Teachers’ Day: Three Huili educators who go above and beyond

 

Stella Zhou

Master of Huili Shanghai

 

"Huili School is committed to creating a dynamic environment for teachers so that each member's growth resonates with the development of the Huili community. We place a strong emphasis on the professional development of our teachers, offering a range of training, mentorship and lifelong learning opportunities to help them enhance their teaching skills while creating a sustainable learning community with the Huili community. Huili School is also fortunate to be able to work alongside a group of educators who share the same educational ideals and always stay true to their beginnings."

 

A teacher is an initiator, a guide who provides pupils with a platform and leads them forward.

Shirley joined Huili School Shanghai after gaining experience as a Chinese teacher at several private and international schools in Shanghai. She came to Huili because she sought a school that combined the strengths of Eastern and Western education. Soon after she came on board, she noticed that Huili did things differently. 

At other schools, pastoral care was a separate responsibility for class teachers. But at Huili, it went hand in hand with academic development. This prompted her to become a housemaster in the Secondary School. In this capacity, she took more responsibilities related to pupil wellbeing. For Shirley, this role is a constant learning experience. She takes part in ongoing pupil safeguarding training. The school provides weekly continuing professional development sessions too. 

Shirley has also found ways to share her passion for public speaking with her pupils. She and a fellow teacher oversee a series of annual pupil-led symposia in which pupils share ideas around a specific theme. These activities provide pupils with invaluable opportunities to conduct research, hone their bilingual speaking skills, learn the value of teamwork, build confidence and so much more.

Shirley also finds deep fulfilment in teaching pupils how to put the Huili value of kindness into practice. As the lead teacher in the school’s Education Farm Charity Programme, she mentors pupils as they learn all about sustainable growing, marketing and selling food. The experience has been a revelation for her. “Children possess abundant potential,” she says. “They often surprise you with their ability to find creative solutions to problems.” Shirley sees a bright future for charity at Huili. “I think it will inspire more of our pupils to become engaged citizens who play an active role in their communities.”

Half a decade in, Shirley remains as enthusiastic and optimistic as ever. “I saw a lot of opportunities for growth when I joined Huili. Every year since, it has continued to exceed my expectations.”

When faced with challenging situations or obstacles, I often go back to my original aspiration and think about whether my choice aligns with it before moving forward.

Before joining Huili Hangzhou as a founding teacher, Erica studied and worked in New Zealand. Living abroad had a massive impact on her teaching philosophy. "In New Zealand, they place a big emphasis on our relationship to nature, and I wanted to bring this back with me,” she explains. She found a fellow traveller in Huili Hangzhou’s head of nursery.

Erica was most struck by how diverse the school’s teaching team was. Despite differences and disagreements, "We encourage healthy debate and, with shared goals, seek the best answers through open dialogue,” she remarks. Erica quickly progressed from classroom teacher to deputy head. She attributes this to a comprehensive training and mentorship programme.

In her time at Huili, Erica has been proactive in generating positive outcomes for pupils and teachers alike. She has developed inquiry-based learning, drama and wellbeing programmes that integrate Eastern and Western philosophies. She has facilitated personalised career paths for the teachers on her team. Moreover, she is a passionate advocate for parent-teacher partnerships. "Our parents are highly engaged. This wouldn't be possible without everyone working together,” she says. “Moving forward, we hope to organise even more exciting activities that allow an even wider group of community members to become deeply involved in our children's lives here at the nursery."

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As her responsibilities have grown, Erica continues to bring her warm and welcoming personality to everything she does. She loves seeing her pupils grow and develop, and she is just as passionate about her job now as she was the day she started.  

I like to challenge myself, but also as life goes by, you find yourself in different situations and you can either decide to rest on what you've already achieved or move on. I think growth requires growing pains. Life is too short to pigeonhole yourself in just one thing.

Shane is a founding teacher at Huili School Nantong, the newest member of the Wellington College China Family. Before this role, he taught English at Huili School Shanghai. He was drawn to the school by its values. "You can intuitively feel how pupils present kindness, responsibility, respect, courage and integrity,” he says. Now at Huili Nantong, he brings his 10-plus years of teaching experience to our newest school.

His advanced degrees in philosophy, literature and educational leadership make him especially qualified for his job, but it is his imaginative wit that resonates with pupils. He is also credited with introducing rugby to Huili Shanghai. “It’s probably what the students will remember most in 20 years,” he jokes. “’Who was your English teacher?’ ‘I don’t know, but remember that guy who used to teach us rugby? Wasn’t he great?’ I hope that’s what they say about me in the years to come.”

 

 

Shane has a strong passion for wellbeing education and aims to dive deeper into this field as a teacher ambassador at Huili Nantong. He firmly believes emotionally fulfilled students are more likely to extend their sense of fulfilment to the wider community, and Huili’s boarding environment presents endless opportunities for pupils to grow and learn.