KAS Exodus? 26.7% of Faculty to Depart

by Noah Lindsey (Grade 12), Geneva Chang (Grade 11) & Clarice Fu (Grade 11)

Our school is set to experience a tremendous change going into the next school year. In June, 26.7% of the faculty will be leaving the community—roughly 1 in 4 teachers of all the teachers, as well as, all three principals and the Head of School. 

While most spots have been filled, some remained vacant at the time of publication.

KASPER conducted interviews with departing teachers and those staying behind to ask about their personal reasons for leaving and whether they believe an “exodus” is occurring.

LEAVING

Mr. Jim Laney, Head of School Mr. Laney, who came to KAS five years ago after hearing high praise from predecessors like Dr. Plooger, is among those moving on. For Mr. Laney, the decision wasn't about outside circumstances but a feeling that the school was ready for a "new direction."

“Sometimes progress requires ‘a fresh set of eyes,’” Mr. Laney said, noting that leadership transitions are opportunities for development rather than setbacks. He fondly recalled the reopening of the school after the pandemic as a highlight of his tenure.

Mr. Laney is now off to Seoul to join the Korean International School. While he jokingly noted he will “sadly not be rooting for the Dragons anymore,” he looks forward to seeing KAS students at AISA competitions.

Regarding the 26.7% turnover, Mr. Laney highlighted that there is no single explanation. Teachers are seeking "dream jobs," moving closer to family, or taking on new leadership roles. While he acknowledges that the administrative turnover may create uncertainty, he views this as a "new chapter" rather than a decline.

Ms. Clark, High School Principal is also departing after five years. Originally drawn to Taiwan’s progressive atmosphere and the holistic nature of the IB curriculum, she noted that after five years it felt like the right amount of time to move on. However, she also shared the challenges of her role.

“Being in this region is not always easy for black people,” Clark stated, mentioning that her racial identity was sometimes challenging for the community to accept. She decided it was time to “leave the region in general” and will be heading to the International School of Kenya in Nairobi.

Reflecting on the turnover, Ms. Clark said the numbers are "definitely higher than the last few years." She knows that there are people retiring, getting their dream jobs, and people who might think there’s a lot of changes with leadership leaving, “but we can only speculate.” A solution she suggested was exit surveys. She mentioned that a lot of schools do exit surveys, and that is something KAS should definitely consider doing. 

She said she hopes for this school’s success and is sad to leave before seeing the Class of 2027 graduate. “It’s okay, though”, she mentioned, “I’m going out with a bang with the class of 2026”. 

MS Principal, Ms. Chelsea said the move feels "natural." After four years here her family is headed to Mexico City. Their journey to KAS was originally a backup plan after the war in Ukraine prevented them from moving to Russia.

Her husband and HS Teacher, Mr. Bailey noted he will miss the students most, describing them as the "polar opposite" of students at some of his previous jobs. Ms. Chelsea highlighted the growth of the current 8th and 9th graders as a favorite memory, specifically citing the first Middle School Winter Dance as a tradition she was proud to help start.

Regarding the 26.7% number of departures, Ms. Chelsea said there could be a kind of “snowball effect” happening. “With the Head of School and all three Principals leaving, it seems like an ideal and natural time for any teachers wavering between leaving and staying to seek change in their workplaces,” she said. 

HS Business Teacher, Mr. Q is preparing to move to Guyana. His move is tied to timing and family, as his wife has decided to return to work. He recalled fond memories of the Grade 10 "Shark Tank" projects and IB business skits.

He described the current scale of departures as “unusual” for international schools but also that movements like this do happen in international schools. He said that wholescale changes in administration could be one reason behind it. 

STAYING 

To get a clearer picture of the "exodus," KASPER spoke to teachers who are remaining at KAS.

Mr. Lamprecht, HS History Teacher, who has been at KAS for six years, recalled what he calls the “first big purge” involving board issues years ago. Now witnessing what could be considered the “second big purge,” he remains optimistic.

While many of his close friends like Mr. Sortino, Mr. Ruffer and Mr. Q are leaving, he believes the change could ultimately be a positive for the school. One of his closest friends, Mr. McMahon, left last year, but he mentioned that they just talked last week. 

Ms. Lee also plans to stay but said she is especially sad to see Mr. Pishkur go. Still, she said that it is very common for international schools to see faculty changes every few years, comparing the experience to an HSR ride, where many teachers get off after a few stops to continue their journey elsewhere. Being here, it is an expectation that most teachers leave after their contract ends in 2-3 years.

Regarding the “exodus”, she adds that it is a normal cycle for international schools, but might also have to do with the direction some teachers see our school going in the future.

The student body remains divided on the news. Yuki Fukuyo (Grade 11), who has been at KAS for 13 years, expressed confusion. “Why are all the principals leaving?” she asked. While she is excited for change, she hopes for a stable transition, especially considering that next year will be her senior year.

On the other hand, Nathan Mitchell (Grade 10) isn't concerned. He admitted he is glad teachers have the opportunity to move around and see the world, viewing the change as a routine part of the international school experience.