Exit Interview: Jean Tsai

by Ryan Hsu (Grade 11)

For many students, Ms. Jean Tsai has been a familiar and caring figure in our school as a counselor, constantly providing guidance over the last three and a half years to those who walk through her door. Unfortunately, this semester marks her last at our school, as she will soon begin a new chapter at an American International School in Chennai, India.

Interestingly, the move was "not entirely planned." The school actually reached out to her directly after she had been keeping an eye out for other opportunities. Looking forward, she is excited for the new experiences awaiting her family in Chennai. Moving to Chennai will allow her family to step outside what she described as Taiwan’s “safe bubble.”

When asked about why she and her family have decided to leave, Ms. Jean was frank about some of the institutional challenges that informed this decision. She pointed to the English Language Learner (ELL) fee structure as a primary issue (her partner, Mr. Ruffer, is the head of this department). 

At KAS, students who require additional English support can be charged NT$35,000 per ELL course per semester, in addition to the standard tuition fee. Ms. Jean expressed that the way this system works is "potentially discriminatory."

She also explained that this structure may unintentionally pressure some students to exit ELL programs early, prompting questions about whether financial policies are superseding educational priorities. She said it is ironic that students who "already face language barriers are required to pay additional fees simply to access the support they need," creating an uncomfortable environment for some students.

Ms. Jean also discussed a sense of ambiguity between the educators and the school’s board. While she believes there is some level of understanding between teachers and the board, she said their priorities are not always clearly communicated. This obscurity, she said, can leave teachers unsure about the reasoning behind certain decisions and create a sense of detachment between the two groups.

With more international schools being established in Kaohsiung and Tainan, competition for students has begun to grow; such a landscape can complicate and create tension around financial decisions and the quality of the institution. Although tuition here is relatively high compared to local Taiwanese schools, she noted that building a stronger international school often requires more resources, and she believes there should be an increase in tuition.

According to the school’s published fee schedule from 2024–2025, high school tuition is NT$243,350 per semester. When other required fees are included, the total cost for most students approaches NT$300,000 per semester.

One of the most notable problems Ms. Jean feels could be lessened by an increase in tuition would be the crowdedness of classrooms and the obvious difficulty teachers face while managing expanding class sizes. Despite this, she recognized that raising tuition may also place financial pressure on families and push some students to leave—a balance the board (which sets this fee) may also be struggling to achieve.

Despite the challenges she mentioned, Ms. Jean said her experience at KAS has been a meaningful one. She said she will miss the students most, as well as the teachers and staff she has worked with for many years. In her view, "our school is a place where people are supportive of one another," which she noted is not something easy to find.