how we measure progress with our commitment to recognizing growth in many forms — definitely not just test scores.
Meanwhile, specialized training in the STAR Reading and Math systems equipped teachers with powerful tools to track individual student progress and respond quickly with targeted support. Every session, every conversation, was driven by one shared goal: to make sure every THIS student is truly seen for who they are, understood for how they learn best, and supported in reaching their fullest potential — academically, socially, and personally.
A Commitment that Lasts
At THIS, we know no two children are alike. This week-long training is a powerful step toward our promise: the right education for every student.
As teachers bring fresh strategies and energy into the classroom, every THIS student will feel valued, understood, and ready to grow with confidence.
The new school year is here. THIS is ready — to ignite the infinite possibilities in every unique you. Check THIS out!
